Black Robes, Virgin Soil Epidemic, & Huron Feast of the Dead Flashcards
WHAT IS THE HURON FEAST OF THE DEAD?
IS A HURON EVENT TO CELEBRATE THOSE WHO PASSED AWAY
WHEN DID THE FEST HAPPEN?
EVERY 12 YEARS
WHAT DID THEY DO AT THE HURON FEAST?
DIFFERENT INDIANS FROM DIFFERENT NATIONS CAME, THEY DUG THEM UP AND WALKED WITH THEM TO THE VILLAGE, THEY CARED FOR THE BONES, CLEANED THEM, WOULD LET THE FAMILIES LOOK AT THEIR LOVED ONE’S BODIES, BURY THEM, WRAP THEM IN BEAVER ROBES AND BRING THEM TO THE GATHERING PLACE.
WHAT YEAR DID THE JESUITS WITNESS THE FEAST?
1636
What did the Native Americans do to the bodies once they were done taking care of them?
Their bodies are placed in beaver robes, and their flesh is then taken off and thrown into the fire.
HOW DID THEY KNOW IF THE FEAST WILL HAPPEN?
THEY WOULD KNOW BECAUSE THE ELDERS WOULD USE THE WORD KETTLE AS A SECRET CODE. THE PHRASE “KETTLE IS OVERTURNED” WOULD MEAN IT IS NOT HAPPENING.
WHAT DID THEY DO AT THE END OF THE HURON FEAST, ONCE THEY WERE DONE TAKING CARE OF THE BODIES?
They carry all the souls of the dead to a cabin; they feast on food, sing, and do a chant for the souls.
WHAT IS VIRGIN SOIL EPIDEMIC?
IT IS WHEN THE POPULATION AT RISK HAD NO PREVIOUS CONTACT WITH THE DISEASE THAT STIKES THEM WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE NO IMMUNE DEFENSE AGAINST IT.
What historian wrote about the Virgin Soil Epidemic? What did they have to say about it?
David S. Jones
He says that the phrase “virgin soil epidemics” has been misused to make white people feel better by saying that the Indians would have been decimated either way. Instead he says that EVERYONE has immunity and can develop it, and that historians need to actually look into the science instead of being dazzled by it.
WHAT SOCIAL CHOAS AFFECTED THE INDIANS AND LEFT THEM VULNERABLE?
FAMINE, OVERCROWDING, WARFARE, AND STRESS, some historians add alcoholism
WHAT OTHER STRESS FACTORS MADE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO FIGHT AGAINST THE DISEASES?
FALLING BIRTH RATES, WARFARE, AND ALCOHOLISM
How do we know about the Huron feast of the dead?
Jean de Brebeuf wrote about it in the Jesuit Relations. Brebeuf wrote his part in 1636.
What was important about the Huron feast of the Dead from the Jesuits’ point of view?
It’s significant because the Jean de Brebeuf found something about the Native American culture here to admire. He thought Christians had a lot to learn from how much the Native Americans honor their dead and aren’t grossed out by things like that. He pretty much shames Christians for not being like that.
What are the Jesuit Relations and what did they say?
Jesuits wrote about their experiences with the Huron natives, written 1630-1705:
- cures and ceremonies the Hurons performed
- epidemics that struck them
- trying to convert and baptize them and how it was fairly unsuccessful because the Hurons didn’t like their idea of Heaven.
- The Hurons saw the trends of how smallpox was spreading and began to blame the Jesuits.
Who were the jesuits? (“Black Robes”)
French missionaries that came to New France in the 1600s to try to convert Indians and learn about their culture. They sent records of their experiences and observations back to France through the Jesuit Relations.
