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Trenholm 1
Father Sagard and the JesuitsIn North America
David TrenholmOctober 11
th
, 2006HIST 2773 B1Dr. Stephen Henderson
 
Trenholm 2Jesuit Priests working on missions in the untamed Canadian wilderness madeimportant historical contributions to the understanding of some aboriginal peoples andtheir interaction with European settlers. These primary sources, records of their day-to-day encounters, have been safely kept and studied for any clues or insights into aboriginallife, as well as the cultural clash that may have existed between the Jesuits and First Nation tribes. One such Jesuit, Father Sagard, spent some time with the Hurons inCanada. In his narrative, Sagard writes about the various beliefs he encounters, and themany stories he and his companions hear of the Indian gods and spirits such as
Cudoüagni
and
Yoscaha
1
. To put these records into proper perspective, historicalinterpretations made by past historians tend to study further the character of the Jesuit priests and their First Nation counterparts. Francis Parkman in
The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century
describe the attitude and behaviour of a few Jesuit priests who travelled to Canada in their mission to baptise the “savage” populations.Parkman offers critical insight on how Jesuit Priests in North America viewed their charges, and more importantly what pre-existing biases may have carried on through their record keeping.In one excerpt of his narrative,
The Long Journey to the Country of the Hurons
,Father Sagard refers to Cicero in order to explain the diverse beliefs present in theaboriginal tribes in Canada. Sagard quotes Cicero in order to make a comparison, usinghis words to describe the Indian population as savage, brutal and barbarous.
2
It isimportant to keep in mind, throughout the excerpt, that Sagard has little to no regard for the cultural or spiritual importance of these aboriginal beliefs—in fact, such spirits and
1
J. M. Bumsted and Ken Kuffert, eds.,
 Interpreting Canada's Past. Vol. 1: A Pre-Confederation Reader 
,3rd ed. (Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2004), pp. 29-30.
2
Bumsted, p. 29.
 
Trenholm 3gods, Sagard contends, are merely evil, solely concerned with corrupting the innocenceof these tribes.
3
Sagard continually points out the apparent inaccuracies andcontradictions in these stories as it relates to their own Christian faith, as if such errorsinvalidate the truth or significance of these aboriginal beliefs. Sagard even states that, onrelating to the practice of paying respect to a statue of some spiritual significance, “… thedevil plays with them and holds them fast in his snares and subject to strangesuperstitions….”
4
It is clear, then, that Father Sagard puts little value in the aboriginal beliefs present in Canada—being on a mission to baptise these populations, this comes asa little surprise. What is a welcome sight, however, is the care taken to record the manystories and myths of the aboriginal people Sagard encounters. Sagard writes, in greatdetail, the god Yoscaha and his grandmother, Ataensiq.
5
He records the story of the fivemen searching for their living and their encounter with God.
6
The intrinsic value of thesestories having been recorded first-hand is unquestionably high, regardless of the apparentand sometimes distracting biases of Father Sagard.It is important to put Sagard’s testimony in historical context in order toresponsibly understand the era and the people of which such records were made. FrancisParkman says himself, over a century ago, that before studying the more significantscenes in the drama of human history, it is important to understand and note thecharacteristics of the “chief actors”.
7
Heightened awareness of human rights and thedistasteful treatment of racial minorities in the past make it easy for the modern reader toisolate the obtuse opinions and remarks made by Father Sagard and his companions.
3
J. M. Bumsted and Ken Kuffert, eds.,
 Interpreting Canada's Past. Vol. 1: A Pre-Confederation Reader 
,3rd ed. (Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2004), p. 30.
4
Bumsted, p. 31.
5
Bumsted, p. 30.
6
Bumsted, p. 29.
7
Bumsted, p. 32.
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Legsi

Hello! I was wondering if you're the David T. that went to Bear Creak in Barrie, if it's not please ignore my intrusion. It's Fiona S., and if you are who I think you are I'd really like to get in touch. Thankyou

reply02 / 12 / 2010
Legsi

P.s. you can reply here, or you can send me an email if you prefer, my email address is displayed in my profile.

02 / 13 / 2010
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