Genealogists who want to trace their Algonquin ancestry now have access to 15 years of research conducted by Jean-Guy Paquin who has produced a website, Weskarinis.
Mr. Paquin has compiled a directory of alliances and descendency charts of Algonquin families from the Petite-Nation and the Rouge who frequented the Oka mission, north of Montreal. A large number of these families are on the Kitigan-Zibi-Anishinàbeg reserve in Maniwaki. Others chose to live off the reserve, often to hunt.
There are 10 Algonquin First Nations from Quebec’s Laurentians to the Ottawa Valley in Ontario. Nine communities are located in western Quebec and one is in Ontario. Depending on the online resource consulted, there are between 11,000 and 15,500 Algonquins.
Source material
To compile the information, Mr. Paquin researched parish registers, census records, history books, public and private archives, genealogical societies, online forums, and personal accounts from families. A list of sources used is available on the website.
While the Weskarinis website is entirely in French, it is worth a visit, even if you do not understand the language, to see the amount of research conducted.
Index of families
Select Répertoire in the menu across the top of the website to find the Index des familles (Index of families). Then, click on any letter of the alphabet to reveal dozens of names. In some cases, there is a green link, voir, (see) next to a name. Click on voir to open a descendency report.
An article in French about this website appeared in La Petite-Nation newspaper.
I am looking for my native ancestry (should be within the past 3-5 generations – Anishinaabe or Cree according to oral history). I am interested in learning about my more recent ancestors who came from Quebec. My family”s roots are strong in Quebec, going back to the 1600s. I know I’m a descendant of Catherine Pillard Plat (and know the controversy of her heritage). I also know I’m a distant cousin of Louis Riel. While these facts are interesting and I am proud of my entire family history, I care more about knowing the ancestors who are closer to me.
As far as I know, Philomene David and Louis Adolph Plouff were my first Quebecois relatives to come to the US, and lived in Mackinac for awhile before moving to Oconto County, Wisconsin. Philomene’s parents were Joseph David and Esther Ste Marie of LaPrairie, Quebec. Louis’ parents were Sophie Bonneville (Trois Rivieres, Montreal) and Louis Plouff. Philomene married Mitchell Pecor in 1910 after Louis Plouff died.
Louis and Philomene had a son, Joseph Sherry Plouff, who married Caroline Blase. They had my great great grandfather, Sylvester Oscar Plouff, who married Marie S. Markham. Their daughter Valma Plouff was my great grandmother.
If any of these names are familiar or anyone has information or suggestions on where to look for more information, I would appreciate it!