THE LOCATION OF THE SHRINE IN THE FOREST

After Christmas, it was time to go for the hunt. Catherine went with her sister and her brother-in-law. It was not the want to divert herself and the desire of feasting that had Catherine go to the hunt, which is the reason most of the women go, but was only to satisfy this good sister and her husband. PIERRE CHOLENEC Chapter 7

She had built near a stream, where those of the cabin had come to get water, a shrine consisting of a cross that she made in a tree. There she had assisted at the Mass, which she was not able to hear and joined her intention with those, who were at the village. And as she had told her companion, she prayed to her Guardian Angel to be present for her at the Mass and bring her fruit. She would return at about nine o’clock in the morning to the cabin, where the women were and when she had thought the hunters had left. CLAUDE CHAUCHETIERE Chapter 17

She had united her soul with that of the Father and prayed to her Guardian Angel to be present for her, because it was to bring her the fruit of the Holy Sacrifice. It was for this purpose that she had made a small shrine on the side of a stream. The shrine had consisted of a cross that she carved in the bark of a tree. PIERRE CHOLENEC Chapter 7

She had never become such attached to work either in the forest or at the cabin that she forgot her shrine during her stay in the forest. On the contrary, she had taken care to return there from time to time and satisfy the hunger of her soul while she would have her body fast. And throughout the winter hunt, which she went there every morning, evening and several other times during the week. She would end her devotions through harsh chastisement that she gave to herself with branches. She had undertaken this sort of penance in secret with the direction of the Holy Spirit alone. PIERRE CHOLENEC Chapter 7

It happened, he unconsciously increased the suspicion of his wife, because when speaking on the same day of the canoe for the return voyage that was soon approaching. He had said that some of the women from the group should aid him to pull it out from the forest and also, he said quite simply that Catherine would come, because he knew that she would be kind enough to perform this act. After having weighed these appearances in her mind, this woman had believed that it was a long established relation between them. However, she had the discretion not to show her suspicion and speak of it to no one, as she was a virtuous and wise woman, but she told everything after her return from the hunt to the Father that had the charge of the Mission. PIERRE CHOLENEC Chapter 7

We may assume from the above texts, they went to the winter hunt with canoes along either of the two rivers (la Torture or du Portage) that winter of 1677-1678. And she made a small shrine on the side of a stream or river, where those of the cabin would go to get water. It must have been a place where the others frequently went because a cabin was there. Would parts of the wood of the cabin, which they stayed during the winter of 1677-1678, be still there as with the tree that Catherine Tekakwitha carved out the cross and then prayed to? And perhaps, because the forest is still present in the most part along the two rivers and tributaries. This would mean to take a voyage along both of the two rivers and with their tributaries. If the tree is still there that it must be very well over 300 years old.