The Jesuit RelationsThe Jesuit Relations

Nadya DooleyNadya Dooley

12/13/1012/13/10

IntroductionIntroduction

The Society of Jesus was The Society of Jesus was established in 1534established in 1534

The Jesuits, who were The Jesuits, who were members of this order, took members of this order, took vows of poverty and vows of poverty and obedienceobedience

Instead of taking refuge Instead of taking refuge from profane influences by from profane influences by retreating, they went out to retreating, they went out to conquer the secular worldconquer the secular world

IntroductionIntroduction

Every Jesuit was a Every Jesuit was a college teacher some college teacher some time in his careertime in his career

From the start, missions From the start, missions abroad to convert the abroad to convert the “heretics” and “heretics” and “heathens” were the “heathens” were the Jesuits plansJesuits plans

The Jesuits published The Jesuits published annual annual RelationsRelations for for their audiencestheir audiences

Chapter 1- Montagnais Hunters Chapter 1- Montagnais Hunters of the Northern Woodlandsof the Northern Woodlands

The first published The first published Jesuit Jesuit Relations Relations were written by were written by Father Paul Le JeuneFather Paul Le Jeune

The Algonquin-The Algonquin-Montagnais interested the Montagnais interested the Jesuits because they Jesuits because they believed that all things believed that all things possessed living spiritspossessed living spirits

This is known as This is known as “animism”“animism”

Father Paul Le Jeune

Chapter 1- Montagnais Hunters Chapter 1- Montagnais Hunters of the Northern Woodlandsof the Northern Woodlands

Paul Le Jeune journalized his Paul Le Jeune journalized his encounters with the Montagnais encounters with the Montagnais IndiansIndians

He learned that they were very He learned that they were very attached to each other and attached to each other and cooperative. They wouldn’t cooperative. They wouldn’t quarrelquarrel

They believed that a being called They believed that a being called Atahocam created the worldAtahocam created the world

The Indians would not harshly The Indians would not harshly punish their childrenpunish their children

Chapter 2- Jean de Brébeuf on Chapter 2- Jean de Brébeuf on the Huronsthe Hurons

The Hurons are the best The Hurons are the best documented native North documented native North AmericansAmericans

Huron means “rough hair”Huron means “rough hair” Jean de Brébeuf wrote about the Jean de Brébeuf wrote about the

language of the Hurons: the language of the Hurons: the greater part of their words was greater part of their words was composed of vowels. All their composed of vowels. All their words were universally words were universally conjugated. They had different conjugated. They had different verbs for living things and verbs for living things and inanimate objects.inanimate objects.

Chapter 2- Jean de Bréfeuf on Chapter 2- Jean de Bréfeuf on the Huronsthe Hurons

The Hurons had many myths about The Hurons had many myths about their pasttheir past

They said “Behold, the falling star” They said “Behold, the falling star” if someone is fat and prosperous. if someone is fat and prosperous. They believed that once upon a They believed that once upon a time a star fell from the sky in the time a star fell from the sky in the form of a fat goose…form of a fat goose…

The seasons would determine what The seasons would determine what the Hurons would do: in the warm the Hurons would do: in the warm seasons they would farm, and in the seasons they would farm, and in the cold seasons, they would huntcold seasons, they would hunt

Chapter 3- Disease and medicineChapter 3- Disease and medicine

The Jesuits of France knew The Jesuits of France knew nothing of germs, viruses and nothing of germs, viruses and immunity. They focused on immunity. They focused on why diseases spread, not howwhy diseases spread, not how

Many Huron medical Many Huron medical procedures involved the mind procedures involved the mind as well as the bodyas well as the body

They also thought that dances They also thought that dances and some games could cure and some games could cure sicknesssickness

Chapter 3- Disease and MedicineChapter 3- Disease and Medicine Sickness was easily spread Sickness was easily spread

through the Huron tribes through the Huron tribes because their custom called because their custom called that the sick would be the that the sick would be the center of attentioncenter of attention

The Jesuits did the opposite The Jesuits did the opposite and isolated their sickand isolated their sick

The Hurons blamed the The Hurons blamed the Jesuits for the outbreak of Jesuits for the outbreak of smallpoxsmallpox

Chapter 6- Missions to the Chapter 6- Missions to the IroquoisIroquois

Converting the Iroquois Converting the Iroquois was a big ambition of the was a big ambition of the JesuitsJesuits

The Jesuits worked The Jesuits worked among the Five Nations among the Five Nations of the Iroquois League of the Iroquois League until 1684until 1684

The Mowhawks were the The Mowhawks were the largest amount of largest amount of converts and were known converts and were known as the “mission indians”as the “mission indians”

Chatper 6- Missions to the Chatper 6- Missions to the IroquoisIroquois

The non catholic Iroquois The non catholic Iroquois went to pursue life away went to pursue life away from the influence of the from the influence of the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus

The Iroquois converts of The Iroquois converts of Canada developed their Canada developed their own way fo life as allies of own way fo life as allies of the king for France and the king for France and autonomous desidents of autonomous desidents of

the St. Lawrence Valleythe St. Lawrence Valley