The Battle at Baie de Bic

An epic battle between the Iroquois and Mi'kmaq

Battles between the Indigenous nations have been going on since long before Europeans ever set foot on the shores of what is now Canada.

Many of these battles have been passed down through oral histories of the nations. Beginning in the 16th century, some of these battles were witnessed by Europeans.

One of the first was the Battle at Baie de Bic, located near what is now Rimouski, Quebec.

Occupation of the area by the Indigenous people goes back at least 7,000 years but the battle we are focusing on happened in the spring of 1534 and was witnessed by Jacques Cartier during his first voyage to the area.

The Baie de Bic was an annual gathering place for the Mi’kmaq along the St. Lawrence River. During the gathering, Mi’kmaq scouting parties warned that the Iroquois were going to attack.

In preparation, the Mi’kmaq took 30 sick and elderly people away from the area, while 200 Mi’kmaq remained. Those Mi’kmaq fortified themselves in a cave, with the entrance covered by branches.

The Iroquois arrived in the morning but found no one in the encampment. Dividing themselves into two parties, they searched for the Mi’kmaq but did not find them until the following day.

The Mi’kmaq warriors fought against the Iroquois, and both sides suffered heavy losses. With help from the rising tide, the Mi’kmaq pushed back the Iroquois. When another attack came from the Iroquois during low tide, the Mi’kmaq again pushed them back.

There was a pause while the high tide came in, but once again as soon as low tide began, the Iroquois attacked again. This time, they used burning arrows to burn down the fortification the Mi’kmaq had constructed. The Iroquois then swarmed into the cave, wiping out the Mi’kmaq.

In the battle, the Iroquois lost 20 men, while 30 were wounded.

After witnessing the battle, Cartier called the area Massacre Bay.