The Jesuit Relations were annual reports published by French Jesuit missionaries in New France (Canada) describing their efforts to convert indigenous peoples to Catholicism. They provide valuable historical information about interactions between Europeans and Native Americans in the 17th century, including exploration of the Mississippi River region, descriptions of the natural environment and indigenous customs, spread of diseases, and Jesuit martyrdom. The documents describe Father Marquette's 1673 expedition down the Mississippi with Jolliet, where they encountered various Native nations and documented the landscape, plants, and animals. They also recount medical practices of Jesuits and shamans among native groups and tortures endured by Jesuit martyrs like Isaac Jogues at the hands of the

1. Joshua M. Holloway The Jesuit Relations

2. The Jesuit Relations and Their Readers Relations: Annual reports of French missionaries of the Society of Jesus on their efforts to convert the “pagan savages” to Catholic Christianity Jesuits published annual Relations for the benefit of audiences back in France

3. The Colonization of New France French fishermen, explorers and fur traders had contact with Natives long before Jesuits came French came in small numbers and made their fortunes by trading for furs with Native hunters; interacted extensively with Indians unlike all the other colonies Used Great Lakes as waterways to trade with people far to the west Brought old-world diseases which caused terrible epidemics

5. Came to first Native Nation “Wild Rice” people; they tried to dissuade him of his trip for it was too dangerous

6. “the Fire Nation” next; consisted of Miamis, Maskoutens and Kickapoos; exchanged presents for two guides

7. Father documented animals seen on or near the river such as fish, wild cattle, bustards, etc.; monsters they’d never seen before

9. Writings On The Natural Environment For the French, North America was forbidding and mysterious Jesuits comment on stars and unusual objects above Montagnais’ explanation for an eclipse: -Great Being often desires to kill Manitou’s wicked wife—reason the Indians die—but that would destroy the Sun. When He threatens her with death, her heart trembles and the Sun grows weak.

10. Environment Continued 1662 : Fiery serpents fly through the sky 1663: 7th January: Three suns appear: Seven days later it happens again 1663: Strange apparitions appear in sky, then violent earthquake -aftershocks last six months -happened in all of New France -not one single person was harmed 1664: December: comet slowly crosses the sky—later known that Chinese astrologists saw same comet a month before

11. Disease and Medicine Jesuit Relations are a good source of information on the spread of old-world diseases among the natives The Jesuits knew nothing of germs, viruses and immunity; brought the cure-all sugar and were eager to learn of native herbal remedies Their priority was saving souls, not lives; when epidemics struck, they put more effort in baptizing the dying rather than relieving the suffering of the living Thought epidemics as signs of God to punish the wicked Worried most when “pagan ceremonies” actually cured illness

12. Medicine continued (medical duel) A man in Claude Allouez’s canoe became sick; during a mission to the Potawotamis (1666-67) Shaman doctor tried all sorts of “medical nonsense” and in the end pulled out his dog’s teeth considering that the problem Allouez told Natives it was the blood; baptized the son; then bled him Soon sister was sick and he did the same for her A cousin became sick after that but died because the father had prayed to the Sun to heal him and not God

13. Martyrs and Mystics Saint Isaac Jogues was the first of the Jesuit martyrs of New France 2 August 1642: Jogues and company— returning home from a mission—are captured by group of Iroqouis Father can’t bear to leave behind fellow Frenchmen, good neophytes or poor catechumens; hands himself in; began baptizing people and insisted everyone ‘suffer bravely for His holy name’

14. Martyrs continued(of the tortures the Iroquois dealt) Beat black and blue with clubs Tear out fingernails with their teeth and crush the bleeding ends Knife-stab through the palm of a hand Two lines of 100 Natives beat at captives walking through with sticks, clubs, thorns or knives Scratch at wounds Burning limbs and digits Cutting off digits and noses Sacrifice of captives’ blood Shoving sticks through cut off incisions