Department of International Relations– 2003 1 FRENCH AGRICULTURE.
Native-French Relations in New France
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Transcript of Native-French Relations in New France
Native-French Relations in New France
Hochelaga
• Lucky that Iroquois had retreated from St. Lawrence Valley by 1608– Huron, Mikmaqs, Montagnais
• Company of New France 1608-1663 – Focus on Beaver Fur Trade
• The farther North, the better fur• Natives trap, process, and transport
– High Profits
New France:
1608-1760: 27,000
Importance of the 1660s, “Diplomatic Immunity,”
métis
British Colonies:
1607-1760: 1,000,000
Immigration
Dutch map of the New Netherland area (circa 1650)
Competition and the Environment
Beaver Wars (1633-1701): Iroquois attempt to dominate the fur trade
• 1633-1645: Conflict a Draw as Iroquois fight for Huron hunting grounds
• 1645-1647: Short Peace of 2 years– Iroquois still cut out of trade
• 1647-1653: Iroquois Begin another conflict and Prevail– Huron outgunned and annihilated– Iroquois win trading rights at Montreal
• 1653-1658: Peace lasts 5 short years– Iroquois still cut out of fur trade by Ottawa and
attack French in 1658
• 1658-1667: French Prevail– Smallpox, French troops, and Ottawa &
Canadian militia victories lead to French success
Beaver Wars
• 1667-1680: Long period of Peace– French Fur Trade Expands
further West and South– Jesuits sent amongst the
Mohawk and win important allies
– New Netherland becomes New York
• 1680-1701: French Prevail– Iroquois attack an over-
extended France in 1680• Guerilla tactics
• 1701: The Grand Settlement
Canadian militia
How does Religion fit into these relations?
• Jesuits the primary missionaries– Order created during
Counter Reformation
• Highly Educated
• Linguists
• Zealous & Disciplined
– Jesuit Relations keep missions alive with $
– Jesuits barely tolerated even amongst the Huron
Jesuit Map showing detail of a priests martyrdom (lower right)
Success with Huron?
• Initially, attempt to eradicate Native religious beliefs
• Overall failure amongst the Montagnais and Huron in 1630s & 1640s– Some Huron convert
and move to Lorette (mission town) outside Quebec
The Jesuit Mission at Sault Saint-Marie in Huronia before it was
destroyed by the Iroquois in the 1650s
Jesuit Adaptation
• Jesuits come to accept fusion more after the 1650s
• New strategy binds some Iroquois (Mohawk) to French– Jesuits enter Mohawk villages
during peace from 1667-1680
• Story of Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) and Gandaouagué– Fracture of Mohawk society– Migration to Kahnawake, near
Montreal
The Mohawk Saint: Kateri Tekakwitha
(1656-1680)
Native Motivations
• Primary reasons for conversion?• What did Jesuits demand of Mohawk converts?
– Alcohol– Mid-Winter festival (Onnonhouarori) that featured
dream guessing feasts– Pagan beliefs
• What aspects of Native religion were retained?• What aspects of Catholicism were similar to
Mohawk religion– Collective Prayer– Asceticism
Overall Role & Significance of Religion in New France
• Government Frenchification fails in 17th century– Idea for separate mission towns prevails
• By 1710, Population of Mission Indians in New France is 1,750 (600 warriors)– Catholicism, European clothes and homes adopted– Retain own culture, language, and sovereignty– Warrior ethic = valuable allies
• Catholicism plays a part in reconciling Catholic Natives to New France, but two distinct societies, Catholic-Native and Catholic-Canadian, develop side-by-side
The Oka Crisis near Montreal in 1990
Final Question
• Together, fur trade and religion play a role in sustaining a tenuous French presence in New France in the Seventeenth Century– Which plays a bigger role?