Monument to the Algonquin Chief Tessouat

If you walk towards the waterfront at the Museum of History you will find a section devoted towards indigenous people. There you will find an artists representation sculpure of Tessouat (Besouat) an Algonquian Chief from the Kitchesipirini nation. In 1600 Bessouat controlled the waterway between the St Lawrence river via the Ottawa river. Tessouat charged and enforced a fee for Huron, northern tribes and European settlers, such as Samuel de Champlain, to cross his water route territory.Note: Charging a fee was and still is a common custom for both Europeans and Indigenous people's cultures, so that is nothing new.Champlain used this passageway to support the exploration and settlements of New France and France's development of their fur trade that was in competition with Britian and the Hudson Bay Company. It was therefore necessary for Champlain to form an alliance with Tessouat to fight common enemies, the British and Iroquois.Champlain and Tessouat had a relationship of mutual respect and Champlain wrote that Tessouat was a kind old chief. "When I read the plaque accompanying Tessouat's image. I get a different impression without having done this additional research. Also I find the information plaque to be insensitive. Why would it mention that Tessouat had only one eye and then the next sentence call him a visionary. I recommend that you go to this area to learn more about Canada's rich history.Truth and reconsolidation is essential for Canadians to move forward.If you like my reviews