Remembering Maungwudaus of the Mississaugas

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, and we will be exploring stories relating to Indigenous history in this series throughout the month.

Portrait of Maungwudaus by Paul Kane, 1851, image from the Tacoma Art Museum

George Henry (c.1807-c.1888), better known by his Anishinaabe name Maungwudaus (which is translated to mean “the great hero” or “courageous one”), was a prominent figure among the Indigenous Mississaugas. Throughout his life, Maungwudaus embraced spirituality, cultural expression, and adaptability. He was a member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and part of his youth was spent along the banks of the Credit River here in historic Mississauga; he was the grandson of Chief Wahbanosay, and may have been either the half-brother or close cousin of Kahkewaquonaby (Reverend Peter Jones).

In the early 1800s, Methodist missionaries were among the most active Christian evangelists in Upper Canada as part of a broader nationwide missionary effort. At that time, missionaries perceived Indigenous people as spiritually "lost" but believed they could be redeemed through conversion, agriculture, and Christian education. Maungwudaus, being raised at the Credit Mission, became deeply affected by these missionary efforts and eventually converted to Christianity.

Chief Maungwadaus, portrait by Donald McDonnell, 1855, image from the Art Institute of Chicago

He worked closely with Reverend Peter Jones, a fellow Methodist convert and prominent leader. Maungwudaus became well-known for his ability to read, write and communicate in English and Anishinaabe. This skill allowed him to serve as a translator and exhorter within the Methodist church. Maungwudaus’ translations sought to incorporate the Anishinaabe worldview into Christian texts and hymns, infusing them with elements of the natural world and a spiritual connection to the land that resonated with his people. These interpretations were sometimes regarded as misrepresentations of Christian doctrine, ultimately leading to a rift between him and the Methodist church. Maungwudaus found the church’s views to be narrow and limiting to his Indigenous identity, prompting his return to more traditional Anishinaabe spiritual practices.

He left the Credit River in 1830-31 and travelled to New York, and in 1832 moved to Muncey (near London, Ontario), where he was a teacher and preacher. In 1837 he was elected as Chief of the Credit River Mississaugas.

Daguerreotype image of Maungwadaus, c1846, image from Library and Archives Canada

In 1844, Maungwudaus organized an Indigenous troupe consisting of his wife, children, and a few friends, and toured Britain, France, and Eastern North America from 1845 to 1848. After the tragic passing of his wife Hannah and three of their children from smallpox, Maungwudaus continued to travel throughout the United States and Canada until 1852, performing dances and exhibitions highlighting particular aspects of Indigenous culture and seeking to introduce audiences to Indigenous regalia, dance, and teachings.

Maungwudaus was amongst the first North American Indigenous peoples to publicly share Anishinaabe heritage in Europe, trailblazing Indigenous self-representation and identity to an international audience. He worked diligently with his family to uphold their traditional values while also adopting aspects of Christianity and navigating the settler systems of the time. While in Europe, the group was received by high society – meeting with dignitaries, performing at prestigious venues, and even dining with members of the European Royal families.

After returning to North America, Maungwudaus and his troupe began to promote themselves as lecturers, presenting on the manners and customs of the Anishinaabe peoples. In addition to his lectures, Maungwudaus published several accounts of his travels, sharing reflections on his experiences as an Indigenous man journeying through Europe and North America.

After years of performing, Maungwudaus turned to herbal medicine and settled in New York, where he gained recognition as a natural healer and medicine man. He spent the remainder of his life practicing herbal medicine, a craft he had learned from his ancestors. They taught him about the medicinal properties of plants and the best times to harvest them for optimal potency.

Maungwudaus led an influential and multifaceted life, which allowed him to significantly impact his community. From his early years at the Credit Mission through his travels as an adult, his experiences reflect the broader struggles of Indigenous people in Canada during the 18th century as they faced colonization, Christianization, loss of identity and land, and attempts at assimilation. As Vince Vanguard wrote: “Maungwudaus was a trailblazer, a man who dared to defy the norms of his time. He wasn't just a performer; he was an educator, using his platform to enlighten audiences about the rich cultural heritage of the Ojibwe.”

For more on the remarkable life and times of Maungwudaus, please see “Mississauga Portraits: Ojibwe Voices from Nineteenth-Century Canada” by Donald B. Smith (2013) and “First People, First Voices” by Penny Petrone (1984), amongst many other resources.

The City of Mississauga, in collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, will host a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Saturday, June 21, starting at 5:00 pm at Celebration Square.