HURON CHIEF TSAOUENHOHOUI (NICOLAS VINCENT) BORN
Born in Jeune-Lorette (Wendake), Quebec, Tsaouenhohoui (“One who plunges things into the water”), or Tsawenhohi (“He who sees clearly”), was baptized “Nicolas Vincent.” Named War Chief in 1803, he became Grand Chief of Lorette by 1810. As Grand Chief, he tried to reclaim Huron lands from colonizers and loggers. In 1825, along with Council Chiefs, André Romain (Tsohahissen) and Stanislas Koska (Aharathanha), and War Chief, Michel Tsiewei (Téhatsiendahé), he traveled to England where, on April 8, 1825, King George IV received the four Huron chiefs. In French, Vincent offered a blessing to the king. In 1819, he became the first Native to speak to the Assembly of Lower Canada. In 1829, at the request of colonial authorities, he drew the map known as the ‘Vincent Plan’ identifying hunting lands used by the Hurons. The final Huron chief to bear the name Tsaouenhohoui, he was one of the last hereditary chiefs. He remained Grand Chief until his death on October 31, 1844 in Jeune-Lorette.
Source: Georges E. Sioui (Atsistahonra), “Vincent, Nicolas,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. 7, 1988. Retrieved 6/27/2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/vincent_nicolas_7E.html Lithograph: Edward Chatfield (1802-1839), 1825. Public Domain in U.S.: Pre 1/1/1925. Public Domain elsewhere where copyright term is author’s life plus 70 years or less.
