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Abenaki tribe has other spellings: Abnaki, Abinaki, Alnôbak

Additionally, the first two bishops of Boston, Massachusetts made pilgrimages to the spot where Father Rale was martyred/murdered. There is controversy about Father Rale - the British did not like that he was ILLEGALLY in Maine. After the French-Indian War, the British had control of this land that the Abenaki were in.

The Abenaki Tribe was asked by the American Colonies to fight the British. They made the demand that a Jesuit Blackrobe be sent to minister to the tribe. They did not want English ministers for their religion.

In the Revolutionary War, the Abenaki tribe was the only native American tribe to have an officer in the Revolutionary army.

When the war was over, and the new country the United States of America did not fulfill its promise, the Abenaki tribe had a group go from Maine to see George Washington. The carried the Crucifix that was Father Rale's. In terms of the Roman Catholic church, this was an important relic of Father Rale - if he is considered a saint (a member of the Communion of Saints).

Another way to refer to Father Rale would be: the man who walks with two broken legs. He broke both legs at some point, and it was very painful for him to walk.