2. Who are the Jesuits? The Jesuits are members of the society of Jesus Founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 They took special vows of poverty and obedience What are the Jesuit Relations? Annual reports of French missionaries in their efforts to convert the natives Introduction Ignatius of Loyola
3. Jesuits “knew what they were talking about” They are a primary source Learned local languages Lived with the people Even though they disapproved of the pagan acts of the natives, they observed and recorded them accurately They were literate unlike many of the fur traders that lived among the Natives, so they were able to descriptively compose letters of the acts they witnessed Introduction cont.
4. Paul Le Jeune Wrote earliest publication of Jesuit Relations Converted to Catholicism after being raised Protestant Worked as an educator and administrator at various Jesuit colleges in France Traveled to Canada when he was 40 Witnessed to the Montagnais Le Jeune described the Montagnais Hunting-gathering, dispersed and nomadic people Traded fur with the French Practiced “Animism” as their religion Nature focused Animals and natural phenomena were considered spirits Tried to appease these spirits so they would help them Told myths to explain the world, looked to dreams Consulted “jugglers” People possessed by special spiritual powers Paul Le Jeune
5. Characteristics “Tall, erect, strong, well proportioned, agile” Even tempered and patient Cooperated with each other well Great hunters Beavers and porcupines in light snow Moose and caribou in deep snow Strong religious beliefs “Atahocam created the world and Messou restored it” (after the flood) “All animals…have an elder brother, who is…the source and origins of all individuals” Nipinoukhebrings spring and summer, Pipinoukhebrings winter and cold Khichikouai– “spirits of light” Montagnais
6. Jean de Brebouf Missionary that lived with the Hurons from 1626-1629 and 1634-1649 Established a mission Martyred during the Iroquois invasion Huron people Most well-documented early tribe Lived around present day Lake Ontario Fishing was a large part of their society Religion mirrored Christian myths, suggesting they had come into contact with other missionaries many years past Regarded dreams and feasts as very important Jean de Brebeuf
7. Language Words composed of mostly vowels Use compound words Words are universally conjugated Religion Believed they were descendants of Aataentisic, a woman who fell from Heaven Iouskeha was her son, and he controlled their harvests Had faith in dreams Dreams usually related to feasts, dances, games, or mania Believed animals possessed certain attributes Fish had reason Feasts Athataion: feast of farewells Enditeuhwa: thanksgiving and gratitiude Atourontaochian: singing and eating Awataerohi: deliverance from sickness Way of Life Live assembled in villages Get along harmoniously Hurons
8. Jean Pierron Arrogant tone in describing the Iroquois Combatted the Indians’ sins using fear of God’s judgement He threw a fit when asked to leave during one of their religious ceremonies Claude Chauchetiere Encouraged a group of young women to become nuns Denounce marriage, live lives devoted to prayer Encouraged Iroquois to practice “mortification of the flesh” Self-torture that atoned for sins by mirroring the pain that martyrs and Jesus experienced Worked at a mission that had a strict schedule Included Mass, catechism class, and prayer Used allegories to communicate to the Indians Iroquois Missionaries
9. Food They grew Indian corn and French wheat Wheat took longer and was harder on soil, but they enjoyed the bread that resulted from it Men hunted meat Women searched for firewood Enjoyed liquor and drunkenness was common Attire The Indians dressed up for Sundays and feast days Wear fine white shirts Women dress very modestly Button up the shirt which falls to their knees Wear petticoats Women Tie their hair back with red ribbon (eel skin) Grease their hair black “Poorly but modestly clad” Men Always have hair up in “some unique way” Iroquois
10. Born in Orleans, France Sent to New France in 1636 First martyr of the Jesuit martyrs of New France Captured by the Mohawk raiding party in 1642 Held in captivity for many months Tortured Escaped to a Dutch settlement Returned as a diplomat after the war between the French and Iroquois ended He was accused of sorcery and was killed on the spot His story is narrated by Father Jerome Lalemant after his death Isaac Jogues Isaac Jogues
11. Massacred Indians allied to the French Torture techniques Beat with clubs Tore out fingernails with their teeth Crushed the bleeding fingers after Pierced through hands with a knife Used sticks and thorns Prisoner conditions Took away all clothes and left them naked Wounds became worm infested with no bandages or dressings Hurled insults and beat continually Forced to carry Indians’ supplies when traveling Ate what they could gather along the way Wild fruits Used their blood as sacrifices Would not allow them to die “Cruel compassion” Mohawks
