The Impact of the French on Native Societie

The Impact of the French on Native Societies
Folashade Esther Oyewusi
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The Impact of the French on Native Societies
Prior to the invasion of Europeans, Canada was inhabited by different native tribes which had established settlements throughout the land. The country was later to be invaded by France and became a colony and was dubbed a royal province in 1963 a colloquial name for New France. When the French settlers explored Canada, they arrived and found all the areas settled by the native tribes, including Indians, Jesuits, and the Huron among others. Most of these native tribes practiced farming while others were hunters and gatherers. The native people who lived on the West Coast were fishermen, and they preserved fish through smoking and drying. Native people often involved in warfare because they competed for prestige, resources and land. The arrival of the French settlers and other Europeans colonists, missionaries and traders transformed the way in which the native people lived in Canada. As would be expected, the coming of the Europeans had different ramifications for the native tribes, especially in terms of cultural practices and practices. This paper aims at examining the impacts of French invasion in Canada between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in terms of social structures, religious beliefs, gender roles, and social equality.
The invasion of Canada by France during the sixteenth century came with various implications in regard to the lives of native societies. Previously, Native tribes coexisted in a rather peaceful manner and survived on activities such as fishing, farming and hunting. With the Europeans invasion, the traditional lives of these tribes took a whole new turn and new religious beliefs, cultural values and socioeconomic activities slowly started to take root. A Large number of native people died as a result of European diseases because they lacked immunity. Nevertheless, the French settlers and the native people interacted and lived together forming the founding background of Canada.
The French came in fishing fleets that continued sailing towards the Atlantic coast and eventually reached the St. Lawrence River. At the St. Lawrence River, the French developed a mutual relationship with the native tribes a move that greatly facilitated in their settlement. While these native tribes had their own way of living, the French came equipped with new knowledge and were quick to realize the potential of the land. The superiority of their knowledge over that of the native tribes gave them an upper advantage in colonizing the region, first through friendly means and later through the forceful application of authority. While religion played an impetus role in these earlier settlements, economic motives soon begun to surface. Minerals such as iron pyrite as well as the region’s fisheries and fur attracted the attention of the newcomers who started to forge close contact with the native people in order to obtain an exploitation right.
The large territories, which were identified as Canada and Acadia were occupied by the native nomadic tribes of the Iroquois and Hurons, who lived in the New France. In Acadia, dominant tribe included the Mi’kmaq, but there were other minority tribes such as the Malicites and the Kwedecks. Mi’kmaq. These tribes engaged in subsistence farming, but were more skilled in hunting and gathering with special emphasis on sea mammals and fish. Mi’kmaqs were semi nomadic only constructing semi-permanent hunting camps during the winter. These camps were scattered with the families only rejoining during summer and spring seasons. Politically, these tribes were characterized by a loose confederacy linked together by a common system of patrilineal clans. Each clan possessed its own symbols which were frequently used to mark snowshoes, canoes, clothing and other possessions. Clans were independent, with each having its own ceremonies and chiefs, the latter whom were responsible for guiding political authority.
Most territories were underexploited by the natives and had valuable resources that attracted French colonists and traders. French settlers made early efforts in developing permanent settlements though failed. A trading post was formed in 1598 on Sable Island near the coast of Acadia, although it was not successful. Another trading post was developed at Tadoussac in 1600 though only five settlers managed to survive the winter. A settlement was developed at IIe-Saint-Croix on the Bay of Fundy in 1604, although in the year 1605, this settlement was moved and relocated at Port-Royal but was abandoned in 1607. In 1610, the settlement was reestablished, but ruined in 1613 and consequently, settlers were displaced to other locations.
Champlain rapidly developed a close relationship with the native tribes of the Montagnais and Algonquian peoples in the region, and these natives had conflicts and warfare against the Iroquois. Champlain also organized to ensure young French men stay with the Montagnais and Algonquian native tribes peacefully. The reason was to learn the customs and language of the natives, and to assist the French people adapt to life conditions in the North America. These French men developed French influence in the west and south of the Great Lake as well as among the Iroquois and Hurons tribes who lived near the area. While French was instrumental in introducing new economic practices, their settlement in the region came with other negative effects. Most notably, due to lack of permanent settlements, and the free interaction between the natives and the earlier settlers, European diseases started to spread among the natives, who had no medical knowledge regarding the new diseases.
With time, Champlain was appointed as the governor of Quebec, and he requested those who were not Roman Catholics not to live there. Protestants were expected to abandon their faith to identify themselves in New France. Consequently, many people decided to migrate to other English colonies. Missionaries like the Jesuits and the Recollets and the Roman Catholic Church became strongly developed in the region of New France. Moreover, Richelieu established a semi-feudal farming system that remained a significant impact in the St. Lawrence valley through the period of the 19th century. In 1635, Champlain passed away after which the church became the most powerful and dominant force in Canada and intended to create an ideal Christian community in the colony. The church sponsored a team of French settlers who ...