Teganissorens

Teganissorens (Also known as Decanesora; circa 1682-1718) was an influential Onondaga chief, orator and diplomat. He played a leading role in English-French-Iroquois relations during the last quarter of the seventeenth and first quarter of the eighteenth centuries.

He was strongly attached to the French, and in 1682 was placed at the head of a deputation of Iroquois chiefs that was sent to Montreal to make terms with Frontenac and his Indian allies. It was soon discovered that the Iroquois had sent Teganissorens as a blind, and were taking the field against the Illinois Confederation, while pretending to wish for peace. But the French governor dismissed him with honor, knowing that his influence did not extend to all the Iroquois tribes.

He set out on a similar mission in 1688, and the preliminaries for a treaty were arranged between Denonville, the Canadian governor, and the Iroquois deputies. The Hurons were dissatisfied with the proposed treaty, and, on the return of Teganissorens and his party, they were attacked by Kondiaronk, a Huron chief. Some were killed and others taken prisoners, among the latter Teganissorens, who, on complaining of this attack on an ambassador and a friend of the French, was told by Kondiaronk that the latter themselves had sent him. To show that he spoke sincerely, he at once released the Iroquois ambassador. Teganissorens, however, remained loyal, and continued to render such services that he ranked with Oureouhare and Garaconthie as one of the three Indians to whom the French colony in Canada was most indebted.

He became a Christian in 1693, and in May 1694, arrived in Quebec with eight deputies. He was received with kindness by Frontenac, the governor, who gave him many presents. He proposed the restoration of Catarocouy (Kingston), and that it should be strengthened and made the bulwark of the colony. The suggestion was eagerly adopted by Frontenac, who prepared a large escort which was to conduct to that port a garrison, mechanics, and all necessary stores, but he was obliged to countermand the expedition, owing to an order from the French court. He excited the displeasure of the governor afterward by not returning to Montreal at a fixed date with the submission of some of the Iroquois tribes who were holding back. But the reason of his delay was that he found his efforts to bring about a general reconciliation between the Iroquois and the French abortive.

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