Donnacona (?–˜ 1539)

1534–1541

The famous first Aboriginal chief in the history of Québec, Donnacona met a tragic fate after his first encounters with the explorer Jacques Cartier.

On July 24, 1534, Donnacona was in Gaspé fishing with the inhabitants of Stadacona (Québec City), where he was chief, when Cartier ordered the erection of a cross. Donnacona reacted brusquely: this land was under his authority! That is what he explained to Cartier using gestures. Despite the incident, and after discussion, Donnacona agreed to let his sons Domagaya and Taignoagny travel with the French back to Europe.

Cartier brought back the two young Aboriginals the following year. They were extremely useful guides and translators to him. They helped him discover the St. Lawrence River, Canada and the fortified village of Stadacona, among others. Donnacona was overjoyed to have his sons back, but he had grown suspicious of the French. The settlers wintered in the Sainte-Croix habitation, near the Saint-Charles River, in 1535–1536, and at Charlesbourg-Royal, now Cap-Rouge, in 1541–1542.

Conflicts erupted, particularly because Cartier did not respect Donnacona’s authority. Against the chief’s wishes, Cartier led an expedition to Hochelaga (Montréal). Like most of the Aboriginal chiefs in the 16th to 18th centuries, Donnacona strove to defend the interests of his people and to retain his role as intermediary between the new arrivals and the inland communities.

In 1536, Cartier kidnapped Donnacona, who had become a nuisance to him, as well as his sons and other Aboriginals. They were taken by force back to France and presented to King François I. None of them would return. During his voyage of 1541, Cartier had to justify their absence to the Iroquois of Stadacona. He announced the death of Donnacona, but lied to them, claiming that none of the other Aboriginals had wished to leave France . . .

SUGGESTED READING

Cartier, Jacques. Voyages au Canada, suivis du voyage de Roberval, Montréal, Comeau et Nadeau, 2000.

Trudel, Marcel. “Donnacona,” Dictionnaire biographique du Canada, V. I: “De l’an 1000 à 1700,” Québec, Les Presses de l’Université Laval, 1967, pp. 283–284.