Amerindian View Of American Culture Summary

In Cornelius Jaenen paper he said “it is as justifiable to conceive of Amerindian views of French culture as of European views of the New World, when examining the conceptual frameworks of a generalized culture contact …” (Jaenen 265). People who were still living in Europe were curious about the New World’s culture. Jaenen writes about how the American’s view the French culture and how the European’s view the American culture. When the French came over to the New World they wrote in their journals about their experiences. From these journals Jaenen is able to write about these experiences and interpret the insights towards the New World. The French were able to differentiate the cultural difference between the tribes they came in contact with. They could tell the difference in the languages spoken, customs, and beliefs each tribe held (Jaenen 265). The French were able to pick up on this when they came in contact with each tribe and got to observe and interact with them. Interaction with each tribe varied as some tribes were

The Indians admired how the French were eager to adapt their own culture and equipment to better suit living off of the land (Jaenen 265). The Indians were captivated by how the French lived their lives. The customs they held, the way they dressed, their weapons, and equipment all foreign to the Natives and left them astonished. The greatest appreciation the Indians held towards the Europeans was their knives, hatchets, kettles, beads, cloth, and firearms (Jaenen 265). All of these objects traded would appeal to the Indians for their magical, decorative or fascinating worth. The trading of object would benefit the Europeans. This is because the items traded would not be to equal value leaving the Europeans off with a better deal (Jaenen 266). The Indians became dependent on trading with the French and adapted to some of their customs (Jaenen