Matooskie

Matooskie, also known as Anne[1] "Nancy" McKenzie (c. 1790 – 24 July 1851[2]) (other surnames: McTavish [first marriage], Le Blanc [second marriage]), was a First Nations woman from Canada, specifically of the Chipewyan (Dënesųłı̨né) nation.[3]

Image of Matooskie (date unknown)

Early life

Matooskie's father, Roderick Mackenzie, worked for the North West Company in Athabasca Country since 1789. When he left for Lower Canada in 1801, he did not take Matooskie with him. Instead, he placed her in the care of John Stuart, who later moved to New Caledonia in British Columbia.[2]

First marriage

In 1813, Matooskie married John George McTavish, a partner in the North West Company, à la façon du pays (a type of common-law marriage between European male fur traders and Indigenous women, which was practised in the fur-trade society). After the merger of the North West Company with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821, McTavish assumed the role of chief factor, overseeing York Factory.[2] During this time, Matooskie achieved unusually high status for a wife married in this manner and became well-established within the social hierarchy of York Factory.[3]

Matooskie and McTavish had seven daughters together. However, in 1830, McTavish married a Scottish woman[2] named Catherine Aitken Turner, while in Edinburgh.[4] He abandoned Matooskie and their children, leaving George Simpson, an administrator of the Hudson's Bay Company, to handle the situation.[5] Matooskie and her children found refuge at the Fort Alexander trading post under the care of Stuart and her uncle, Donald McKenzie. Donald McKenzie denounced McTavish for his deception and called for significant compensation for Matooskie. It was settled that she was to be given a dowry of £200.[2]

Poor Matooskie is now here and is become in reality, what her name imports,[lower-alpha 1] she is not only an object of real pity but a picture of wretchedness ... It is not for me to say what could be your aim in discarding her, whom you clasped to your bosom in virgin purity and had for 17 years with you. She was the wife of your choice and has born you seven children, now stigmatized with ignominy ... if with a view of domestick happiness you have thus acted, I fear the aim has been missed and that remorse will be your portion for life ... I will never become your enemy, but ... I am done. She has friends that will not submit to see her suffer ... I think it is as well and that it will be more agreeable to you our correspondence may cease.
— Letter from John Stuart to McTavish following his abandonment of Matooskie.[1][5][6]

The abandonment of Matooskie by McTavish was widely condemned, even by those who did not agree with marriage à la façon du pays. Rumours spread among the white settlers that McTavish was abusive and a drunkard.[5] The actions of prominent figures like McTavish and Simpson undermined the legitimacy of such marriages and reduced the status of Indigenous women to that of mistresses. When British wives came to Canada from their home country, there was increased racism towards Indigenous women, a de-legitimization of marriages between Indigenous women and white fur-traders, and attempts to exclude Indigenous women from being accepted in "respectable" society.[2]

Move and second marriage

After McTavish's abandonment, Matooskie was sent by George Simpson to Fort Bas de la Rivière, along with other former "country wives" such as Margaret Taylor. Both received an allowance of £30.[2]

Despite initially not wanting to remarry after her experience with McTavish, Matooskie later married Pierre Le Blanc, a French Canadian and long-time employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. Le Blanc was in charge of Lower Fort Garry. Matooskie converted to Catholicism and was baptized before marrying Le Blanc on February 7, 1831.[2][6][7][8] In 1838, Le Blanc was assigned to the Columbia District. When stationed there, the family – accompanied by Catholic clergymen Modeste Demers and François Norbert Blanchet – crossed the Rocky Mountains. On 22 October,[2] a major incident occurred when their boat encountered the dangerous Dalles des Morts (Death Rapids) on the Columbia River. Twelve out of the 26 passengers, including Le Blanc and two of their children, drowned. Only one child, Grace, survived.[1]

Following her second husband's death, Matooskie and her youngest daughter Grace resided at Fort Vancouver. Matooskie died 24 July 1851 at Fort Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia).[2]

See also
  • Kevin Clifton, English professional dancer and five times great grandson of Matooskie

Notes
  1. Meaning "object of pity" in the Chipewyan language (Dënesųłı̨né Yatıé).[2]

References
  1. Who Do You Think You Are? (United Kingdom series), Series 20, Ep. 4/9 - Kevin Clifton
  2. Van Kirk, Sylvia (1985). "McKENZIE, NANCY". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. VIII (1851-1860).
  3. Raffan, James (2007). Emperor of the North: Sir George Simpson & the remarkable story of the Hudson's Bay Company. Toronto: HarperCollins. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-0-00-200783-2.
  4. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. William Blackwood. 1830. p. 964.
  5. Miller, J. R. (1 January 1991). Sweet Promises: A Reader on Indian-White Relations in Canada. University of Toronto Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-8020-6818-7.
  6. Kirk, Sylvia Van (1983). Many Tender Ties: Women in Fur-trade Society, 1670-1870. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-8061-1847-5.
  7. Brown, Jennifer S. H. (1 January 1996). Strangers in Blood: Fur Trade Company Families in Indian Country. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-8061-2813-9.
  8. The Publications of the Champlain Society. Champlain Society. 1947. p. 34.
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