The document discusses several passages from the Jesuit Relations, a collection of writings by French Jesuit missionaries in North America between 1632 and 1673. The Jesuits lived with and wrote about various indigenous groups, including the Montagnais, Iroquois, and others. Their writings described customs, beliefs, medical practices, and the natural environment, but often did so in a judgmental way according to European views at the time. Over time, some Jesuits seemed to develop a more understanding perspective of indigenous cultures.

1. The Jesuit Relations Tyler Campbell History 140 Online

2. Introduction French missionaries wrote about, not only the progress of converting “savages”, but also included many chronicles of travel, custom and war to name a few. The French nation did not have the funds to continue colonizing so the work sent back yearly to France became very popular. Fur traders did not write much if at all about there experiences while Jesuits lived with natives for years and learned the language all while keeping an account of almost everything they observed.

3. Introduction The Jesuit writings are very informative but they are also very judgmental. The Europeans in that day and age did not agree with most of the customs the Algonquian and Iroquoian tribes practiced. There is a black and white emphasis throughout the writing, although overtime in seams that some writers become slightly more lenient with their opinions.

4. Montagnais Hunters of the Northern woodlands Paul Le Jeune was one of the first Jesuits to write about his time with the natives. He was adventurous enough to go on a winter hunting trip one year. The natives were impressed by his ability although he was much colder then them due to lack of ability or want to help set up camp. He sounds impressed by these people, not sickened by them as one would suppose a Catholic priest would be.

5. Montagnais Hunters of the Northern woodlands The great flood, which to Christians was in the time of Noah of the old testament, also is talked about by the natives with a similar story of rebirth to the world by their god. Jeune tells the story as he heard it while leaving only some comments about his disbelief in their legends.

6. Disease and Medicine While accurately detailing the medical practices of the natives Jean De Brebeuf makes fun of them, often going on rants about how silly they are. He goes on a particularly long rant when addressing the natives opinion on playing Lacrosse when sick to heal the body.

7. Disease and Medicine As Claude Allouez mocks the natives he says, “you should have drawn from him every drop of this corrupt blood and not some alleged dogs teeth”. As we now today bleeding people is not a cure nor is praying to the saints as he also indicates.

8. Writings on the Natural Environment Jerome Lalemant describes an earthquake in such a way to help the reader understand how fragile the building were and how much of an effect the forest and streams had from such violent shaking. The natives begin, shortly after, saying that they had dreams of such a thing happening only days before. One girl in fact did announce her dream before the events and named the time it would begin with complete accuracy. She even announced the coming of the aftershocks as well

9. Writings on the Natural Environment Francois Le Mercier discusses the military and it’s sway on natives authority. After receiving more military help the Iroquis where forced to back down and allow the settlers to till more land and expand. Monsieur de Courcelles, the governor of New France, had scared off the natives in his campaign enough to get them to stop warring and begin seeking friendship from the French people.

10. Missions to the Iroquois Jean Pierron took a stronger approuch then his predecessors in trying to convert the Mohawks. He made them believe that they needed to convert to Christianity or the full force of the French government would come down on them. He combated drinking to much, which was not a problem pre-settlement, and the inability for the natives to except Christianity.

11. Missions to the Iroquois After many years of preaching to the natives, the traditional French way of life seeped into the natives culture and even wardrobe. Claude Chauchetiere makes a point toward the end of his writing to describe how clean and modest the woman dress for church and celebrations. He talks as though he approves of their ability to understand the importance of taking care of their image when displaying themselves infront of God.