Chapter VI "Diplomacy"
At dawn, as the sun was breaking through a curtain of clouds, Tekakwitha awoke bather in its rays. Beams of sunlight entered through the door, wide open, of the longhouse. Seated on an old tree trunk, l'Aigle (the Eagle) was smoking, lost in thought. A shy good morning from his hostess brought a smile to his face...
Tekakwitha knelt beside the knees of Aigle.
Speak, I beg of you, speak, Aigle, she begged. I wish to return to serve my uncle and my aunts, but I do not want to be the spouse of Renard (Fox) nor of anyone else... I wish to belong only to the Great Spirit... I myself have seen that you are a good man. The Great Spirit loves those who are good like you. I have confidence n you, Aigle. Ask that they leave me be as I was. No one will refuse if it is you who ask this!...
Secretly flattered, the Indian became aware that his protege was also gifted with a keen intelligence since she appreciated his value, the unquestionable conqueror in bloodly battles.
Aigle never promises unless he can be true to his work, this spoken by him in a serious tone of voice. I will go speak with the chief, elder of the tribe. I will return you only if they promise not to mistreat you...
And I will not marry Renard?
Renard! murmured Aigle... I will see to it that he will not trouble the daughter of the Great Spirit... Aigle never forgets. Renard is my enemy...
What marvelous diplomacy must have been the discours spoken by Aigle in the longhouse of the aged parents! The Indiens have been know to be masters of the art of persuasion. They were shrewd and cunning, most of the chiefs were gifted with a remarkable eloquence. One could not admire more the intelligence and the flexibility of the person who was able to tame the frightening rage of the humiliated family, deceived and completely unhinged by that act, for them incomprehenisble and wicked, of their adopted daughter.
As it may be, once Aigle had finished his brillant plea, after some consultation among themselves, the uncle and the aunts, extending solemnly their hands, promised with a common agreement to retake Tekakwitha and to leave her free...
...
The parting took place with great testimony of friendship and respect on the part of everyone.
Aigle felt the awakening of dormant grudges. He was happy to see Renard, his enemy, deeply humiliated... while waiting for something better to happen. He was also very happy to have accomplished the cause of the young girl, who was very pleasing to him, in a way not so common among the Natives.
Evening came, and faithful to his promise, he came to fetch Tekakwitha... he brought her back to her noisy and attentive aunts. Alone, the uncle remained fixed in a sulking silence.
A long look filled with gratitude on the part of Tekakwitha appeared to impress more Aigle than the great expressions of gratitude of the aunts. He left with an enigmatic smile on his lips.
Chapter VII "The Algonquin"
At the breaking of dawn, Tekakwitha returned with her every day grace and calmness to her daily work. The uncle remained cold and sulking but the aunts appeared to have forgotten the painful incident of the night before. Renard was not in the village. No one saw him in the surrounding area. Everything was for the best.
And life continued its peacful course, one season moving on without incidents. But, little by little, Renard was seen. Neighbors, parents rekindled dormant memories. It was found that they had been weak regarding the young wayward Tekakwitha. In fact, was she not unreasonable? Did she love someone secretly, without asking permission? One must see this, for example, that his orphan taken in by pure goodness was also insolent and hyprocritical! Did she not want to just play the part of a stubborn person? These things would not be allowed for this proud girl!
And the situation got worse. The old chief, often absent, limited himself to giving orders with more harshness. He would speak only to the young girl to blame her or to threaten her. She did not cease, nevertheless, to give him a filial submission. But the wonder of wickedness was realized by the aunts and their friends. Tekakwitha was charged with the most difficult work, the longest, and the harshest. The young girls of the village made fun of her every time they met her. The children had fun by lashing out insults and throwing stones at her.
One of the aunts caused great grief for her by making fun of the "mixed blood" which flowed in her veins.
A nothing girl, she said, you are not a true Iroquois. You have the blood of a captive and of a conquered in you. You are nothing but an Algonquin, and we have humiliated your people the day that your mother was brought her by our brother, the great Chief Cerf-Agile!
All the pride of the Indian woman and the love of the child for her mother churned inside the wounded heart of Tekakwitha. She wanted to close shut these cruel lips hurting her with such hate and injustice.
But a ray from On-High, without a doubt, mysterious and sweet, enlightened and comforted the poor little one. She answered nothing. She forgave. She continued to be of service, hard working and loving.
Decidely, she was consired as being weak in spirit.
...
But the nickname stayed with the child of Fleur-de-la-Prairie, like her dear and saintly mother, she was known by everyone as the Algonquin!
Chapter VIII "Serious Events"
In 1663, serious events began a new era in Canada. These events had profound repurcussion upon the country of the Mohawks. The expedition of Mr. de Tracy saved the colony from the Iroquois peril.
...
Four years after the serious events and M. de Tracy's expedition, Tekakwitha saw missionairies for the first time in 1667. She was only eleven years old when the Black Robes entered her village.
The French soliders ravaged the forest, burned the abandonned longhouses, destroyed the crops. In short, the Iroquois understood that, this time, they had to submit to the conquerors with sincerety and good will.
Their speakers, having brought back with them three missionaries mentioned later, were welcomed with great expressions of joy.
Everyone encircled the missionaries respectfully, asking them to instruct them and to stay from now on with them. Tekakwitha followed anxiously the various phases of these serious events. She knew the anguish of flight, the sadness of the return to a devasted country. But she forgot all this while listening to the blessed voice of the missionaries who, at last, came to speak to her about God, of the Virgin, of heaven where rested Fleur-de-la-Prairie.
A providential fact, for the three days during which the missionaries spent at Gandaouagué (Cahnawagha), they lived in the very longhouse where Tekakwitha lived. Since it was the largest and most spacious, the Elder Great Chief of the village was asked to offer his hospitality to the distinguished visitors. The uncle was strongly hostile to any change of beliefs for his nation. But he feared another war with the "whites".
It was absolutely necessary to keep the peace with the new arrivals on American soil; they became very feared. He consented then with good manners to "share the heart fire" with the Black Robes. Tekakwitha was able then to listen to the missionaries at length. She waited on them with respect, with zeal which surprised them and touched them deeply.
Also when finally a priest established himself defintely in the village, Father Jean Pierron, the young girl decided to follow diligently the practices in the chapel, and, secretly, she would prepare herself to ask to be baptized, without suspecting the new, terrible ordeals which were going to fall upon her.
Chapter IX "Near the Chapel..."
Father Pierron stayed three years at Kahnawaké, preaching, comforting, baptizing. He knew how to gain respect and affection among his converts.
Regarding the other inhabitants of the village and of the surrounding area, they came voluntarily to listen to the Black Robe. Intelligent and very curious, when they were not hostile, the Iroquois asked only to be able to hear beautiful sermons given by an outstanding host, and it is in this manner that they thought of their missionary.
First of all, Tekakwitha would pass by and again like a light shadow around the little chapel. Fearful and timid, she hesitated entering. She heard marvelous things being said by the Priest. Then she returned peacefully and meditative to her longhouse, keeping these memories in her heart like the Virgin Mary did at the time when Jesus lived on earth. Little by little, she became more bold and, going along with the others, she was in the habit of following the practices.
One night, while returning from the chapel, she met, not very far from there, Aigle whom she noticed was in a thoughful pose.
A conversation between Tekakwitha and Aigle ensued. Tekakwitha asked him, if he, a great chief, had heard the words of the missionary. Aigle answered that a chief does not have the time to take in these words. Tekakwitha, surprised but timid, asked him this question:
--How can an intelligent man like Aigle ... not understand the things that are so beautiful that the Priest said about the Great Spirit?
...--Tekakwitha, my sister, this is the second time that I find that you are more intelligent than I am. For, you always understand what Aigle doesn't understand!
...--I so love the Great Spirit and everything spoken about Him and I wish that all would hear him, especially my brother Aigle, so good that the Great Spirit must love you well, He who loves so much those who are good ...
Aigle shook his head in silence and left, again impassive. His tall silouette was lost in the shadow of the dense forest.
Tekakwitha dreamed with emotion that only Aigle, among her own people, understood and loved her. She joined her hands and knelt for a few moments before entering. She was praying fervently...
God would take charge Himself to speak to the heart of the great chief, for even if Tekakwitha prayed, she would no longer see Aigle near the chapel.
To be continued ...
(1) Juliette Lavergne, La Vie gracieuse de Catherine Tekakwitha, Editions Fides, Montréal, 1952, pp. 31-55.
(2) Permission to use this work was requested from Fides in an email dated 22 Jan 2005. Response dated 31 January 2005 indicated that the contract for that era needs to be searched.
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Created 1 Feb 2003
