Source Analysis: Jesuit Jean De Brébeuf Discusses Life Among The Hurons

PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS:
Jesuit Jean de Brébeuf Discusses Life Among the Hurons

Jesuit Jean de Brébeuf was a French Jesuit, who wrote guides for other Jesuits in similar future situations that he found himself in. In 1617, Brébeuf joined the Society of Jesus, which is a group of men who were educated in the Catholic faith, allowing them to do many things for the glory of God. Some of the jobs they would do would be anything from building schools, to research for future Jesuits, like Brébeuf did. When researching for future Jesuits, the Jesuit could go abroad and research and convert those of other cultures, the most common place was the Indian tribes in the Northern region of the United States. The information found in the written interactions

Some of the things he mentions are pet peeves the Hurons have, and some are odd. Brébeuf tells his future Jesuits to participate in things they do, as long as it does not make the Jesuit a sinner, to be cheerful all of the time, to be prepared to do anything at any point while they are there, and to keep their opinions to themselves. The rules mentioned above are basic rules Brébeuf lays out for Jesuits, but this is where they get odd due to pet peeves. Brébeuf points out that they should always eat the food given to them, no matter how undone, covered in dirt, or disgusting it is, to be prepared to skip meals if your out in the canoes for the day, to adapt to your surroundings quickly, explaining that when walking through the river, to pick up their clothing to make it easier, to never wear their hat on the canoes, because it gets on the Hurons nerve, and to always finish something that they start. These rules are based on his own personal experiences, situations, and consequences he has faced due to the actions mentioned

One of the situations he mentions in the document is when he first arrived, the Hurons had just fought the previous spring with a tribe nearby, called the Sonontoen NAtion. The Hurons invited Brébeuf to attend the meeting they had set in place to confirm the peace between the nations, but since Brébeuf had not fully settled into the Huron nation, he did not want to attend. Brébeuf stated, “... I would not go to any place where we would not be immediately recognized as Preachers of Jesus Christ.” (Page 80). Brébeuf had an agreement with the Huron nation, but not with the Sonontoen nation, so he would not feel safe or comfortable. The agreement between the French and the Huron nation was based on trade, the French told the Hurons if they allowed the Jesuits to visit, then the French would continue trading with them if not, the French would cease all trade with the Huron