Who is membertou

In , he returned to Port Royal, finding it in excellent condition under the care of Chief Membertou and his people.

Shortly after his arrival, Chief Membertou along with 21 members of his immediate family were baptized. The Concordat or Treaty of was recorded on a great wampum belt, the most common way to catalogue such treaties in Native Nations at the time. This was a good deal for Membertou and his people. Pesamoet, the Grand Captain at the time of Membertou, was instrumental in the creation of the Concordat. He agreed to go to France with the Jesse Fleche and to live there for a year, learning about the culture and religion.

While in France, he stayed in the castle as a guest of honour, moving amongst the elite of society. He also observed the deplorable conditions of the lower class, and worried that they would also be coming to the New World. He saw that the Europeans had a different way of doing things, and it definitely disturbed him.

The Natives had a culture of giving and sharing, it seemed that the Europeans preferred to take and keep from others. Bringing this knowledge back to Port Royal and his own people, he further solidified their conversation to the Catholic faith. His arrival was the result of even more pressure from France for Poutrincourt to ensure Native conversions, and to make good to his debtors to further the Jesuit agenda in the New World. For him to make such a strong impression on this well-read and well-travelled Jesuit priest speaks to what kind of man Chief Membertour really was.

Membertou and his family began traditional funeral rights, expecting that he would not live long. Father Baird was very upset with this, feeling it was not in accordance with the Catholic faith which Membertou and his family were supposed to have embraced. He convinced Membertou to release the boy to his care, and after being moved to Jesuit quarters, he suddenly recovered completely.

Membertou himself was suffering from dysentery, and it was getting worse. Seeing the miraculous recovery of his son while under the care of the Jesuits, he sought out their help. Father Biard was travelling with Poutrincourt to France, carrying letters and performing his duties there. Membertou was given the bed of the travelling Father, attended by the Jesuits and also by his wife and daughter.

Either from worry of the spread of illness, or as some stories suggest, the difficulty of handling a man such as Membertou, the Jesuits transferred him to a cabin that was set up for him outside. At this point however, the two men who had been friends and generally respectful of each other, had an argument. Membertou expressed his wishes to be buried with his ancestors, as had been the way of his people for time immemorial.

Poutrincourt, his close friend, had promised that he could do so before he had been baptized. He tried to imply that Membertou was not really a Christian if this was the case. Membertou implored his family to maintain their Christian faith. Biencourt just as I have loved M. Poutrincourt, my brother. You will tell your brothers, Louis and Philip, that I insist that they not quarrel or make trouble for him.

You will love and honour my brother Poutrincourt. He will be a father for you and you will be his children. Biard had only known him for four months, but he wrote of the mourning of the Jesuits for this man who seemed bigger than life. He was the greatest, most renowned, and most formidable Aboriginal within the memory of man. Not only was Chief Henri Membertou a bastion of wisdom and an instrument of prosperity for his people, but his memory and legacy lives on even today.

In , Canada Post released a stamp commemorating Chief Membertou and his contributions to the foundation of the country. This historically significant, obviously vibrant and vital man left a legacy and a heritage that few people enjoy. His legacy lives on not only in the role he played in Canadian history, but in the wonderful men and woman who are fortunate to have him as part of their family lineage.

References for this article can be found here. Thank you for this interesting piece. My family are direct descendants of Henri Membertou but I did not know all of his personal story. Thank you for the interesting story of Chief Henri Membertou. It was a great Story.. Being a direct descendant of Cheif Henri Membertaou, I am also very proud. It is comforting to know that he was so revered and loved by all, as well as such a great influence on the French settlers and ultimate foundation of the country He was my 12th great grandfather.

I am so proud and fortunate to have found that I am a direct descendant of Chief Henri Membertaou. Thank you so much for this insightful information on my ancestor. I am a decedent through his daughter Margueriete Adenaki, granddaughter Radegonde Lajeune and great granddaughter Edmee Lejeune Gautreau. Is there proof that ,other then Marguerite that Radegonde Lajeune and Edmee are even related to chief Henri Membertaou???

I also am a direct decendant. Henri and his wife were my 10th great grandparents. I am related through Margurite marrying LeJeune. The relationship comes from my paternal Canadien grandmother. We used DNA testing and Ancestry. I am just curious. Did your haplotype end up being X2b? I also am a decendant of Henri Membertou. He is actually my 10th great grandfather.

I am so proud to be a decendant of he and Maria. It is amazing. Ironically I was born in France in Normandy. My grandmother in the states was French Canadien and this is were the bloodline comes from. Our Story. Membertou set a goal of generating new revenue streams as a way to diminish dependence on government transfers by making three strategic decisions: The first strategic decision was to forge a new economic frontier that built on the innovations of the present while at the same time, incorporated with indigenous knowledge-based principles of conversation, the sustainability of resources and reverence for the land and the waters.

The principles were successfully in place and Membertou strategically increased its profile with major private sector companies by launching the Membertou Corporate Office in downtown Halifax. Membertou also became the first Indigenous organization in the world to receive an ISO certification. The third strategic decision was to initiate proactive education and career-related training programs for the residents of Membertou, in order to increase employment opportunities as a result of the newly forged business partnerships and initiatives.

The present and future development opportunities from the three strategic decisions continue to build financial independence and self-sustainability for Membertou.

This includes on and off-reserve, community members. January 1st to present day August Generosity, for example, was considered to be of particular value, as was bravery in battle.

The art of persuasion was also paramount as the sagamo did not exercise his power through coercion but rather by reaching community consensus. In times of peace Membertou received emissaries from neighbouring nations and took charge of allocating hunting grounds.

In times of war he was formidable and astute. Furthermore, the Relations reveal that other Micmac chiefs shared his view. In , in reprisal for the deaths of some of their members, the Abenakis killed the Micmac chief Panounias.

Membertou organized his retaliation over the course of the following winter and, in the spring of , led a punitive expedition of warriors in a surprise offensive. The spirit world permeated the daily life of the Micmacs, and anyone could interpret dreams or have visions. Some, however, namely the autmoins , were recognized for their special powers, which included predicting the future, anticipating the outcome of the hunt, rendering oracles, or soothing the sick.

Such was the renowned Membertou. According to Lescarbot, the fact that he could benefit from their protection might have determined the way in which the chief forged links with the newcomers. If it is true that self-interest played a part, it did not prevent the establishment of a relationship of trust between the French and Membertou. In mid July , when all but two colonists decided to return to France because they no longer had the means to survive, Membertou agreed to take charge of Port-Royal.

En route the French crossed paths with those bringing fresh supplies near Cape Sable and were finally able to return to their habitation. During the summer of , following the revocation of the fur-trade monopoly that had been granted to Dugua, and the necessity for the colonists to return to their country, the Micmac chief again took care of the habitation at Port-Royal; he did so on this occasion for a lengthy period, until the French came back at the beginning of June They all received new names inspired by those of the royal family or illustrious Roman Catholics.

Membertou became Henri.