Ignored Christians in Ossernenon…

First, let us locate Ossernenon, which is called Auriesville today. This small hamlet is located in Glen in the Montgomery County (New York State). A shrine was erected there (Our Lady of Martyrs) dedicated to Canadian martyrs of New France.

But what exactly happened in Ossernenon?

In Ossernenon, Huron chief Eustache Ahatsistari, a resident of the St. Joseph mission (Huronia), was taken prisoner while escorting missionaries (Isaac Jogues and René Goupil) and other Hurons returning home. Baptized on Holy Saturday 1642, this new believer died in August of the same year, under Iroquois' torture. In the midst of the flames, Eustace made a request begging that his death does not cause harm to the many efforts to establish peace with the Iroquois people. Renouncing the temptation of revenge is not a usual war custom in force at that time, and shows an authentic sign of conversion for an Indian.

In Ossernenon, René Goupil, a young surgeon who had come to collaborate in Jesuit missions, was made prisoner and kept as a slave. René will receive a deadly axe as he traced the sign of the cross on a child, on September 29, 1642. He had just recently engaged himself as a Jesuit.

 In Ossernenon, the Jesuit Isaac Jogues nicknamed "Ondessonk" by the Hurons because of his zeal, will be captured twice. Thanks to his timely and courageous action, that led the way to a peace treaty that was signed with the Agniers before his 2e capture. But he was accused subsequently of being the cause of poor harvests, which led to his martyre on October 18, 1646.

In Ossernenon, on the same expedition as Isaac Joques, René Goupil and Eustache Ahatsistari, a young Christian Huron named Thérèse Oionhaton was brought into captivity for the rest of her days. She is a relative of Joseph Chiwatenhwa, (her father, according to historian Du Creux) who was the first pillar of the Huron Church evangelized by Jean de Brébeuf (see Joseph Chiwatenhwa). Fulfilling the desire of Chiwatenhwa, she spent two years with the Ursuline sisters of Quebec and with Marie of the Incarnation. Previously in Quebec city, she has led to faith several Hurons of her tribe. Her testimony is narrated and preserved in the original documents of New France. Because of her young age, Thérèse was integrated into the tribe. All joint efforts of the governor and the Ursulines for her release were unsuccessful. The missionaries finally found her at a later date (1655) during a tribe visit. Tenacious believer, she remained faithful to prayers she had been taught. The Mohawks have given her in marriage to an Iroquois. She lived a little isolated, raising her children in peace. Was she the wife of the famous Garakonthié (1653 young adult - 1678… as claimed by a history book on New France?  That would explain the commitment of this leader who asked to be baptized. He will be officially baptized at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Quebec by Bishop Laval. His skills and efforts have largely contributed to establish peace and protect the French people. What is the impact of this young Christian Amerindian for her tribe? 

In Ossernenon, the collaborator of Isaac Jogues, Jean of the Lande gave his life on October 19, 1646, alongside the missionary. He knew what could happen by involving in the mission, choosing nevertheless to participate.

I stop here but I could go on, over and over again…

In light of narrated events, it is easy to observe that the missionaries, found in Ossernenon, are well known and honored. We are familiar with the names of Brebeuf, René Goupil, Isaac Jogues or even Jean de Lalande. In comparison, vibrant testimonies of some Amerindians like Eustace Ahatsistari, Therese Oionhaton, Joseph Chiwatenhwa and Garakonthié are ignored. 

To emphasize the involvement and enthusiasm of these indigenous, why should there not be a feast, a sort of "All Saints" to pay tribute to these women and men, with the missionaries, who gave their lives to bring the Gospel to this country?

Catherine Jean

Article from the website Tendances et Enjeu (Trends and Issue), published on October 18, 2012, and adapted for this publication.