Agnesse

Fort Chambly National Historic Site

Agnesse, smuggler Kanienkehaka (Mohawk)

We do not know Agnesse's Kanienkehaka* name. She lived in Kahnawake. She cultivated fields of corn, squash and beans with her daughters and the other women of the village. As head of the family, Agnesse often travelled to visit relatives in the Lake Champlain Valley.

During her travels, Agnesse carried smuggled goods. More than 300 kilometres separated Kahnawake from Albany. Between May and July 1753, she made the trip three times! Agnesse took the opportunity to buy cheap, beautifully coloured woollens and metal utensils. These were gifts that were greatly appreciated by her relatives!


* Kanienkehaka: Name the Mohawks use to refer to themselves

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