Gabriel Sagard, baptized Théodat (fl. 1614–1636) was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Récollets order who is notable for his writings on New France and the Hurons (or, Wendat). Sagard's origins, and the dates of his birth and death are obscure. Some historians say he was christened Théodat; others believe that Théodat was his religious name.
Sagard arrived in New France 28 June 1623. He joined four members of his order who had been there since 1615. In August, Sagard travelled to a Huron village on the southern shore of Lake Huron, where he began his missionary work and study of the Huron language. In July 1624 at Quebec, he was ordered by his superior to return to Paris, France. Some time around 1636, Sagard left the Recollect order. He may have died while living with the Franciscans.
Sagard is remembered for his writings on New France and the Hurons-Wyandot people, Le grand voyage au pays des Hurons(Paris, 1632). His L'histoire du Canada (1636) included a revised and expanded Le grand voyage and Dictionnaire de la langue huronne (Dictionary of the Huron Language). An English translation of Le grand voyage by historian George M. Wrong was published by the Champlain Society in 1939 as Sagard's long journey to the country of the Hurons. It is available online at the Champlain Society website. An authoritative edition of the dictionary of the Huron language [1] was edited by John Steckley and published in 2009.
The geographic township of Sagard in Quebec, Canada, was named in his honour.[1]