Rituals and beliefs

It was Father Paul Lejeune, a Jesuit who, in a 1633-1634 report, spoke of the beliefs of the Montagnais in general (but not specifically the Pekuakamiulnuatsh).  He recalled the story of the creation of the world as seen by the Montagnais, and he described the ritual of the trembling tent this way: «… two or three young men erected a tabernacle in the middle of our cabin, they planted six strong stakes in the ground in front and to hold them in place they attached the tops of these stakes to a large circle which surrounded them all.  This house being complete, all fires were entirely extinguished.  The minstrel entered and gently started to vibrate, as if complaining; he shook the tabernacle without violence at the beginning then, quickening little by little, he emitted a whistle in a hollow manner as from far away, then spoke as in a bottle and finally cried like a screech owl… then howling, singing, varying the tone all of a sudden, finishing with the syllables, ho ho, hi hi, gui gui, nioue, and others similar …  Tepouachi, Tepouachi, call, call; know your companions; at that point the minstrel, was calling the Spirits, changing tone and voice, calling them; however our wizard, who was there, took his drum and, singing with the minstrel in the tabernacle, the others responded.. A few youngsters were made to dance, among them the Apostle who did not want to listen, but the wizard made him obey. »  Stemming from this ritual, questions were posed to Kichikouai, on health, the snow, the presence of animals, etc.

Father Lejeune also spoke of the Manitou: « … they recognise a Manitou… they regard it as an element of bad things; it is true that they do not attribute great malice to Manitou, but his wife is a real devil … »

As for dreams, Father Lejeune states that: « they have a great belief in their dreams, imagining that what one is seeing in a dream must happen and that they must do what they have dreamt».