Histories of the Metis
Metis Culture and History 1655-1659
"Those Coureurs de Bois are Caesar's."
Metis and Coureurs De Bois trade paths are found already established in many areas. Documentation of Metis settlements in Wisconsin appear.
1655 Samson's map of 1655 and Du Creux's map of 1660 clearly defines the New France Canadian limits that include Hudson Bay to Eastern Lake Superior, all of Lake Huron and all lands East.
November 28, a death; (I)-Pierre Delaunay, born 1616, is killed by the Iroquois; location not mentioned.
1656 David LeMoyne of Diepe died at Lake Tiohero in Iroquois Country of a bloody flux.
The use of the eqaulettes on Indian and Metis long shirts is traced to before this date making the traditional assumption of European military origin debatable. The east coast Indians called Europeans "coatmen" giving credibility to the long held origin belief.
1657 Medard Chouart (1618-1696) of Groseillier reported the existence of Lake Winnipeg Lake Burbon), Hudson Bay and many rivers to other oceans. The Algonquian had told him that they are aware of three oceans to the North West of the Great Lakes. Pierre d'Esprit Radisson (1640-1710) joined his family at Three Rivers after returning from the Onondaga country and joined forces with Medart Chouart (1618-1696), of Groseillier who had married his half-sister.
April 16, Trois Rivieres, marriage (I)-Pierre Couc dit Lafleur, born 1624, married Marie Mite8ameg8k8e born 1631, died January 8, 1699 Trois Rivers a Algonquine.
1658 Nicholas Perrot (Pere) and Joly Coeur (Jolly Soul) (1644-1718), a Coureurs des Bois, (also an engage of the Jesuit in his memories of 1658) mentioned Nipigon River and Lake Nipigon (Ontario). Medard Chouart (1618-1696) of Groseillier and Pierre d'Esprit Radisson (1640-1710) explored Lake Superior.
Radisson reported that the portage of Keeweenaw Point, used to avoid a circuitous around on the south shore of Lake Superio,r is well marked by the feet of the commers and goers. This further supports the contention that many coureur de bois had ventured west of Lake Superior years earlier. Pierre d'Esprit Radisson (1640-1710) at the time of his first trip to Lake Superior said "those Coureurs de Bois are Caesar's, being nobody to contradict them." They are traveling everywhere, illegally without permit. These Coureurs de Bois and Metis explorers could not record their discoveries as the Jesuits and authorized explorers wanted to control history and the fur trade. Pierre d'Esprit Radisson (1640-1710) is reported to have visited the Dakota.
It would appear that much historical confusion exists during this period. The Radisson venture is recorded as between 1658 to 1660. There is no doubt the Coureur de Bois traveled the traditional Indian waterways that would lead to the Stony Mountains and/or the known three oceans. The Coureurs de Bois included many Metis and both are out for adventure, not being encumbered with tradition, culture, power, wealth or recognition. They are intoxicated with the Native culture, their freedom, abundance of food and the beauty of the country. To the Coureurs de Bois the French Religious tradition must have seemed like Hell on Earth and the Indian tradition the lost paradise found.
March 23, LaMote and Tieri were condemned by the Gentlemen of the Council of Quebec to pay a fine of 500 livres, each, for having sold trade goods at a higher price than the tariff.
March 31, Monsieur Chartier condemned the sieur Lespinay, with his associates, for entering into contract with the Hospital Nuns to enter into trade because this was not allowed. It is noteworthy that the Priests could enter into trade but not the Nuns.
1659 Medard Chouart (1618-1696) of Groseillier and Pierre d'Esprit Radisson (1640-1710) as Coureurs de Bois established a trading post at Chequamegon Bay, on the south shore of Georgian Bay, among some of the displaced Wendat and Ottawa peoples. Other historians contend the location of Chequamegon Bay is La Pointe, Madeleine Island, Wisconsin and the party built a log cabin and wintered in that location. They also confirmed the Jesuit reports that many Coureurs de Bois had preceded them into this region.
Others contend they traded Lake Michigan and Lake Superior returning to Sault Ste Marie where they wintered with twenty nine Frenchmen. Others suggest they pushed beyond the western end of Lake Superior and are the first recorded official French party to meet with the Dakota. Other accounts suggest they also reported that much beaver existed to the north by way of Lake Winnipeg (Lake Bourbon) and from the Cree they learned that Hudson Bay existed north of Lake Winnipeg. The confusion, some contend, is because the Chequamegon Territory covers all the Lake Superior area and may also refer to all lands occupied by the Ojibwa, and that is a vast region.
The Iroquois French war resulted in the capture of many French men and women who are placed in bondage, some resulting in marriage resulting in many mixed blood children.
Six canoe of Sault (Ojibwa) arrived Three Rivers among 33 canoe from inland of Attikameg and Piskatang. (I)-Louis Garnaud of Grimaudiere (1641-1698) arrived during the summer at Quebec being the first of the American Garneau clan in New France. He is the only known Garnaud to immigrate into the Americas. The name change to Garneau occurred about 1703.
(II) Pierre Trottier (1644-1693) owned a trading permit for Outaouais in 1659??. (Source Lyle Trottier.) This is likely an error. Since Pierre would have been age 15, it is more likely he is listed on a travel permit or the date is in error.