The Jesuit Relations

The Jesuit Relations constitute the most important set of documentary materials on the 17th century encounter between Europeans and Native Americans in North America. The annual reports of French Jesuit missionaries provide detailed descriptions of native cultures and customs, as well as information on colonization efforts. The Jesuits focused their missionary work on the Huron, Iroquois, Montagnais and Algonquin nations. Their reports offer insights into native ways of life before increasing European influences like epidemics and trade disrupted traditional practices and worldviews.