The Abitakijikokwe Discovery

Verification Phase

Cross-Reference Validation

Each child traced forward to establish complete family documentation:

Gabriel Jr. (b. June 1790):

• FamilySearch Film #100437666, Image 683

• Citation: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9JB-7FTN

• Mother identified as "Sauteuse" (Ojibwe/Saulteaux)

• Traced to adulthood with confirmed parentage

Angelique (b. ~1792):

• FamilySearch Film #100437666, Image 682

• Citation: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9JB-7FRB

• Age at baptism: 6 years

• Death: April 15, 1819

Joseph Claude (b. June 1797):

• Same baptism record as siblings

• Age at baptism: 16 months

• Traced to adulthood

François (b. Sept 10, 1799):

• FamilySearch Film #100437666, Image 707

• Citation: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9JB-7NJJ

• Died: April 3, 1801

• Death Record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSV5-TS5M-9

• Complete birth-death cycle documented

Marie Louise (b. Jan 24, 1802):

• Oka Parish Records

• Citation: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSV5-TSPB-C

• Mother listed as "Marie Josephte Tabitakijokoke"

• Died: May 27, 1803

• Death Record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSV5-TSP1-4

Louis (b. 1806):

• Baptismal record in parish registers

• No death record found in searched parishes

• Likely survived to adulthood

Name Analysis

"Abitakijkokwe" Deconstruction:

• Recognized Algonquian language structure

• The suffix "-ikwe" means "woman" in Ojibwe

• Consistent with Ojibwe naming patterns

• Various spellings in records (Abitakijikokwe, Abitakijkok8e, Tabitakijokoke) reflect French attempts to phonetically record an Ojibwe name

Gabriel's Second Marriage - Confirming Timeline

February 6, 1815 - Sainte-Madeleine-de-Rigaud

• FamilySearch Film, Image 449 of 540

• Citation: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS74-993-W5QX

• Gabriel identified as "widower of Josette Sauvagesse"

• Confirms Marie Josephte's death before 1815

• Reaffirms her Indigenous identity in official records

Research Tools & Techniques

Databases Utilized

1. FamilySearch:

   • Quebec Catholic Parish Records

   • Film #100437666 (St-Paul-de-Joliette baptisms)

   • Film #008130869 (L'Annonciation marriage record)

   • Full Text Search Feature: Critical to this discovery - allowed searching within handwritten document content rather than just indexed fields, enabling discovery of records not indexed under the Guilbault name variations but containing references to "Sauvagesse" and "Sauteuse" within the document text

2. Ancestry.com:

   • Drouin Collection

   • Quebec Vital Records

3. Archives Nationales du Quebec:

   • Notarial records

   • Parish duplicates

Language Considerations

• French paleography skills required

• Understanding of Latin sacramental formulas

• Recognition of Ojibwe linguistic patterns

• Historical French-Canadian spelling variations

Critical Success Factors

What Made This Case Solvable:

1. Priests who recorded rather than erased Indigenous identity - Unlike many colonial records that omitted Indigenous names entirely, the priests in these parishes chose to preserve Marie Josephte's Ojibwe name and tribal affiliation

2. Mass baptism creating clustered records - The October 10, 1798 baptism of three children together at St-Paul-de-Joliette provided concentrated information and established the family unit

3. Preservation of Indigenous name in marriage record - Despite an 11-year gap between the relationship's start (~1789-1790) and the 1801 Catholic marriage, the priest recorded her full Ojibwe name

4. Consistent geographic area (didn't migrate far) - The family remained within the Quebec-Ontario border region, allowing systematic parish-by-parish searches

5. Notarial records providing late confirmation - Legal documents maintained her Indigenous identity decades after death, providing verification points

Obstacles Overcome:

• 15+ spelling variations of surnames (Guilbault/Guilbeau/Guilbeault)

• Missing direct death record for Marie Josephte

• Language barriers (French/Latin/Ojibwe)

• Geographic spread across multiple parishes

• Time gap between relationship start (1790) and marriage (1801)

Historical Context

Fur Trade Society

Marie Josephte's union with Gabriel Guilbault represents a typical fur trade marriage pattern:

1. Initial Union (c.1789-1790): Relationship began "à la façon du pays" (according to the custom of the country)

2. Children Born (1790-1799): Four children born before Catholic marriage

3. Church Marriage (1801): Formalization of existing relationship

4. Legitimization: Children recognized and legitimized by the ChurchVerification Phase

Métis Identity Formation

This family represents classic Métis ethnogenesis:

• French-Canadian voyageur father

• Ojibwe/Saulteaux mother

• Children raised between two cultures

• Continued recognition of Indigenous heritage in subsequent generations

Geographic Context

The Oka/Deux-Montagnes region was home to established Indigenous communities. The location along the Ottawa River was traditional Ojibwe/Algonquin territory and a major fur trade route, connecting Gabriel's work as voyageur with Indigenous trading networks.

Genealogical Proof Standard Analysis

Source Evaluation

Original Sources: 15+ primary documents spanning 1790-1893

• Church baptismal records (6 children documented)

• Marriage register (1801)

• Burial records (children François and Marie Louise)

• Gabriel's second marriage record (1815)

• Notarial documents (1893)

Independent Corroboration: Multiple parishes, record types, spanning nearly a century

Information Quality: Direct, primary information from contemporary records

Evidence Classification: Direct evidence of Indigenous identity through consistent tribal identification and preservation of Ojibwe name

Conflict Resolution

Apparent Conflicts Addressed:

• Age discrepancies (resolved: estimation ranges normal for the period)

• Name variations (resolved: phonetic spellings of Ojibwe name by French priests)

• Multiple spellings of surname (resolved: standardized spelling did not exist)

Correlation & Analysis

• All records consistently identify Indigenous status across 103 years (1790-1893)

• Geographic locations align with fur trade patterns

• Chronology supports family formation narrative following "à la façon du pays" custom

• Witness networks in marriage record confirm community connections

Documentation Strength: EXCEPTIONAL

• Multiple primary sources spanning 1798-1893

• Consistent identification as Indigenous woman across all records

• Preservation of Indigenous name in official documents

• Both church and civil recognition of Indigenous identity

Genealogical Proof Standard: MET

✓ Reasonably exhaustive research across multiple parishes and record types ✓ Complete and accurate citation of all sources ✓ Thorough analysis and correlation of evidence ✓ Resolution of conflicting evidence through contextual understanding ✓ Sound written conclusion supported by evidence

Lessons Learned

Key Takeaways:

1. Indigenous ancestors can be documented in colonial records when priests chose to record rather than erase identity

2. Persistence through spelling variations essential - both for surnames and Indigenous names

3. Understanding historical context crucial - knowledge of fur trade customs and "à la façon du pays" marriages

4. Multiple record types provide fuller picture - baptisms, marriages, burials, and legal documents all contributed

5. Legal documents can preserve identity long-term - the 1893 notarial record proved enduring recognition

Reproducible Strategies:

• Start with known fur trade communities (Oka, Deux-Montagnes, along Ottawa River)

• Search for cultural identifiers, not just names (Sauvagesse, Sauteuse, "de nation")

• Check witnesses/godparents for community networks and Indigenous names

• Review all children's records, not just direct line - siblings' records often contain crucial information

• Examine legal documents decades after death for continued identity recognition

• Use Full Text Search features when available to find records not captured in traditional indexes

Technology Note:

FamilySearch Full Text Search Feature: Critical to this discovery was the recently implemented Full Text Search capability on FamilySearch, which allows searching within the actual handwritten content of documents rather than just indexed fields. This tool enabled the discovery of records that weren't indexed under the Guilbault name variations but contained references to "Sauvagesse" and "Sauteuse" within the document text. This represented a breakthrough in genealogical research methodology.

Final Assessment

This case represents exceptional documentation for an Indigenous ancestor in colonial records. The preservation of Marie Josephte Abitakijikokwe's Ojibwe name, consistent tribal identification, and legal recognition across nearly a century (1790-1893) makes this one of the most thoroughly documented Indigenous women in Quebec parish records.

Her descendants can claim with full documentary confidence their Métis heritage through this Ojibwe matriarch.

The methodology employed—combining systematic searching, pattern recognition, linguistic analysis, and historical context—can be applied to other challenging Indigenous ancestry cases, though results this comprehensive remain rare.

For a detailed guide on recognizing these patterns, request our free resource: "Five Signs of Indigenous Ancestry in Quebec Parish Records"