Théophile Panadis

Théophile Panadis (28 February 1889 – 30 October 1966) was an Abenaki Canadian storyteller and artist who is known for his defense of the Abenaki language, culture, tradition, and way of life. He was declared a Person of National Historic Significance by Parks Canada in 2011 and has a trilingual plaque dedicated to him located in Odanak, Quebec.

Early life Théophile Panadis was born on February 28, 1889, in the Abenaki village of Odanak, Quebec, as the sixth child of Nicolas Panadis and Monique Wawanolett. He grew up when traditional Abenaki culture, knowledge, and ways of life were still very much alive. From his father, uncle, and other men in the community Panadis learned to hunt and fish and live off the land for weeks and months at a time.

He would also sell furs he caught to the Hudson's Bay Company and other merchants in Montreal. Panadis and his family also made various traditional Abenaki crafts, such as baskets, moccasins, snowshoes, and canoes, to sell to tourists to make money. His plaque, which is presented in Abenaki, English, and French, was unveiled on August 22, 2021, in Odanak. Filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin also wrote a song dedicated to Panadis titled "Theo" and describes him as a major influence on her work.