1. The Jesuit Relations
Values of the French Jesuits and the
Native Communities
Based on The Jesuit Relations book
edited by Allan Greer

2. Native North America and the French Jesuits
• According to the book, the Relations
are annual reports of French
missionaries of the Society of Jesus in
efforts to convert the Natives to
Catholic Christians. The French
missionaries believed the Indians
would worship the devil because of
their strange ceremonies and the way
they lived, in little villages. The French
first began to befriend the natives for
business. They would trade furs and
other resources. But mainly, the
French would attempt to
communicate with the Natives and try
to convert them into Christians.

3. Native North America and the French Jesuits
• On page 3, it explains how the Jesuits were members
of a religious order, the Society of Jesus. They were like
monks, they took special vows of poverty and
obedience. They wanted to perfect Christianity in a
tightly organized way associated with branches across
Catholic Europe and in Rome. They wanted to travel
and spread the Christian faith.
• On Page 28, Paul Le Jeune describes how the Indians
did not know who created earth, and perhaps it was
one of their gods Atahocam. The Indians believed in
spirits, signs, and the power of the earth and the
animals. “Every species have an elder brother, who is
the source and origin of all individuals, and this elder
brother is wonderful great and powerful”(pg.29). They
also singed and danced strange music that most French
thought to be satanic. To Paul le Jeune one good thing
about the Indians was, “they possess physical
advantages. They are tall, erect, strong, well
proportioned, agile, and there is nothing effeminate in
their appearance”(pg.32).