User:Elizacontreras2021/Pieskaret

Pieskaret
Pieskaret

Know as “the terror of the Iroquois” Pieskaret  ( Pieskaret, Diescaret, Piescars )was the chief of the Algonquin Indians of the tribe Tessouat whose territory lies in present day Quebec. The name Pieskaret means “Little Blaze” and was most likely a French corruption of an Algonquin name that had the word Piskone, which means “lights a fire”. To the colonial Pieskaret was know by his baptism name, Chief Simom. Pieskaret was a distinguished war leader who was known for his exploits against the Iroquois. The Iroquois at the time were enemies of the Algonquin. Chief Pieskaret was a French ally and was also a early Catholic Convert. The Algonkin’s would describe him as “ a very brave man,” and the Jesuits wrote that Pieskaret was “a man somewhat noted among his people”. While Pieskaret became well known there are very few incidents that have been recorded of his life. Charlevoix (New France, II, 181, 1866) Stated that Pieskaret was “one of the bravest men ever seen in Canada, and almost incredible stories are told of his prowess.


 * 1) Pieskaret and his Battles
 * 2) Pieskaret and his Faith
 * 3) Stories of Pieskaret

Pieskaret and his Battles

In 1643 Pieskaret was thought to be dead and so he was mourned. It was believed that he had be captured by the tribes enemies the Iroquois. This was proven incorrect when he made an appearance with band with the head of the enemy. Due to a swift break-up the river Pieskaret was able to escape the Iroquois. His return was met with great joy and was “celebrated with dancing and a council was held after which Pieskaret and Tessouat (d. 1654) reported to Chomedey de Maisonneuve their intention to go to Trois-Rivières to formulate plans for the future and to determine if the French were to keep their promise of assistance against the enemy”. In 1645 about early spring where it was still a necessity to pull their canoes onto ice on the St. Lawrence, From Richelieu River to Lake Champlain a war party was being led by Pieskaret. On Richelieu they were met with five boats and a band of 50 Iroquois. Pieskaret and his followers raided this band of Iroquois as well as killing several of them. The raid was met with success and they took two captives with them. According to custom the captives could be seen dancing in the canoes and floating from long sticks there lied enemy scalps, while they were returning to the mission at Sillery. One of the captive Iroquois was Honatteniate, who was treated with kindness by the residents of Sillery. The captive Iroquois were handed to first governor of New France, Huault de Montmagny. After this he send word to the Iroquois that the captives would be set free if the Iroquois were to dispose to treat for peace. The result of this action led to the arrival of the Mohawk chief Kiotseaeton who was an ambassador for the Iroquois, in July.

After the arrival of Kiotseaeton a peace council was held with the Iroquois, the French, the Hurons, Alognkins, and the Montaganis. At the end of this peace council Pieskaret presented furs that symbolized a rock or a tomb to the Iroquois ambassador. The furs were met to be places on the victims graves from the battle that was fought, this was so that they all might be forgiven with no revenge to be sought. Although for a short period of time from 1645-46 there were very important peace and trade negotiations that allowed the Mohawks a share of the northern fur trade. This secretly excluded the pagan Algonkins from French protection.

Due to the growing intensity of the Iroquois menace from 1646-1647 many tribes began to take up residence in the Trois-Rivières area. The events taking place created confusion and controversies began to develop. In order to solve the problems that were being faces the Indians gave Pieskaret to keep the peace between the French and the Indians as well as keep the peace between the Hurons and the Algonkin’s. Give the power to punish delinquents especially if they were at fault of religious ones Pieskaret is said to have discharged his duty faithfully.

Pieskaret and his Faith

It was at the Tori’s-Rivières in 1640 or 1641 where Pieskaret was baptized. He was given the name of Simon by the governor of Tori’s-Rivières, M. de Champflour. Although from 1646-1647 Pieskaret was affected by the very sudden death of Christian convert and nephew of Tessouat, Joseph Oumasasikweie. He made a public confession and renewed his faith which he had originally accepted mainly for diplomatic reasons.

By Pieskaret being so open of Christianity it may indirectly have been the cause of his death. When he was returning from hunting on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Pieskaret was met by a band of Iroquois (who were allowed to hunt in the area due to the treaty in 1645), who were singing a peace song. Even though the rumors of the secret clause in a treaty were already known by Pieskaret and there was an overall fear of an attack he counted on his faith to protect him and he smoked a pipe with the Iroquois. They all were respectful to each other but when Pieskaret continued on his journey he was killed and scalped by on of the Iroquois who has lagged behind.

Stories of Pieskaret

There are many stories about the prowess of Pieskaret. For example Perrot recounts that at one time Pieskaret entered a Iroquois village and killed a whole family then his in the families woodpiles for two nights and was then found on the third. The stories is that he fled and by being agile and nimble he was able to out run those who were chasing him while he took refuge in a tree trunk. Then when the Iroquois set up a cam near him, Pieskaret killed then all in their sleep and “came back laden with their scalps.” Anther tales states that at the mouth of the Sorel River, Pieskaret along with four others sank five Iroquois canoes by lighting them on fire. Then they killed all the enemy’s but two captives that were traveling with them.