Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec, is a charming community nestled in the Nicolet-Yamaska Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. With a population of 1,957 as per the Canada 2011 Census, this quaint town is situated at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Saint-François rivers, bordering the picturesque Lac Saint-Pierre. The town is conveniently connected to other communities via Quebec routes 132 and 143.
The roots of Saint-François-du-Lac trace back to its establishment as a French Jesuit mission village for converted Abenaki and other native peoples during the colonial years. Known as St.-Francois-de-Sales or Odanak, the community was home to Abenaki and refugees from other tribes and wars with English colonists in eastern New England. Jean Crevier de Saint-François, one of the first seigneurs of Saint-François-du-Lac, purchased the seigneury from his brother-in-law Pierre Boucher in 1673.
Father Rale's War, a series of armed engagements between New England settlements of mostly English colonists and the Wabanaki Confederacy, saw significant involvement from Saint-François-du-Lac. The community's warriors, along with those from other mission villages established by French priests, fought against the English colonists.
During Father Rale's War, on September 10, 1722, approximately 400 to 500 St. Francis (Odanak, Quebec) and Mi'kmaq warriors attacked Arrowsic, Maine. A second attack was conducted in the summer of 1723 by the Norridgewock and 250 Indian allies from St. Francis.
The Seven Years' War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America, brought devastation to Saint-François-du-Lac. The village and buildings of St. Francis were burned in an attack by Rogers' Rangers on October 4, 1759. Despite the destruction, the First Nations people gradually resettled in the area, which the English referred to as St. Francis for many years.
In the aftermath of the wars, Canada designated Odanak as an Indian reserve for Abenaki, adjacent to the majority French-Canadian village of Saint-Francois-du-Lac. The historic name was later restored, and in the late 20th century, the national government made French an official language in the entire nation, further recognizing ethnic French and Québecois interests.
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