The Jesuit Relations: Natives and Missionaries in Seventeenth-Century North America

by Allan Greer (Editor)

The Jesuit Relations is a massive, 73-volume library of French Jesuit missionaries' perspectives on Native North America in the 17th century. Due to the vastness of the collection, these documents, vitally important in telling the story of early American encounters, have been virtually unteachable until now. Allen Greer deftly binds them into a collection, and his introduction provides background on these Jesuits, the Natives, and their co-habitation in early North America. Greer has created a rich resource of journal entries by famous missionaries as well as a wealth of natural history, ethnographic detail, and travel diction through firsthand accounts of early American history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, College, Native American, American History, Religion

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Allan Greer is a professor in the Department of History and Classical Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Colonial North America at McGill University, Montréal.

Reviews

[kaitlyn!]

catholicism freaky af...

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was edited by Allan Greer but the contents were largely written by the French Jesuit priests who reported from New France back to old France during the 17th century. I read this book for the historical content, to see what it was like for western civilization to meet with the indigenous people of North America for the first time....cultures colliding and all that. I also have an interest in Canadian history for genealogical purposes.

The intent of the Jesuit priests was to convert the "heathen savages" to Christianity. Depending on your beliefs, it could be said that the Christian doctrine and biblical tales could be interpreted as as much fantasy as the beliefs of the native peoples. At times, it was comical to read how the priests would disparage the native beliefs in order to advance their own.

Also, listening to present-day First Nation's rhetoric, they would have you believe that the North American natives lived a peaceful and plentiful existence prior to the arrival of the white man. Perhaps this is true for some bands and in some geographic areas. The reality is that some Indian nations were aggressive warriors who frequently inflicted incredible tortures and brutality upon their more peaceful neighbours. As described in this book, they also brought this upon the early French settlers and priests, particularly Fathers Brebeuf, Lalemont, and Jogues, etc. The Iroquois were as barbaric as any group in world history.

They don't tell you these things in school.

[Scott Pomfret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim, powerful collections excerpts The Jesuit Relations, accounts of the travails of various French Jesuit missionaries among the Iroquois, Huron, and other Native American tribes in the 17th Century. The original "Relations" were published contemporaneously in France to great acclaim for many years, not so much for their religious content, but for their descriptions of the then-alien native North Americans. Historian Greer puts the excerpts in proper historical context.

Needless to say, the Relations are full of the suffering of the natives from diseases brought by the unwitting missionaries, who created their own opportunities to save dying souls, simply by walking among their would be converts. But they also recount tortures by the natives of such creative savagery that the reader is appalled, sickened, and fascinated by equal measure. My particular "favorite" was the amputation of the thumbs of French prisoners, followed by shoving wooden branches up the thumbholes until they reached the elbow. Suffice to say, these accounts often paint French and natives in unbecoming light.

Nonetheless, there are unexpected moments of beauty and honor and heroism in these pages, not to mention unexpected surprises. For example, Greer excerpts from the writings of Jesuit Jacques Marquette, who traveled down the Mississippi in search of its mouth, uncertain whether it fed into the Gulf or the Pacific. Among the tribes Marquette encounters is the Illinois. He offers wonderful ethnographic observations, including this one (which in modern times we would recognize as depicting and even celebrating non-gender-conforming behaviors):

Some male Illinois while still young assume the garb of women and retain it throughout their lives.... they never marry and glory in demeaning themselves to do everything the women do. They go to war, however they can use only clubs and not bows and arrows, which are the weapons proper to men, they are present at all the rituals and at the solemn dances in honor of the calumet [peace pipe], at those they sing but must not dance. They are summoned to the councils, and nothing can be decided without their advice. Finally through their profession of leading an extraordinary life, they pass for manitous, that is to say, for spirits or persons of consequence.

A solid read, with even a hagiography of North American Native American Saint Catherine to satisfy Catholic fans.

[Dana Kraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was suggested to accompany The Black Robe, which I enjoyed. I agree that it makes a good companion to that book, and provides more historical background. However, you do need to like to read source material, which I do. This makes me want to read more about missionaries. I find myself feeling empathy for both the Jesuits and the natives. At some level they both seem to understand that the introduction of new weaponry and trading has changed the natives world permanently. Of course, they also see the disease, but have no idea of its cause. In 300 years, what will cause people to look at our society and shake their heads knowing that we just didn't understand?

[Louie · Rating 3 out of 5]

disclaimer: i did have to read this for a class, and i find that always makes these kinda of books more boring.

that being said this was pretty good, it's mostly the actual documents but the intros are very well written and provide good context. this is definitely the most interesting and easiest read i've had for this class so far and i didn't dread having to read it.

[Sean Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating historical read with some gruesome violence. (Think - The Black Robe).

[Jason S · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting set of primary sources and a good introduction with an overview of Jesuit missionaries to the Iroquois and Algonquin in early New France.

[Ishbel · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for hist 344 fall 2022 colonial na hist

[Bubba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shaman's soul flies through the smoke-hole

[Lindsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought i was getting the whole deal but this was an abridged version. Still great though.

Also provides some really cool info on the indigenous peoples they were working with.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting view point from the Jesuits. Read this for my US History class.