"Cholenec and Tekakwitha in the Land of Crosses or French Catholicism Meets Iroquois Culture"

A. Picture what we will do with our text: Catherine Tekakwitha (again)

Last week's lectures by Prof. Mailloux:

1. We always make inside sense of the outside
2. We often do so through shared stories

This week's lectures:

3. Some stories matter more than others (Colonialism means words are backed up by weapons)
4. We can't fully control the stories other people tell and live (Hybridity: a form of cultural mixing that challenges colonizers' narratives)

B. The Context of this Cross-cultural Encounter: "New France" and Its People

New World Map

New France/Canada

Multiple Amerindian Groups

1. Two Primary Clusters

• Algonquians: mobile; hunting, foraging, fishing
• Iroquoians: sedentary; corn and other crops

2. Subdivisions and Political Formations

• Iroquoian include Huron and Iroquois
• Five Nations of Iroquois League: Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas, and Mohawk (Tekakwitha's Group)

European Presence

1. Mainly French - "New France"

• From all social classes but typical immigrant poor, male, and unattached
• King claims vast area; fully occupies only a narrow territory in St. Lawrence valley

2. French Colonialism

• Smaller numbers: focus on (fur) trade rather than land acquisition
• Some cooperation and alliance-building with indigenous people 
• But also conflict and destruction: epidemic diseases, warfare, restructuring of native economy, ravages of alcoholism

How do the Jesuits fit in?

1. Part of larger French presence: cooperation as well as conflict

• Most influential religious order in New France
• Most Jesuits come from France (element of Nationalism)
• But no more than thirty to forty Jesuits in second half of the 17^th century
• Live in indigenous villages, not mission villages
• Evangelization proves difficult except for baptisms of sick

2. Why take this assignment in the "Land of the Crosses"?  Map by a Jesuit (1657)

• Martyrdom and Personal Salvation
• Saving the "Children of the Faith"

3. Jesuit Views of Indigenous People

• European superiority and indigenous inferiority: civilized vs. barbarians/savages; Iroquoian look more civilized because they are sedentary
• Universalism: latent Christianity in everyone  and everywhere
• Unique approach to conversion: ิenter through their door, have them exit through ours' (Ignatius)

C. Colliding World Views: Supernatural Realm, Sex, Sin and Social Life