The Irish Heritage Trust has released a film entitled Honouring Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee & Huron-Wendat Irish Famine Aid to mark Ireland’s National Famine Commemoration Day. The film pays tribute to the Indigenous peoples in Canada West (now Ontario) who contributed to Irish Famine relief in 1847. Based on newly discovered archival records, it tells the story of their efforts to help alleviate Irish hunger. The film features Indigenous descendants from donor communities reflecting on the compassion of their ancestors. They had donated over £170 in response to a plea for aid on St. Patrick’s Day, 1847.
One of the most poignant letters offering aid was written by Chiefs Joseph Sawyer (Newechekeshequeby, also known as Sloping Sky), and Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby, also known as Sacred Feathers) from the Mississaugas of the Credit who were in the midst of being removed and forced to relocate from their home. Joseph Sawyer’s descendant, Darin Wybenga, Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Coordinator, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, honours the generosity of his ancestors and other First Nations in Canada West.
Chief Laurie Carr of Hiawatha First Nation paid tribute to her ancestor George Paudash. He wrote on 27 March, 1847, that “our hearts swell with grief at the thought of any of our fellow creatures dying for want of food”. “This letter brings great pride and honour to me as a descendant of George Paudash, my fourth great-grandfather,” she declared. “To know that our ancestors back in 1847 were giving even in their own hard times, we carry that today, we carry that blood memory, and we still care, we don’t want to see people suffer”, she added.
“We have heard that a dark cloud is resting upon the dominions of our Great Mother the Queen”, wrote the
Chippewas of Sarnia First Nation (now Aamjiwnaang First Nation) on 3 May, 1847, “and that thousands of her white children in Ireland and Scotland are suffering from famine and disease. Our hearts have been pained by this, and we wish to express our sympathy with the sufferers and assist them a little”.
Chief Peter Nogy from Chemong Lake (now Curve Lake First Nation) committed aid in a letter written on 5 April, 1847 “to assist our friends in the British settlements for the friendship that we have received from them in former times”.
Honouring Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee & Huron-Wendat Irish Famine Aid is part of a program of events and film releases that continues until June 2024. It is hosted by the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, and Irish Heritage Trust in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa and the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme funds it.
Visit the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park website to learn more.♦
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