Black-Robe chief

Also known as: the Pale-face / the Priest of Prayer · Family: Pale-faces · Role: missionary · First appears: XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure

In “XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure,” on a pleasant summer morning at Gitche Gumee, the Black-Robe chief arrived by canoe with his guides and companions, carrying a cross upon his bosom. Hiawatha welcomed the visitors and offered them hospitality, leading them to his wigwam and seating them on skins.

Nokomis brought the visitors food, water, and a filled, lighted peace-pipe. The Black-Robe chief then told the people about the Virgin Mary and her blessed Son, the Saviour, and the purpose of his mission.

Relationship record

Life events

• The Black-Robe chief arrived by canoe and landed on the shore.(XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure · 📍 Gitche Gumee)
  • With: Hiawatha
  • “Came the Black-Robe chief, the Prophet, He the Priest of Prayer, the Pale-face, With his guides and his companions. ... Till the Black-Robe chief, the Pale-face, With the cross upon his bosom, Landed on the sandy margin.”
• Hiawatha welcomed the Black-Robe chief and offered hospitality to the strangers.(XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure)
  • With: Hiawatha
  • “All our town in peace awaits you, All our doors stand open for you; You shall enter all our wigwams, For the heart’s right hand we give you.”
• Nokomis provided food, water, and a peace-pipe for the visitors.(XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure)
  • With: Nokomis
  • “And the careful old Nokomis Brought them food in bowls of basswood, Water brought in birchen dippers, And the calumet, the peace-pipe, Filled and lighted for their smoking.”
• The Black-Robe chief told the people of the Virgin Mary and her blessed Son, the Saviour.(XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure)
  • “Then the Black-Robe chief, the Prophet, Told his message to the people, Told the purport of his mission, Told them of the Virgin Mary, And her blessed Son, the Saviour, How in distant lands and ages He had lived on earth as we do;”

XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure

• benefactor: Hiawatha (Hiawatha welcomes and hosts the arriving missionary.) “Then the generous Hiawatha Led the strangers to his wigwam, Seated them on skins of bison, Seated them on skins of ermine,”
• benefactor: Nokomis (Nokomis provides hospitality to the arriving strangers.) “And the careful old Nokomis Brought them food in bowls of basswood, Water brought in birchen dippers, And the calumet, the peace-pipe, Filled and lighted for their smoking.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of The Song of Hiawatha. Made with Rho MD.