Champlain and the Alliances
Samuel De Champlain and Jacques Cartier are very well known and significant figures in the history of Canada, but how different are the ways they treated the native people? The difference is actually quite significant. Something that is not always mentioned is that these explorers both depended on the first peoples and required their skills to survive the land. Champlain showed a lot of gratitude to the people who helped him, and repaid them through acts or respect and allegiance. Cartier had received much help from the indigenous people but it was very rare that he would show gratitude in any way. These differences will be discussed in this paper.
One way Samuel De Champlain treated the indigenous in a fair manner was in the manner of mutual benefit. Champlain was benefiting from alliances, such as his with the Huron people, in a way that assured that the people would mutually benefit from their interactions. Upon first arriving in the New World, Samuel De Champlain and his men needed to set up a settlement on the land. Wishing to create ties with the people already inhabiting the land, Champlain met with the chief and received permission to use the land in exchange for military assistance. Samuel De Champlain, Voyages of Samuel de Champlain: 1604-1618 (New York, 1907), 59-6. Conversely, explorer Jacques Cartier erected a ten meter tall cross on the land belonging to the Iroquois tribe. Cartier did this as a symbolic way of claiming the land. The chief of that particular tribe, Chief Donnacona, confronted Cartier about his actions; indicating to him that the land belonged to the Iroquois and that the cross was unwanted. Cartier lied to the chief, telling him that it’s only to act as a marker for their return and kidnapped two of the chief’s sons. Cartier’s First Voyage, Sympatico, last updated July 7, 2007 http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/canada/z00cartier1.htm. What this conveys is that Champlain knew how to benefit from native interaction but also holds a respected for their wants and needs. Cartier, on the other hand, attempted to claim land already inhabited by people and ceased to act in kindness towards the people when they opposed his actions.
Another act of respect Champlain displayed towards the native people was through the loyalty he showed to his alliances; never abandoning or exploiting his allies. This is evident in the fact that he provided military support to his alliances in the Iroquois war. This would mark the first time that Europeans provided military aid in native inter tribal warfare. Champlain, Voyages of, 163-166. This act of allegiance towards the native people had been almost unheard of for Europeans to do. Through these actions Champlain showed that he very much emphasized mutual benefit with the Huron as well as other tribes that were fighting the Iroquois. On the other side, Jacques Cartier stressed heavily that any interaction with the indigenous people shall be for gain; even at the expense of the native men and women themselves. Cartier applied this rationale to his negotiations with Chief Donnacona and two of his sons. Against the will of the chief, Jacques Cartier kidnapped the two sons to bring with him back to France. Cartier was to use these men as a spectacle, to bring attention to his own cause. Not to mention Cartier would later go on to kidnap the chief himself. Of course, there was no benefit for any native man involved, as they had no say in the matter and received no compensation of any sort. The difference in treatment these two explorers showed the natives is night and day. What Champlain showed is that he was willing to show gratitude for the assistance he had received from his allies so many times. Cartier basically displayed that despite the trading and peaceful interactions with the Iroquois, he still was willing to betray their trust for his own gain.
One final way method Champlain used to strengthen his alliances was to try to gain a better understanding of the culture way of life of the indigenous people. In order to do this Champlain decided to spend the winter living among the Huron people. Doing so would help him grasp the Huron language better, as well as learn vital survival skills. Champlain, voyages of, 310. Though it wasn’t necessarily a huge benefit for the Huron people to have Champlain living with them, it certainly showed a great deal of respect for the people. Cartier as it seems would have a different definition of cultural respect. To show the French the people of the new world, Cartier had kidnapped Chief Donnacona as well as five others and brought them back to France. After a couple years of being denied to return, Chief Donnacona passed away in 1540. Once Cartier was finally granted commission to return to Canada, he had to address the devastated Iroquois people. Cartier told them of how the chief grew ill and passed away, and lied about the others as they were all dead as well. The natives were outraged at the loss of their chief and asked that the Europeans move their settlement elsewhere. Cartier had refused to move, but abandoned the fort a couple days later. Cartier’s third voyage, Sympatico, last updated February 16, 2010. The Europeans left behind faced attacks from the natives who had told them they were no longer welcome. Through Cartier’s actions it is clear to see the disregard he holds towards the Iroquoian people. By comparison it is quite plain to see that Champlain genuinely wished to participate in the Huron people’s culture and learn their values and beliefs while Cartier had no regard for what the first peoples valued at all and took advantage of them in any way he could.
In conclusion, both Cartier and Champlain had many interactions with the native peoples but the two did not interact with them in the same way. Cartier’s main focus was money and gaining land for France. This gave him a skewed perception which meant that any interaction he made would be for gain. Though Champlain also valued gaining land and wealth, he also valued humanitarianism and loyalty to his allies. Champlain faced a lot less resistance from the aboriginal people as a result of his peaceful interactions which were free of greedy intent. Cartier faced much resistance from the tribes he had wronged and eventually was driven back to France by their acts of resistance. The interactions between the French explorers and native people is a topic not always looked at, but it remains to be an extremely significant aspect of the history of Canada.
Bibliography
– Samuel De Champlain, Voyages of Samuel de Champlain: 1604-1618 (New York, 1907), 59-6, 163-166
–Cartier’s First Voyage, Cartier’s Third Voyage, Sympatico, last updated July 7, 2007 http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/canada/z00cartier1.htm