Ayd the Pagans of Walpole Island First Nation: Resistance to the Anglican Church, 1845 - 1885
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A iVUMIANY (THE PRAYER PEOPLE) AYD THE PAGANS OF WALPOLE ISLAND FIRST NATION: RESISTANCE TO THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, 1845 - 1885 A Thesis submitted to the Cornmittee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty of Arts and Sciencs TRENT UNIVERSITY Peterborough, Ontario. Canada Q Copyright by Sheldon Krasowski, 1998 Canadian Heritage and Development Studies M.A. Program June 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale u*) of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Welhngton Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON 5 1A ON4 Ottawa ON K 1 A ON4 Canada Carada Ynur h& Votre tekfence Out Bk, Notre rel6rencs The author bas granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur fmnat électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copynght in ths thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Canada The totem or clan figures represent the signatures of the Chiers and councilors at Walpole Island. From "Brie f Statement And Translation thereof respecting W. Island Indians" by William N. Fisher Interpreter, 1870. Courtesy of the Walpole Island Heritage Centre. Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgements Chronology of Events relating to the Anglican Church at Walpole Island First Nation v i Maps of Walpole Island vii ... Pre face VI1 1 Chapter One: Introduction Chapter Two: Methodology Chaptcr Thrce: Walpole Island in the Nineteenth Century Chaptcr Four: Historical Contrxt to the Jamieson Papers Chapter Five: The Jamieson Papers Chapter Six: The Conversion Process Chapter Seven: Conciusions Bibliography Notes on Trrminology and Glossary of Ternis Appendix A: Quantitative Information fiom the Jamieson Papers Appendix B: Transcription of the Jamieson Papers A Nwriu/zy (The Praycr Peoplc) And The Pagans Of Walpole Island First Nation: Resistance To The Anglican Churih 1845 - 1885 The focus of this thesis is the letten and reports written by Reverend Andrcw lamieson. Anglican missionary to Walpole island from 1845 to 1885. Jarnieson's letters and reports are held as the Jamieson Papers at the Cronyn Mernorial Archives ai the Anglican Diocese of 1-liiron, in London, Ontario. This thesis argues tliat the Jamieson Papers reveal much resistancr to the Anglican church tiom the Walpole Island community. Resistance to assiniilation policies is a central theme in the history of Walpole Island First Nation. The Walpole Island Hentage Ccntrr has docurnented resistance to the ,Methodist and Jesuit missionaries in the early nineteenth ccntury, and rcsisiance to the Department of Indian Affairs and the Indian Agent sysiem in the twentieth ccntury. My analysis of the lamirson Püpers continues this thcme of resistancc, refuting secondary literature written by John Webster Grant, and Elizabeth Graham who claimed that Jarnieson converted most of the Walpole Island community to Christianity dunng his tenure on the island. Many thanks are due at the completion of this thesis, which certainly would ncver have been finished without the hclp and encouragement of many people. I first want to thank Winona Stevenson, as it was her inspiration that led me to graduate school, and her guidance as the extemnl comrnittee member that hclped me to compleie this thesis while living in Saskatoon. 1 also want to thank my supervisor David Newhouse for his patience, and for setting aside tirne for long meetings in which to discuss my thesis revisiom. The rest of my comrnittee providcd incredible support, especially Peter Kulchyski during rny second year at Trent University, and John Milloy dunng my first year. 1 must thank Louise Garrow for hcr comments on my early drafls, and Barb Rivett for lier help and suppon in the Native Studies department. 1 must also thank the exiemal examiner Douglas Leighton, for his thoroiigh comments and suggestions. While writing this thcsis 1 relied upon the students and hculty at three Nativc!Indian Studies departments (Saskatchewan lndian Federated Colle&s Indinn Studies department, Trent University and the University of Saskatchewan's Native Studies departments) which provided a wealth of knowledge. 1 rnust thank Rudolpho Pino, Minam McNab. Danny Musqua, Marlene Davey, Trxey Robinson, Debra Laliberte, Neal Macleod, April Chiefcalf, Sophie Malinoski, and many of my fellow students ai Saskatchewan Indian Federated College. From the University of Saskatchewan 1 must thank Ron Laliberte, Jack Smith, Crystal Kozar, Michelle Heslop, Colby Zaph, Cheryl Holst, and especially Maria Campbell for her teachings and inspiration. OF course al1 rny colleagues in Native Studies and graduate studies at Trent University were incredibly supportive. 1 would especially like to thank Shirley Williams, Pau; Dourgeois, D'arcy Rheault, Paulette Nichols, Winnie Janzen, Sheena Symington, Jrmnette Mcnzies, Enn Windatt, Shanna Balaz, and my friend and roomate, John-Paul Gouett. 1 would like to thank Dean Jacobs and the Walpole Island Heritage Centre for allowing me to conduct this research, and David McNab for suggesting the Jarnieson Papcrs as n topic. My family has bcen incredibly supportive, and 1 thank theni for thcir encouragement and understanding. 1 would also like to thank Frank Tough, now at the University of Alberta, for his advice as reluctant mentor and his guidance. My most heartfelt thanks goes to Robin Smith who painstakingly read my thesis drafts, provided comments and encouragement throughout the revisions, and taught me many lcssons dong the way. It was through her example and guidance that 1 managcd to complete this thesis. v i Cltroitology of Evrnts relating to the Atiglicait Cltrirdr ai Walpole klattd First Nation 1790 The land surrenders begin in present day southem Ontario (Walpole Island is not surrendered). 1823 Methodist missionary Peter Jones visits Walpole Island. 1839 Jesuit missionaries arrive ai Walpolc Island. 1 84 1 Anglican missionary Reverend Colman amves ai Walpole Island. 1843 Revererd Coleman leaves and the Anglican missionary Reverend Carey arrives at Wrilpolc Island. 1843 Anglican Churcti (St George's) and school are built by the Department of Indian A fhi rs. 1844 Father Chuelle organizes the Ojibwa-Jesuit debatc ai Walpole Island. 1 845 Reverend Andrew Jamieson amves at Walpole Island. 1849 Chief Petwegizhik biirns down the Jesuit church. 1859 Beginning of the tirst quarterly report to the Society for ihe Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts wntten by Jarnieson. 1860 Jamieson and family move to Algonac, Michigan. 1870 Jamieson travels to Europe on a fundraising tour for a new church (St. John's). 1885 Death of Reverend Jamieson at the age of 61. vii Maps of Walpole Islarzd First Narion Taken [rom Wuipoie Island: The Sotri of Idian Territory Preface: "There is another story to be told" /IIgetierlui rty tiur'rutive i.i urr uatobiogrupliicul uccorrrif. Specrfically il i.s uri trct of die irrltryitlatiori. IYhi / tltrtt rrly triind to tyeurly lu;, if is the irr~ilyitiu~ivepart of it tiiut ~wrrr~sfirsturid irresistib/_r*irlto reuch, utid oj'tht part / take lioltf. This i.s orle irvqto dl u stoy. /II ~fiisirzst~rr~ce il U my wuy, (IIZCIit is tilt>itlq* oj'tny people. When Pohd-lolik toid u story lie hrycrji by brirrg qirirt. Tlicri lie snid A!:-keuh-de, "Tlrey nwt. ctrrnpitrg, " clrd iw suid it rvery lime. / iws ttying to wite iri the smir wc!y, itr the sarne spirit. /r)rugirrc: T'q, ivere canpir~g N. Scott Momaday's The Nurrics Wliile attcmpting to clarify the focus of resistance in this thcsis David Nswt-ousc (my siipervisor) said, "it seems like there is another story to be told in your research." The story was of resistancc to assimilation polices, and it needed to be told in ordcr to cmphasize the power of Aboriginal pcoples in the face of adversity. My intcrcst in Nativc resistance to assimilation policies began at thc University of Saskatchewan where I was an iindergradiiate in Nativc Studies. The courses 1 took focuscd on Aboriginal culture areas, the Fur Trade, Native politics, and Native and non Native relations. These topics provided good background information: but 1 became specifically interested in Native resistance and soon discovered that there was very little information written on thc topic in universities. My search for the story of resistance led me to the Walpole Island Heritaçe Centre in 1994 where I intended to research the communities resistance to Iesuit missionaries for my undergraduate honours paper. Dean Jacobs, director of the hcriiage centre, was kind cnough to meet me and spent an aftemoon explaining the history of Walpole Island. At the end of his discussion he said: "and now here comes the test." My eyes gew, and 1 think my jaw dropped slightly as he asked, "What is the number of one resource ai Walpole Island First Nation?" Luckiiy 1 had studied some of Walpole Island's Iiistory and knew the answer was bureabc. xy, as the commiinity had taken over the administration of programs from the Departnient of 1i:dian Affairs. Dean Jacobs claimcd the test was given because some researchers had pblished material that the comniunity was not happy with. He wanted to show that the Hentage Ccntre had autliority over their research materials and archivai documents, and as keepers of the Walpole Island's histories they would be best able to provide guidance to my research.