The document provides an overview of the Jesuit Relations, which were writings produced by Jesuit missionaries in New France (Canada) between 1632 and 1673. The Jesuits sought to convert indigenous peoples to Catholicism and relayed information on their missionary travels and observations of various Algonquian-speaking and Iroquoian tribes. The document summarizes chapters on the Montagnais people, the Huron language, impacts of disease, and warfare between tribes. It describes religious beliefs, village life, hunting practices, and relationships between Europeans and natives.

1. Theme 5: Part 1 The Jesuit Relations By Cruz Major

2. Introduction The Jesuits were members of a religious order, the Society of Jesus, they took vows of poverty and obedience that distinguished them from regular parish priests The Society of Jesus was founded by Spanish ex-soldier Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 The Society of Jesus was firmly established in Catholic Europe by the time they started sending missionaries to Canada Missions abroad to convert the heretics and heathens were one of the Jesuits main goals Over the course of nearly two centuries of missionary work, the Jesuits had dealings with almost every Indian nation of the Northeast

3. Introduction Long before the Jesuits appeared in North America the French had extensive contact with the natives of the Northeast The Society of Jesus was the preeminent religious order in New France The Jesuits operated a college for French Canadian boys in Quebec Through the most eventful years of the mission in Canada, the Jesuits produced writings for readers back in Europe to relay information on their travels

4. Chapter 1: Montagnais Hunters of the Northern Woodlands The earliest published Jesuit Relations were written by Father Paul Le Jeune, the first superior of the New France mission The Indians pass the winter by hunting the beaver on porcupine in the early snow and the moose and caribou in the heavy snow The Indians were self sufficient people, crafting their own canoes and other tools

5. Chapter 1: Montagnais Hunters of the Northern Woodlands The natives believed in spirits of the light, or spirits of the air, which they call Khichikouai The spirits can foresee into the future and the natives look to these spirits for guidance Unlike the French, the Indians did not believe in punishment for wrong doings Indian women handle household chores without interference from men

6. Chapter 2: Jean de Brebeuf on the Hurons The language of the Huron was far different than anything ever heard They are not aquanted with B,F,L,M,P,X,Z They do not use I and V as consonants The greater part of their words are composed of vowels

7. Chapter 2: Jean de Brebeuf on the Hurons Before encountering the French, the natives did not believe their was land that lay beyond their own Natives believed that they were situated at the end of the earth They worship Iouskeha, the sun, and Aateantsic, the moon The natives were involved in law and government regarding their society. They lived peacefully and had assembled villages

8. Chapter 3: Disease and Medicine Germs and disease followed travelers to New France The Hurons were heavily impacted by contact with Europeans Jesuits were not skilled in medical aid, and could not explain to their readers, and to themselves, the causes and reasons for these epidemics Native peoples attributed illness to natural and supernatural causes

9. Chapter 3: Disease and Medicine Shamans were the native spiritual and medical specialists They had no other aim then to help the sick recover Shamans administered medicines derived from the roots of plants, bark, or leaves Many shamans were skilled in setting broken bones, and some could perform surgery to remove bullets or arrows from wounded warriors in battle

10. Chapter 4: Diplomacy and War War between tribes was common in the 17 th century The Mohawks established a truce with the Algonquins in 1645, but it only lasted until 1647 Iroquois shifted their attack west in 1649 which resulted in a surprise and overwhelming of the Hurons The Iroquois easily conquered their rivals and either killed or captured their captives

11. Chapter 4: Diplomacy and War Iroquois used guns purchased from the Dutch to easily overwhelm other tribes, mainly the Hurons The Huron nation collapsed in 1649. The majority of the Huron tribe became adopted Iroquois, while some either merged with other tribes or followed a small band of Catholic Jesuits into Quebec City