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Koñwatsiˀtsiaiéñni, more commonly known as Mary (Molly) Brant, is one of the most important and influential women in what we now consider Canadian history.  

Mary, of Kanien'kehá:ka Mohawk decent, was raised in the Mohawk Valley, in what is now New York State.  It was here that she met Sir William Johnson, a rich landowner and the first superintendent of northern Indians. She became his common-law wife in a traditional Kanien'kehá:ka ceremony, but their marriage was not recognized under English law. This partnership allowed Mary to gain prestige among the Five Nations Confederacy /Iroquois and among the colonial settlers. Mary also fulfilled an important responsibility to her people as one of the fifty Clan Mothers of the Confederacy, as such she was influential in voicing the concerns of her clan to the Chiefs or as such she had the important role of appointing and supervising a chief. When the American Revolution began, she used her influence and persuaded the Five Nations to support the British cause, as she believed their interests would be best served by the British.  

Mary began receiving urgent messages from Colonel John Butler, who was stationed at Fort Niagara and was a long-time acquaintance of Mary and Johnson, who was now deceased. Many people, including Indigenous people, were fleeing north to the fort to seek refuge. Butler knew that the only person to help keep the peace between the Indigenous peoples and the British was Mary.  

Mary and her family arrived at Fort Niagara where they lived for a short period of time, from January 1779 until June of the same year. During this time, she proved to be an important consultant for the Haudenosaunee (Five Nations Confederacy /Iroquois), often acting as an intermediary for the information going between the British government and the Haudenosaunee, and many young warriors and chiefs came to her for advice.  She was also involved in six Native conferences (gatherings to share concerns and discuss treaties) held at Niagara. Christian Daniel Claus commented in 1779, “One word from her goes farther with them (the Haudenosaunee) than a thousand from any white man without exception” and Alexander Fraser, commanding Carleton Island, said that the “Indians uncommon good behaviour is in a great measure ascribed to Miss Molly Brant’s influence over them, which is far superior to that of all their Chiefs put together.” 

There are records showing that Mary received supplies from Claus and the British Army while in Niagara. It is my assumption that these were presents so that she could broker Haudenosaunee allegiance to the Crown​ (Leavey)​.  Eventually the fort commander and John Butler began losing patience with her and all her demands, and she was persuaded to leave Niagara.  

Mary and countless other Kanien'kehá:ka were forced from their land during the Clinton Sullivan campaign following the British loss of the American Revolution and relocated to the northern shores of Lake Ontario. She eventually resettled near present day Kingston, where the British government granted her land, arranged for a house to be built for her, and provided her with a pension in recognition of her service to the Crown.  Molly Brant died in 1796 at Cataraqui (Kingston). 

While she has often been overlooked for her more famous brother, Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) or Sir William Johnson, her achievements should no longer be ignored. Mary was an intelligent woman who was clearly at ease between two cultures. She used her influence and respect among the other Clan Mothers and the British Army to exert her influence at a vital moment in history. Her loyalty to the Haudenosaunee and British helped British military officials recognize how essential her leadership was to maintaining loyalty of the Five Nations.  

References  

Leavey, P. D. (n.d.). Molly Brant: Mohawk Loyalist and Diplomat.  

Niagara Historical Society & Museum. Exhibition “Our Story”  

Graymont, Barbara (n.d.) Koñwatsiˀtsiaiéñni. Dictionary of Canadian Biography. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/konwatsitsiaienni_4E.html 

IMAGE CREDIT: Canada Post.