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Membertou

First Nations Chief Membertou
Library and Archives Canada

Profession: First Nations Chief

Nationality: Micmac

Biography: Membertou was a influential and formidable Micmac chief (saqamaw) who interacted with and helped protect the French settlement of Port Royal, in modern Nova Scotia.

In 1610 he and 20 members of his family were the first, First Nations people to be baptized by the French. He was given the names Henri and while there is no indication he renounced his traditional beliefs he agreed to be buried on Christian ground in 1611.

As he claimed to have met the explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534 as a grown man, he was likely aged about 100 when he died.

Birthplace: , Mi'kmaq nation

Died: September 18, 1611

Historical Events

  • 1610-06-24 Micmac chief Membertou and 20 of his family are the first people of the First Nations to be baptized by Christian missionaries in Port-Royal, New France

Biographies and Sources

  • Membertou - Dictionary of Canadian Biography

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