Joseph Onasakenrat

Who was Joseph Onasakenrat?

Joseph Onasakenrat, also known as Sosé Onasakenrat was a Mohawk chief of Kanesatake.

Onasakenrat was born near Oka, Quebec. In 1860, he entered the Petit Séminaire de Montréal where he studied for the priesthood for about four years. He returned to Oka and joined the local Sulpician seminary as secretary.

Onasakenrat was elected chief of the Mohawk community on July 25, 1868. Almost immediately, the new chief travelled to Ottawa to meet with the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Onasakenrat petitioned the government to return land to the Mohawks which was, at the time, held by the Sulpicians. He accused the seminary of exploiting the natives and of intentionally keeping them impoverished. The seminary threatened to excommunicate anyone involved in the petition, prompting Onasakenrat, along with most of the Mohawk community, to leave the Catholic Church and convert to Methodism that winter.

On February 18, 1869 he confronted the Sulpicians again when he challenged their authority over the land by cutting down a large elm tree without permission. One week later, backed by an armed band of forty men, Onasakenrat demanded that the Sulpicians leave Oka within eight days. The priests refused to leave, and instead obtained a warrant for his arrest. Montréal police arrived and arrested the group, although they were released a few days later.