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Day
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Tribute to Kondiaronk and to the signatories of the Great Peace treaty The spiritual celebration of the Peace At the beginning of August 1701, the representatives of more than 30 Amerindian nations met in Montréal to agree on a lasting peace with the French. This peace treaty signed by Louis-Hector de Callière, Governor of New France, and First Nations representatives ends a near-century of conflicts. Peace can reclaim its rights and open the way to safer hunting grounds and commercial trade. This peace is the result of the unmitigated efforts of a group of distinguished individuals that included the likes of Frontenac, de Callière, Kondiaronk, Teganissorens, Onanguice... and their valorous partners in the peace process: the Iroquois, the Huron, the Ottawa, the Algonkin, the Miami, the Illini, the Ojibwe, the Cree... The will to reach a peace settlement is also measured by the courage exemplified by these people who travelled to Montréal by land and by river while the St. Lawrence Valley was in the grips of a terrible and deadly epidemic. On August
2, 1701, two days before the treaty's ratification, the great Huron-Wyandot
Chief Kondiaronk gives a long and very convincing speech in favor
of a peace settlement. Stricken by the epidemic, he is increasingly
feverish. Terribly weakened, he is brought to the Hôtel-Dieu
where he passes away. Sister Gallard, a witness to his last moments,
Many (sick Amerindians) are brought to our hospital, and especially one of their notables, named The Rat (Kondiaronk), who was seized the very next day by death. (...). This was a terrible affliction for the nation of this chief. (...) Mr. our Governor, wishing to show them that he shared in their pain, gave him a rifle and a sword, that he deposited alongside the deceased. (...) He was buried in the morning with all of the equipment and ceremonies that would have been done for one of the leading captains. The church (Notre-Dame of Montréal) was draped in black. All of the soldiers were in arms, and let go three volleys when he was put to ground. All of this was done with the view of showing the Iroquois the respect that the French had for their people and especially those who were Christians. Letter
written and sent to France in September 1701 OTHER TRIBUTES Other activities designated as being "in tribute to the Great Peace" will soon complete this program of commemorative activities. These projects are being discussed with the principals and will be posted on the Corporation's Web site as soon as they are confirmed. Tribute to Native youth The Native Friendship Center of Montréal, in association with the Corporation des fêtes de la Grande Paix de Montréal, wishes to pay tribute to the Native youth who will be participating, August 4, in the rabiscaw excursion. These youth will be invited to an evening where they will be mingling with one another in a lively and musical ambience at the Native Friendship Center of Montréal. Tribute to Native women The women of various First Nations will be meeting with the view of paying tribute to those women who have played and are still playing a key role within their respective communities. Tribute to Montréal founding families at the time of the Great Peace In 1701, at the time of the great gathering of First Nations, when their representatives came to Montréal to sign a peace treaty, the city had a total population of 1,200 inhabitants whose names were Archambault, Lacombe, Chartier, Benoist, Langlois, Richard, Dagenais... Upon the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the treaty, the Corporation and the Société généalogique canadienne-française will initiate the general public participating in the activities of the Great Gathering to the genealogy of early French families of New France. |
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