The Jesuit Relations provide important accounts of interactions between Jesuit missionaries and indigenous peoples in North America between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Jesuits lived in native villages for years, learning local languages and customs. As inveterate writers, they provided detailed observations, though they did not always understand or approve of indigenous religious practices. Their writings describe topics like native and European approaches to medicine, diplomacy, warfare, and prominent figures like the martyred missionary Isaac Jogues. One account provides an especially descriptive and even-handed record of Father Marquette's voyage down the Mississippi River in the late 1600s.

1. Jesuit Relations

2. Importance of Jesuit Relations“Experts” on the cultureLived in native villages for yearsLearned local languages & knew the peopleWere inveterate writersDid not know or understand allDid not wish to understand someDisapproved of diabolical pagan ceremoniesHowever, still capable of describing what they saw accurately

3. The JesuitsMembers of the religious order – Society of JesusTook vows of poverty & obedienceEmbodied some of the paradoxes of their dayMythical & contemplative, yet worldlyPreached to illiterate peasants and gave spiritual advice to kings

4. Disease and MedicineNative beliefs ran counter to ChristianityPatientsNative – kept their sick in the midst of the peopleEuropeans segregated theirsCauses – Natural and SupernaturalBoth natives and Europeans felt illnesses had natural and supernatural causesNative did not separate the two

5. Disease and MedicineCures - NativeOften arising from a dreamInvolved many peopleGaming/GamblingCompetitions – lacrosseSexHerbal remedies also appliedCures – EuropeanFelt theirs was superiorResulted as imbalance of humoursLancingLeeches

6. Diplomacy and WarMeetings between natives was hampered by different languages Solved by use of wampum which recorded everything a speaker was going to say in a designNegotiations were not very different from those of the EuropeansLots of promises with good intentions on both sidesBroken was needed

7. Diplomacy and WarBefore arrival of the Europeans War was a means of raiding to acquire goods, women, and slavesAfter arrivalWar evolved because of available technologyGuns, horsesThe tribes following the European way also suffered a sociological upset that rendered their tribes unable to unite to fight, leading to large losses

8. Martyrs and MysticsThe distinction between natives and Europeans was not present in the determination of martyrdomDistinction was driven between the sexesMalesSuffered from influences imposed on them by othersMaintained decorum and belief in GodFemalesSuffered from practiced imposed by themselvesBecome more spiritual and communed with God and his saintsBoth Generally not considered a martyr until after death

9. MartyrIsaac JoguesJesuit priestPrisoner of the Iroquois when he surrendered to them upon capture of his fellowsEndured tortureAfter freedom, he returned back to negotiate a peace treaty and was killed at second meetingCatherine TegahkouitaNative virginDesired to convert for most of her lifeLived in a Jesuit villageEnforced brutal practices on herself to better communicate with GodAfter her death, she became the Saint of Canada

10. Voyage on the MississippiFather Marquette’s account of his travel was unusualExtremely descriptive of each village encounteredDid not show a large bias against the natives and their beliefsThe ceremony of the pipe or calumets was accurate with only slight overtones of superiority

11. Voyage on the MississippiPurposeExploration of the river to see if it led to the Vermillion Sea or CaliforniaBring the word of God to the nativesAccomplishmentsScouted out most of the Mississippi River systemStopped short of the Spanish area of influencePlanted seeds for conversion to God