The Indian Mission of Kahnawake

The development of Catholicism at Kahnawake.

The Jesuits' missions among the Iroquois took quite a while to produce fruit. The Jesuits tried to ensure that those who were baptized or requested baptism for their children were sincere converts. Often, though, they would avoid baptism until the candidate was in danger of death. As a result, the Jesuits' rituals were viewed with suspicion, since it appeared as though they caused the death of these candidates. This was one of the many problems the Jesuits confronted in their missionary activities in the 1600s. Another major factor was the animosity between the French and the Iroquois started by Champlain's attack, which occasionally erupted in war between the Iroquois and French Canada.
Modern historical critique has re-analyzed the "establishment" or "creation" of the mission of Sault St. Louis by the Jesuits. Analysis of the Jesuit Relations and Chauchetière's history suggests that not only were the first Indians at La Prairie simply in their own usual land or territory, but that few, if any, were even Mohawks, and many were captives or servants -- probably with a low social status. Moreover, it appears that not all of the inhabitants were Christians, though it seems certain that Christianity was much more welcome at Kahnawake than in the Iroquois "homeland." However, around the time of Kateri Tekakwitha, Kahnawake really began its evolution into a Christian Iroquois village.

Miscellaneous Notes

It seems that in the 1600s, most baptisms were adult baptisms, rather than infant baptisms. The early records of the register of Kahnawake (1730s-1750s) suggest that there were still a significant number of adult baptisms, as opposed to infant baptisms, at this time period.
The Jesuits introduced the sacrament of marriage in 1674. Previously, the Indians took spouses in the traditional fashion, with only the stipulation that there be witnesses and monogamy.
Bishop Laval visited the mission on Monday, May 25, 1675.
When the settlement moved to a new location in 1676, the Indians built their own chapel and began to exercise the lay roles in the liturgy themselves (which had previously been done mostly by the French), and to use their American Indian languages where French had previously been used.

The Registry of Kahnawake

The registers of Kahnawake (St. François-Xavier) are often said to begin in 1735, when Kahnawake was located at its final location and remains today. This is certainly a starting year for a complete registry. However, according to Devine, records prior to 1735 did exist, at least at his time. It is not known for sure what happened to the Kahnawake registry, but it is generally believed (notably by Tanguay and Devine) that they were lost in a fire. Fr. Burtin believed that they were at St. Regis when a fire burned down that mission. Supposedly the burial and marriage records, at least a part of them, before 1735, are extant, though meager in information. However, I cannot find any other information about the pre-1735 registry. It does not appear that John Demos had access to them when he wrote The nredeemed Captive.

The post-1735 records of Kahnawake have now been published by Pierre Osahetakenrat Bernard in three volumes, each for baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Following the proper genealogical ethics, he ends at 1899, so as not to include living people.

There may also be some information to be gleaned from the the Jesuit relations, particularly volume 5? (Twaites, etc.) but this does not make up for a lost registry.

Nearby Parishes

Among the French Canadian settlements, one sees a pattern: the settlers begin to settle an area. At first, missionaries travel to administer the sacraments, on an intermittent basis. Later, some people are able to travel to a church of a nearby settlement, such as Orleans Islanders going to Château-Richer or Ste. Anne-de-Beaupré. Eventually, a church or chapel might be built, or a parish organized, but with no resident priest. Visiting priests might write the records in a number of places, and this phenomenon also occurs whenever there is a temporary absence of priests in a parish.

It appears that Kahnawake was like any other Canadian parish, and shared in these phenomena. I believe I have already found records in the Kahnawake registry for neighboring parishes and missionary travels. I likewise would expect that some Kahnawake records would have been recorded in neighboring parishes, particularly in period 1783-85 and prior to 1712.

Nearby French-Canadian parishes include:

Lachine, whose registers begin in 1676.
LaPrairie, whose registers begin in 1670. Several sources speak of the mission of the Sault or Sault St. Louis as having been originally at LaPrairie. In the Unredeemed Captive, John Demos indicates that this original settlement had only one church for both the French and the Indians. Thus, I would expect the records for this first settlement to be in the register of LaPrairie until the first "resettlement" in 1676. However, it is likely to be a rather meager set of records, since the sacrament of marriage was formally introduced only two years before, and at the time of "resettlement" there were only 22 cabins or longhouses, with an estimated population of 200.
Montréal, whose registers begin around 1642. The register of Montreal is reported to have a lot of Indians in it, but just how many and who are they? Would records of Kahnawakians be kept here?
Chateaugauy, whose registers, like Kahnawake, begin in 1735

Nearby parishes (still in French - will translate soon)

The Priests of Kahnawake

As part of my research, I am putting together a list of priests who served at Kahnawake, their writings, and any other useful information which might I have come across.

This is something like a complement to what Darren Bonaparte has done for Akwesane / St. Regis:

Wampumchronicles also has a full index of Native American History Brief List of Priests

List of Priests Who Served Kahnawake

(mission of St. François-Xavier)

Father Etienne de Carheil
Born 1633. Served at Michillimackinak Died there 1726.
Wrote 2 volumes on Huron language, "Edited Racines Huronnes."
Father Rafeix
Born at Clermont in 1633. Came to Canada in 1663. Founder of the mission of Sault St. Louis at La Prairie, parish of Notre-Dame-de-La-Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine, 1667. Replaced Fr. Carheil as missionary to the Cayuga, 1671. Served as missionary to the Senecas until 1680. Died at Quebec in 1724.
Father James Frémin
Born Reims, France, 1628. Went to Onondagas in 1655 and served throughout the Iroquois until 1670, when he was placed in charge of La Prairie (Sault St. Louis). He was still there in 1676 and was involved with the move of Sault St. Louis and the emigration of some Indians. Returned to Canada from France in fall 1680. Died at Québec July 2, 1691.
Father Pierre Millet
Born at Bourges, France, 1635. Came to Canada in 1668 and sent as a missionary to the Onondagas. In 1671, received from them the name Teahronhiagannra, meaning "The Looker-up to Heaven." Missionary among the Oneidas from 1672 to 1685. Around the beginning of 1688, became chaplain at Fort Niagra. Evacuated with the entire contingent at the fort in September 1688. At the end of July 1689, was tricked into capture by the Iroquois, then tortured by them. Spent several years in limbo among the Oneida, spared only by the intervention of the Christians among them. During this time (1691?), adopted into a family of a hereditary chief, and thus becomes a chief in the Oneida tribe. Probably released from captivity and returned to Quebec around August-October 1694. Sent to mission of Sault St. Louis, according to written record, in 1698, but probably in summer 1697. Served there until 1703. Desired to return to the Iroquois as missionary, but his health declined in 1705 and he died in 1708.
Father Claude Chauchetière Born in 1645. Spiritual director of Kateri Tekakwitha. Therfore, at Sault St. Louis (beginning at LaPrairie) 1676-1680. He painted the portrait in 1681, a year after Kateri's death, and wrote a short biography about the same time. Later, he wrote a longer one. Some sources give the years 1682-1693, as though a reference to the date of the painting, or the years he served Kateri, but the latter is impossible, since she died in 1680. Still at Sault St. Louis and LaPrairie (serves both French and Indians) in 1682.
Works
- Narration Annuelle de La Mission du Sault depuis La fondation iusques a 1 an 1686. in Jesuit Relations LXIII:137-245
  Note: the edition in the Jesuit Relations is a transcription made by Father Martin in 1881 which is now preserved in the archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal, with a few emendations from the version given in Rochemonteix's Jésuites, t. iii., pp. 641-678. The original MS, which is likewise incomplete, is preserved in the city archives of Bordeaux, France.
- Narrative of the Mission of Sault St. Louis, 1667-1685
- "Lettre à ..." Oct 14, 1682 in Jesuit Relations LXII:165-189
- La Vie de la B.C. Tegakouita (Mante, 1887)
- Life of Catharine Tegakouita (New York, 1886)
Died in 1709.
Vincent Bigot
Vaillant
Replaced Fr. Bruyas as missionary to the Mohawks
Father Julien Garnier
Born Connerai, Bretagne, France, 1642. Left for Canada in October 1662. Ordained in Canada 1668. Spent a few months as missionary to the Oneida, then served as missionary to the Onondaga until 1671, when he went with Frémin to the Senecas. Left in 1683 to see the governor of Canada, and before returning in 1701, served in Caughnawaga for some time, including May 1713. Remained among the Senecas 1701-1709. "Retired" in 1728.
Father Jacques Lamberville
Born 1641 at Rouen. Sent to Canada in 1675, and served as missionary among the Iroquois. At Onondaga, where he learned of Kateri Tegakwitha, whom he instructed and baptized. Spent a few years in French Canada before returning among the Iroquois, at the request of the Onondagas. Forced to leave in 1709 by the schemes of Abraham Schuyler. At Montreal in February 1688. Chaplain at Fort Frotenac after governor's treachery. At Sault St. Louis most of the period 1689-1711. In Paris in January 1695 (probably since 1692), but probably at Sault St. Louis in 1696 (a letter on the Canadian missions written there is attributed to him). He died at Sault St. Louis, April 18, 1711.
Father Jacques Bruyas
Born at Lyons, France, in 1635. Went to the Canadaian missions in 1666; labored among Mohawks and other Iroquois. From 1693 to 1698, superior general of all the missions. Appears to have been among the Iroqouois 1677-1680. Superior of the mission (Sault St. Louis, apparently) in 1682. In April 1691, writes from Sault St. Louis. He died Sault St. Louis, June 15, 1712.
Besides writing a catechism, prayers for the sick, and similar works, he is the author of the oldest known Iroquois grammar. It was published from the original manuscript by the Regents of the University of the State of New York in their Sixteenth Annual Report of the State Cabinet of Natural History (Albany, 1863). Father Bruyas is considered to be the author of the "Iroquois Dictionary" preserved in the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal of Paris.
Father Cholonec
Born June 29, 1641 in Bretagne, France. Left for Canada in August 1674. In 1675, at La Prairie. Served at Sault St. Louis for several years; Kateri Tekakwitha's confessor [therefore, 1676-1680]. Apparently at Sault St. Louis from 1695 to 1699, when he wrote a biography of Kateri. Superior of Jesuits at Montreal 1700, until probably 1712. At Sault St. Louis 1712-1722. Wrote another biography of Kateri (lettres édifiantes) and an account in Latin. According to one source, drew upon Chauchetière's short biography to write several biographical accounts of Kateri from 1696 to 1717 Died at Québec October 30, 1723.
Works:
- Lettres édifiantes, vol XII (Paris, 1727), containing a biography of Kateri Tekakwitha
Father Joseph-François Lafitau
- Jacques Quintin de la Bretonnière
  Born at Bayeux, France?, May 4, 1689. Entered the Jesuit Order at the age of 21. Came to Canada in 1721; sent immediately to Caughnawaga, where he remained until 1745. Became pastor, succeeding Lauzon, in 1732. Often accompanied the forays of Caughnawaga warriors, serving as chaplain. The rest of his life after 1745 was spent in the college at Quebec, where he died August 1st, 1754. Another note says he succeeded Fr. Tournois as pastor ca. 1753 for a few months.
- Pierre de Lauzon
  Born at Poitiers, France, 1687. Sent to Canada in 1716. Assistant at Lorette 1716-1718. Missionary at Sault St. Louis 1718-1731, except during 1721-22 school year, professor of hydrography at college of Quebec. He made his solemn profession of the four vows at Sault St. Louis on 2 February, 1721. Superior of the Kahnawake mission 1723- and of all Canadian missions 1732-1739. Returned to Caughnawaga September 1739 or 1740 for a few months, but went back to Quebec 1741. Died September 5, 1742 at Quebec.
- Luc François Nau (1703-1753)?
  Arrived in Canada 1734. Missionary at Sault St. Louis Jan 1735 - 1743. Given the name Hateriata, meaning "the Brave, the magnanimous man." This was the Indian name of a Kahnawake chief who made a remarkable speech before Count Frotenac at a council of the Nations in Laprarie in 1690, according to Charlevoix II:61. He was enrolled in the Bear clan. Returned to France because of health ca. 1744.
  
  Letter 20 X 1734 at Quebec in Jesuit Relations LXVIII:223.
  Letter 2 X 1735 at Sault St. Louis in Jesuit Relations LXVIII:259.
  Letter 1740 at Sault St. Louis in Jesuit Relations LXIX:47.
- spring 1735: visit to Caughnawaga by Pierre Aulneau de la Touche
  He was a young missionary who came to Canada in 1734 with Fr. de Lauzon. He was sent to the Mandans and other Western prairie tribes, and, en route, he stayed for two weeks with Fr. Nau, waiting for La Verandrye's expedition, for which he served as chaplain. He was slain by the Sioux with 20 men of the expedition on an island in the Lake of the Woods in 1736. The site was found in 1907 and Fr. Aulneau's body in 1908. His mother became a benefactress of sorts and friendly to the Canadian missions. The surviving documents, letters, etc., of Aulneau can be found in The Aulneau Collection, published in 1893 in Montreal.
- François-Xavier Charlevoix
  The well-known Jesuit historian lived at Kahnawake for some time circa 1721. An old desk of his, on which he is said to have written a portion of his Histoire de la Nouvelle France can be found at the church of St. François-Xavier today, but it seems he has no other connection to Kahnawake.
- Jean-Baptiste Tournois
  Born in Flanders. Jesuit. Succeeded Fr. Nau as pastor of Kahnawake in 1744. Removed on the order of Jonquière and banished to France, being sent on le Chariot Royal, without the consultation with the Bishop, nine years later (would be 1753). Efforts to get him to returned to Kahnawake were unsuccessful.
- René Floquet
  Born in Paris in 1716. Entered the Jesuit Order in 1734. Came to Canada in 1744. Came to Kahnawake on the request of the inhabitants ca. 1753/54, but he was not considered sufficiently influential, and after a few months was sent to the college at Quebec. Was superior of the residence in Montreal, in 1757, and was still there in 1775 when General Montgomery invaded the town. His friendliness to the Americans, during their occupation of Montreal, and, to the Franklin embassy in 1776 incurred the diapprobation of Bishop Briand. There is a letter, dated November 29, 1776, written by Father Floquet, on this matter. Father Floquet died at Quebec on October 10, 1782.
- De Gonnor
  Succeed René Floquet at Kahnawake, but stayed only a short time. Followed by Gordon in 1755.
- Yves le Saux
  Born at Tréquier in 1718. Entered the Jesuit Order at age 20. Came to Quebec to teach belles-lettres and rhetoric. Returned to France in 1714, and held a professor's chair in the college at Orleans. After ordination, came again to Quebec in 1751, and after a year at Caughnawaga as assistant to Fr. De Gonnor, went back to France, in August, 1753, with Dervilliers and Fr. Piquet on the Algonquin. Died in Rome, July 24, 1754.
- Antoine Gordon
  Born at Bourg-en-Bresse, France, in 1717. Entered the Jesuit novitiate at Lyons in 1735. Came to Canada in 1748. Ordained in 1749, and taught at the college of Quebec from 1749-1751. At Kahnawake 1752-1757 (vicar 1752-1755) and founder of Akwesasne (St. Regis) More on founding of St. Regis At St. Regis 1762-1775. Retired to Montreal 1777 and died there, June 30, 1779. Also served at Quebec.
- Pierre-Robert Billiard
  Born in 1723 in Paris, France. Entered the Jesuit novitiate in Paris in 1743. After philosophical studies, sent to Quebec, where he taught for several years. He returned to France for his theology. In 1753, after ordination to the priesthood, he returned to Canada. He was royal geographer at Quebec 1753-1754. Then he served as assistant at Kahnawake and missionary at Akwesasne 1754-1757. Died at Sault St. Louis, July 26, 1757.
- Jean-Baptiste de Neuville
  Born at Hesdin in 1722. Entered the Jesuit order at age 21. Taught at the college of Quebec from 1746 to 1751. Went back to France for his theology and ordination to the priesthood. On his return to Canada, he was stationed at Kahnawake from 1755 to 1760. He succeeded Gordan as pastor in 1757. He died at Montreal, January 15, 1761.
- Claude Virot
  Assistant to Jean-Baptiste de Neuville. Slain by an Iroquois in 1757, near Fort Niagra.
- Joseph Huguet
  Born in Belgium in 1725. Entered the Jesuit order in 1744 at Tournai. Ordained ca. 1756 and came to Canada. Spent a couple of years at Quebec, probably teaching at the college there. Sent to Kahnawake in 1759 and stayed there the rest of his life, except for a brief period ca. 1776/1777 when he was removed and requested to be returned in June 1777 by Fr. Gordan, who went to serve as an army chaplain. He succeded Fr. de Neuville as pastor in 1761. Died May 1783 in Kahnawake, and buried beneath the church. He was the last Jesuit at Kahnawake until the twentieth century.
- Bernard Well
  Born in Belgium in 1724. Entered the Jesuit Order in 1744. Came to Canada in 1757. Served temporarily at Kahnawake in 1783 for a few months after Huguet's death. By the end of the year, he was in Montreal. Died in Montreal, March 1791.
- J. B. Dumouchel Pastor of Chateauguay. Wrote record in the registry of Sault St. Louis 1783-1784.
- P. Gallet
  Priest of Lachine. Wrote record in the registry of Sault St. Louis 1783-1784.
- Lebrun
  Between January and September 1785, serving at Kahnawake. Also visited St. Regis in these months.
- Laurent Ducharme
  Described by the Bishop as "a compatriot brought up among you." [Why? Was he born there? Not according to other statements that Fr. Jacobs was the only Kahnawake vocation.] Served 9 years at Kahnawake (would be 1785-1796), and lived in poverty. He died and was buried at Kahnawake.
- Father Antoine Rinfret
  Diocesan priest from Quebec. Probably served in Kahnawake from 1796-1802. Sent to Mascouche in 1802. Served at Akwesasne October 1806-1807 or 1809. Returned to serve in Kahnawake 1808-1814. Died at Lachine in 1814.
- Antoine Van Felson
  Succeeded Fr. Rinfret (in 1802?) and served at Kahnawake until 1808, when he was transferred to Beauport.
- P.N. Leduc
  Served at Kahnawake for a short time in 1814, after Rinfret's death.
- Nicolas Dufresne
  Sent to Kahnawake 1814. Transferred to Akwesasne 1819.
- Joseph Marcoux
  Born in Quebec, March 16, 1791. Ordained January 12, 1813. Served in Akwesasne 1813-1819. Arrived in Kahnawake 1819. Received the Indian name Tharonhiakanere, which means "He looks up to heaven." Pastor of the mission. Served until his death, May 29, 1855. Died from Typhoid fever epidemic.
  His works (in an Iroquois language, presumably Mohawk) include:
  
  Translation of Pere de Ligny's "Life of Christ"
  A collection of prayers, hymns, and canticles (1852)
  A catechism (1854)
  A calendar of Catholic ritual
  Several sermons
- Léonard, O.M.I.
  petitioned French clergy for missionaries for Kahnawake, 1846. I don't know if he lived at Kahnawake or ever served there.
- Eugène Antoine, O.M.I.
  Arrived in Kahnawake towards the end of 1851. Given the Indian name Tentenhawitha, meaning "He brings the light." Became pastor in 1855. Served until 1864, when he was promoted within the Oblate order. Died in France, January 11, 1900.
- Fr. Durthaller, S.J.
  Assistant at Kahnawake for a period during Eugène Antoine's pastorship, probably ca. 1856.
- Burtin, Nicolas Victor, O.M.I.
  Born December 16, 1828 in Metz, Alsace (today in France). Ordained in 1852. Came to Kahnawake in 1857. Given the Indian name Tekaronhianeken, which means "two skies united." This was an allusion to France, the land of his birth, and Canada, the land of his adoption, according to Devine. Retired circa 1890, probably in 1892, whereupon he went to Quebec. Died December 28, 1902, in Quebec. He believed that Fr. Gordon had taken the early register of baptisms to Akwesasne and that they had perished in the fire there. Works:
  
  Histoire de l'Ancien Testament traduite en Iroquois Montreal, 1890.
  Vie de Catherine Tekakwitha, vierge iroquoise, decédée en odeur de sainteté à l'ancien village du Sault St. Louis, le 17 avril 1680 Quebec, 1894
  Histoire des Iroquois du Sault St. Louis prob. never published.
  compiled an Iroqois grammar, but was never published, only in manuscript.
- (Joseph-)Guillaume(-Laurent) Forbes Born August 10, 1865, Île-Perrot, son of Jean and Octavie Léger. Ordained March 17, 1888, whereupon he began serving at Kahnawake. Assistant pastor 1888-1892 and pastor 1892-1903. In 1903, became pastor of Ste. Anne de Bellevue, on the island of Montréal, and in 1911, pastor of St. Jean-Baptiste in the city of Montreal. Went on to become bishop of Joliette and archbishop of Ottawa (both in Canada). He died in Ottawa, May 22, 1940. He was given the Indian name Tenhonikonthathe, meaning "he has a brilliant mind."
  It is said that he published many works (four volumes of letters and prayerbooks) and almanacks while at Kahnawake. The Catholic encyclopedia states that he created a complete set of genealogical tables of the inhabitants of Kahnawake. It appears that the title of this work may be Dictionnaire genealogique des familles iroquoises de Caughnawaga by G. Forbes Tehonikonhiathy. Copie d'un vieux manuscrit trouve a la biblioteque du Sault S. Louis -- Education de la jeunesse, Province de Quebec, 1789 -- Texte de grammaire iroquoise
  The following may be some of his works:
  
  Regroupement des familles de Sainte-Anne de Bellevue (Sainte-Anne-du-Bout-de-L'Ile), 1690-1911. Édité par Hubert Houle. Ottawa, Centre de généalogie, 1983, 2 vol. ([14] f., 1082 p.)
  Kaiatonsera ionterennaientakwa ne teieiasontha onkwe onwe: ne rotiiatonserisonhonne tharonhiakanere nok tekaronhianeken, kahnawakehronon ronwatini okon kenha : Shokwatakwen nok Oia sonha wahororoke. Kahnawake [Caughnawaga], [s.n.], 1903, 568 p.
  Iakentasetatha Kahnawakeha : tsini kahawis nonwa ioserate ... = Almanach iroquois ... : à l'usage des missions iroquoises de Caughnawaga, St-Régis et Oka. Tiohtiake, Bergeron, 1898-1903 (publication annuelle)
  His biography
- Samuel Granger, S.J.
  Arrived in Kahnawake in 1902 (the "restoration" of the Jesuits to the mision). Assumed pastorship in 1903? He was given the Indian name Kenawentshon, meaning, "always day," which, according to Forbes, was the same as Ondessonk, the Indian name of Isaac Jogues, martyr.
- Arthur Melançon
  His Indian name was Tekaronhianeken, meaning "two skies united." Said to be the same as Burtin's Indian name.
- Joseph Gras
  Presumably the pastor of Kahnawake in 1922. His Indian name was Tekronhioken, meaning "between two skies." Wrote the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Kahnawake in 1908.
- Edward J. Devine, S.J.
  Born in 1860. Historic Caughnawaga, 1922.
- Labranche
  Pastor of Kahnawake until 1963.
- Leon Lajoie
  Born Sep 1, 1921 at Trois-Rivières. Entered the Jesuit order in 1940. Ordained May 28, 1954. Served in Kahnawake for a short time in 1957. Assistant, 1961-1963, then pastor, 1963-1990 (retirement).
Sources:

Béchard, Henri, The Original Caughnawaga Indians
Bonvillain, Nancy, The Mohawks
Demos, John, The Unredeemed Captive esp. chapter 6, pp. 120-139
Devine, Edward J., Historic Caughnawaga
The Jesuit Relations, ed. Reuben, Thwaites, etc., available online at www.canadiana.org/.