GUIGNAS, Ignatius, clergyman, born in France about the end of the 17th century. He was a member of the Society of Jesus, and founded the mission of St. Michael the Archangel among the Sioux, in what is now Minnesota, in 1727. After beginning his mission labors, he was forced to abandon the work, owing to a victory of the Foxes over the French. He attempted to reach the Illinois country in 1728, but fell into the hands of the Kickapoos and Mascoutens, allies of the Foxes, by whom he was detained prisoner five months, and was constantly in danger of death. After a time he was condemned to be burned alive, but was saved by an old man who adopted him. He afterward received supplies from the Illinois missionaries, and used these to gain over the Indians, whom he induced to make peace. He was taken to the Illinois country, and left on parole until November, 1729, when the Indians took him back to their canton. On being liberated he seems to have returned to the Dakota mission, where he was laboring in 1736.