Marie Guyart

Marie Guyart

Marie Guyart was in Quebec, Canada for 33 years and was able to accomplish a lot during this time. Guyart worked with the Jesuits in 1646 to create the constitutions for New France. In 1660 there was the arrival of the new bishop Francois de laval, bishop laval had some ideas for changes to the constitution. Guyart would not have this, she knew the area better and believed that the proposed changes would be detrimental to the constitutions. She wrote that the constitutions would not be changed unless absolutely necessary. Guyarts main purpose of moving across the world to Quebec was to teach the young French and Indigenous girls of Canada. Guyart built a school and was the teacher to many children, she taught them basic knowledge like reading and writing as well as religion. During her time in Quebec Guyart also built a convent and ran a farm. Guyart wrote an autobiography during her time in Canada on her experiences with the Indigenous children. After her passing her autobiography entitled The Life of the Venerable Mother Marie de l'Incarnation was published. Guyart’s writings gave lots of information on the relationship between Indigenous and French people in Quebec, specifically how it changed the lives of women and children.

1639-1672

Person

Quebec

1599

Tours, France

1672

Quebec, Canada

nun; educator

French; indigenous languages including French-Algonkin, Algonkin-French, and Iroquois

Marie Guyart was born in France and grew up in a religious family, being baptized in the year of 1599. Growing up Guyart had ambitions of becoming a nun and dedicating her life to God, her parents disapproved and had her married to Claude Martin. Guyart and Martin had one son, Claude, before Martin passed away leaving Guyart a single mother to a one year old. Guyart and her son moved in with her sister and brother in law. Guyart was very business savvy, she used this to help her brother in law with his carting business. During this time Guyart decided to dedicate her life to God. Guyart decided she would become a nun, she joined the Ursulines convent, leaving her son with her sister's family. Guyart became an instructor of Christian doctrine, and after 8 years decided to leave the convent to go to Canada. Guyart went with the Jesuits to Quebec, Canada with the hopes of teaching young French and Indigenous girls. In Canada Guyart was highly respected and had good bonds with many people in the community. Guyart spent a lot of her time with the Indigenous children, teaching them and watching how they interacted with each other.

"Guyart, Marie ." Colonial America Reference Library. . Encyclopedia.com. (September 22, 2021). https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/guyart-marie

Conflict and Change in Early Canadian History (Carleton HIST 1301)

Jane Taylor