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 –Focus on Beaver Fur Trade The farther North, the better fur Natives trap, process, and transport –High Profits

New France: : 27,000 Importance of the 1660s, “Diplomatic Immunity,” métis British Colonies: : 1,000,000 Immigration

Dutch map of the New Netherland area (circa 1650) Competition and the Environment

Beaver Wars ( ): Iroquois attempt to dominate the fur trade : Conflict a Draw as Iroquois fight for Huron hunting grounds : Short Peace of 2 years –Iroquois still cut out of trade : Iroquois Begin another conflict and Prevail –Huron outgunned and annihilated –Iroquois win trading rights at Montreal : Peace lasts 5 short years –Iroquois still cut out of fur trade by Ottawa and attack French in : French Prevail –Smallpox, French troops, and Ottawa & Canadian militia victories lead to French success

Beaver Wars : 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 : 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 Story of Kateri Tekakwitha ( ) and Gandaouagué –Fracture of Mohawk society –Migration to Kahnawake, near Montreal The Mohawk Saint: Kateri Tekakwitha ( )

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 17 th 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?