News and Reflections: "A Legendary Man – Chief Membertou." (Courtesy: Ontario Metis Family Records Center (omfrc.org)) -- April 14, 2022

The following quotation, and blog post link are provided courtesy of the  Ontario Metis Family Records Center (omfrc.org): https://omfrc.org/2017/01/legendary-man-chief-membertou/

"Jesse Fleche, a secular priest who had accompanied Poutrincourt to further the Christian mission, then made quick inroads with the Mi’kmaq people.  Shortly after his arrival, Chief Membertou along with 21 members of his immediate family were baptized.  Membertou was given the baptismal name of “Henry” in honour of the King, thereby officially converting to Christianity.  This act forged the beginning of a very important relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the Church.  The Concordat (or Treaty) of 1610 was recorded on a great wampum belt, the most common way to catalogue such treaties in Native Nations at the time.  It signified a relationship between the Grand Council and the Pope, and the Mi’kmaq people.  This agreement involved the Mi’kmaq people protecting priests and French Catholic settlers, and in turn, the Church granted certain religious authorities to the Mi’kmaq Nation.  It afforded the Mi’kmaq sovereignty, and affirmed the Roman Catholic religion as the “official state religion” of the Mi’kmaq.  This was a good deal for Membertou and his people.  Many European settlers attempted to convert Native peoples, however, the French were not actively pursuing the destruction of Mi’kmaq culture and the assimilation of her people making such an accord more readily acceptable."

Click here to read the rest of the blog post.

Citation: Admin. (2017, January 31). "A Legendary Man – Chief Membertou." Metis Family Records Center (omfrc.org).  https://omfrc.org/2017/01/legendary-man-chief-membertou/ Accessed 4/14/2022.