John and Jenny Fulton

Real International Princesses: Inuit Princess Mikak

By Jenny Fulton

Introduction

My book, An International Princess Alphabet Primer, features princesses from countries and cultures around the world. Each character is named after a real person. These are their stories.

Because the alphabet book was written for young kids, the biographies I’m sharing are short, child-friendly, often rose-tinted summaries.

Inuit Princess Mikak

Inuit Princess Mikak is named for “England’s Eskimo Princess,” Mikak.

Princess Mikak is the first Inuit person recorded in history. She was known for being very curious, smart, observant, beautiful, and charming. Throughout her life, she proved to be very kind and giving as well.

Mikak was born sometime around 1740. She was the daughter of an Inuit chief. They lived in Labrador, Canada, on the eastern coast of Newfoundland.

When Mikak was about 25 years old, Moravian Brethren missionaries came to their village. While the men were telling them about Jesus, a terrible storm came. It was so bad that the Inuit spiritual leader invited the missionaries, Jens Haven and Christian Larsen Drachart, to stay in his tent for the night. Mikak and her dad were there as well. Throughout that long, stormy night, Christian taught Mikak one of their prayers.

Two years later, in November 1767, Inuit hunters attacked a European settlement. The Inuits were angry. They were afraid the Europeans were killing and scaring away too many fish and seals. British soldiers at a nearby fort went after that group and kidnapped their women and children. One of those women was Mikak. Her son, Tootac, was with her.

Francis Lucas, one of the English commanders in charge of the prisoners, quickly noticed how smart Mikak was. He offered to teach her English and asked if she would teach him some words in her Inuktitut language. A few months later, Francis introduced Mikak to Commodore Hugh Palliser. He was the governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and wanted to find a way for the Europeans and Inuit people to get along. When Hugh realized how “very intelligent” Mikak was, he hoped she would be able to help that happen.

In autumn of 1768, almost a year after Mikak and her son had been captured, Hugh Palliser sent them to England. He hoped that if Mikak experienced the wonders of England, she would be able to persuade her people to welcome and accept the Europeans as friends.

Mikak met a lot of important people in England. She even met Augusta, the Dowager Princess of Wales. The two women soon became friends. Augusta even gave Mikak an expensive dress that had gold lace.

The Inuit princess also found someone she’d met before. Jens Haven, one of the first Europeans Mikak had met, was back in London. When he told her how much they wanted England’s permission to have land for a mission on the Labrador coast, Mikak agreed to help. She talked to all the important people she was introduced to and asked them to support the Moravians. In May 1769, the missionaries received their land grant. Later that year, Francis Lucas took Mikak and her son back to Labrador.

Mikak told her people all about England. She told them they should welcome the new people and trade with them. Many of the Inuit listened to her.

In July 1770, Jens and Christian came to Mikak’s village and asked her to help them find a good place for their mission. She and her new husband guided the men north where they chose a place to build Nain, their first mission post. Mikak told the Inuit people to be kind to the missionaries.

Because of this smart and brave Inuit princess, the Europeans and native Inuit people in that area became friends.

Other Princess Bios

Works Cited

Baird, Craig; “Mikak” Canadian History Ehx; Oct. 24, 2020. https://canadaehx.com/2020/10/24/mikak/

Baxter, Dave. “Mikak’s Improbable Journey” Canada’s History; March 5, 2020. https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/first-nations-inuit-metis/mikak-s-improbable-journey

“Mikak Facts for Kids” Kiddle Encyclopedia; July 20, 2024.

Pratt, Alexander. “The Fascinating Story of an Inuit Princess” The People’s Friend Magazine; Oct. 21, 2017. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-peoples-friend/20171021/282900910820293

Whiteley, William H. “MIKAK (Micoc, Mykok),” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 4, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 13, 2024. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mikak_4E.html

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