# The English Chief — Journals character guide

> The English Chief in Journals by Alexander Mackenzie.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** The English Chief

**First appearance:** 0003-to-the-frozen-ocean-in-1789

## Who they are

A leader among the Indigenous guides or traders.

## Relationships

### [The Indians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/characters/the_indians)

_professional_

The English Chief negotiates or mediates between the Indians and the European explorers.

### [Mr. Mackay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/characters/mr_mackay)

_professional_

Mr. Mackay and the English Chief work together as part of the expedition team.

## In the story

### [Journals To the Frozen and Pacific Oceans in 1789 and 1793](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/journals)

Key Indigenous guide and interpreter during the Arctic expedition.

### [To the Frozen Ocean in 1789](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/to-the-frozen-ocean-in-1789)

Indigenous guide and interpreter accompanying Mackenzie.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/i)

An Indian leader serving as interpreter and hunter, accompanied by his two wives and two young Indians.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/ii)

Collects debts from the Indians and exchanges skins for rum and other goods.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/iii)

Helps reconcile the expedition with the Slave and Dogrib Indians after their initial alarm.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/iv)

Presented with a capote to reconcile him to continuing in service.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/v)

Employed by the narrator to continually inquire about the native people during a two-hour stay.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/vi)

Acts as interpreter and intermediary, but shows signs of fatigue and is influenced by the natives' persuasion.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/vii)

Initially reluctant and tearful, he is soothed by the narrator and later reveals Chipewyan war customs; he accepts liquor and continues with the party.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/v)

The English Chief is referenced as the interpreter who helps communicate with the natives.

### [Chapter VIII: Encounters and Perils on the River](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/viii)

Mentioned indirectly as the narrator's men include 'my Indians' who are part of the expedition; the English Chief is a known leader among them.

### [The Village of the Salmon People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/x)

The elderly chief who embraces the narrator and later orders fish to be caught; his son presents a sea otter robe.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/xi)

The young chief or guide who becomes terrified and refuses to stay with the party, eventually leaving with the narrator's young man.

### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/chapters/xii)

The English chief (the narrator's steersman) declares he will never enter the canoe again, but later follows the narrator's lead.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/characters/the_english_chief
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journals_se/characters