Hannah Feller

"An Introduction to Canadian History"

Author: Hannah (Page 2 of 2)

Reading Log #7

October 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

The readings for this week were based on the effect on the First Nations people when the Gold Rush occurred. The articles talk about the spreading of smallpox amongst First Nations communities. This epidemic also connected to the events that happened in the “Great Canadian Mystery” that was done in class this week. Both of these events occurred in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia.

While the Gold rush was occurring there was a rapidly increase of people in the Cariboo Region. Many of which coming from the California Gold Rush, this meant the most of the people were transient individuals trying to make a quick dollar. During this time in History there were very few people living in Western Canada except for aboriginal people. With the Aboriginals having very little to no interaction to Europeans when the gold rush occurred it was major culture shock. The Europeans brought many things along with them including smallpox. With the introduction of small pox it caused many entire groups of people. Small pox was the reason why as high as 90% of the population was wiped out in parts of BC.

Reading Log #5

October 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

This weekend reading logs are based around the Acadian and the issues that they faced.  As a culture the Acadians did not have it easy, they went through many troubles including having made constantly take oaths of allegiance to the crown,  having their native land fought over between the British and the French and finally the expulsion from the land they had settled.

Thought out the years 1604-1763 the Acadians when through many hardships.  The Acadians made it clear to everyone that they wanted to be considered neural.  They had to sign allegiance to Crown, a stipulation was that they would not fight against the French nor the First Nations.  Throughout that time frame the control for Acadia was passed between the British and the French many times.  While they change in power continued they lived closely with the Mi’kmaqs and saw them as a many things; a threat, ally, bargaining tool and a buffer isolating them from the British settlers.  The largest and most unfortunate event that occurred too the Acadians was their expulsion.   When Britain took control of Acadia they forcibly removed close to 10,000 Acadians from there colonies.  The Acadians were put onto boats and shipped throughout the Eastern seaboard to British colonies.

In 1764 the Acadians were allowed to come back to their original colonies.   Very few Acadians came back to live in there initially settled land. Not all the acadians made it to the new lands they were sent to many died on boats, or killed.  This expulsion is considered a form of cultural genocide to the Acadians.

Reading Log #4

October 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

This week I was unable to access the “‘Nagging Wife’ Revisited,” but I was able to read the “A Fille du Roi’s Passage” document.  I found this passage very interesting, at the beginning I was very confused by how the piece was written.  As I continued it began to come clear how it was a letter written to Jeanne, from an ancestor.  There were many parts of the article that I found interesting including the way the “daughters” were chosen, what kind of incentives they received when they came to New France and  way the men were treated when the fille du roi came to New France.

When reading about how the kings daughters were chosen, I was slightly surprised.  It had been made apparent that most of the girls from France were orphans and sometimes prostitutes.  An interesting comment that was made in this passage was that not all were orphans some of the girls were women who had already been married and used this expeditions to escape an abusive relationship.  The second interesting thing in this article was the  endowments that the women got for going to New France.  The passage describes wooden chests for every girl filled with clothing, sewing supplies and a small amount of money.  In this time in history having all those materials given to them for no cost would almost have been incentive enough to travel to a new and foreign land.  The final thing that was unusual was how the men were treated in regard to the fille du roi, by how if they did not find a woman to wed within fifteen days they would have the ability to hunt, trade and fish suspended.

This article shed some light on some unknown facts about this time in history.  They way the women used this act as a way to escape poverty and abuse would have been an incentive for many if these girls to leave.  Also how the King treated these girls too all kinds of gifts and presents for all of the girls who turned there lives upside down for him and their country  Finally the way the men were almost in a way victimized.  The way the men were treated in this time period is commonly thought of as good when I think that there were many cases like this where they were in a way victims.

Reading Log #3

October 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Being a student that grew up on the West coast of Canada the story of the Beothuk was virtually unheard of. The only reason for many BC High school students having any knowledge on the topic would be from learning other own time. The thought of an entire culture of people being extinct makes many feel sick to their stomach. This reading brought to light some of the events that lead up to their extinction. This reading portrayed the interactions between the Beothuk and the Europeans in many different situations.

The first situation that was interesting was the way Beothuk retaliated against the Europeans when large fisheries were set up. Salmon fishing being one the Beothuk main food supplies they were not amused by the Europeans coming and setting up large fisheries. As a way of expressing this they would often murder fisherman and steel iron from the fisheries. The Beothuk would also prepare elaborate plans to see what kinds of weapons the Europeans had. Where the Beothuk would make decoy animals and elaborate plans to see if the Europeans would pull there guns or just back away. Acts like these were common practise between these two groups.

For many students (such as myself) always believed that in the situation the Beothuk were harmless and that they had no reasons for the Europeans to be any let alone kill and entire culture. This article shows another side to the story were the Aboriginals were cruel and evil to the Europeans. This article is not justifying that what happened was by any means a proper way of conflict resolution, but it does explain some of the events that lead up to such an awful act in Canadian history.

Reading Log #2

October 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

In the article “We Are As We Are” by James P. Rhonda it discusses the many encounters between Christian missionaries and First Nations people in Canada and the northern United States. The article shows the very unique encounters between the two groups.

The First Nations and the Missionaries had very different views on many religious beliefs. Many of the First Nations had no interest in even the thought of joining Christianity. They believed that they, missionaries were the reason for the mass outbreak of smallpox that was killing there families at a rapid rate. While many Natives refused the new religion others were amazed by the ideas and relics that the missionaries revealed and converted to Chritsianity. Another interesting event that occurred during this time was the creation of “revitalization movements,” which where a blend of First Nations and Christian theologies. The difference in opinion did not stop the two groups from asking questions and trying to learn more about the different spiritual outlooks. Father Je Jeune and shaman Carigonan would have secret meeting “Inside dark, smoky bark cabins and would challenge each others theologies”

This article showed an interesting insight into the relationship of two very different groups of individuals, and how there were very interested to learn about one another religious outlooks, even if they had on intention of converting. This kind of open-mindedness and interest is something that should be practised at this day and time.

Living in a Mans World

October 18, 2016 / / 0 Comments

When we talk relationships in New France between First Nations and European we think of European men and Firsts nations women.  During my seminar this week there was an interesting question posed by another student which was; “we often hear about European men and first nations women but did European women and First Nations men every have relations?”  I found this to be an interesting questions because we rarely ever think about these types of questions.  Tracy, our professor had one person come to mind and that was Joseph Brant.  Me, being a person who never likes to have a question unanswered started to research him.  I found out that he had quite and interesting story.

Brant did in fact marry a European woman.  The tale of how they found each other was quite a tangled web.  Brant had not one but three wives.  The first wife was a non aboriginal woman named Peggy.  Peggy was taken captive when young by Native Americans.  She was forced to assimilate with the Northwest First Nations.  Joseph and Paggy had two children children before Peggy passed away of tuberculosis.

Brants second wife was Suzanna who was a Peggy’s half sister.  When requesting marriage from the Church of England was denied due to close kinship.  Brant had to go to German minister to marry them.  Shortly after Suzanna dies of tuberculosis.

Brants third and final wife was Catherine Croghan, who was the daughter of a Irish Indian Agent father and mohawk mother.  Croghan and Brant had seven children.

I found this tangled web very interesting, I don’t think that many people have thought about First Nations men and European women but it did in fact happen.  Sometimes three times from he same men.  I think that history has to be looked at from not only a woman’s point of view but from a man’s as well.

 

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What is History?

September 28, 2016 / / 0 Comments

When I think of history I think of many different things. I think about all the historic events and people that made Canada the history rich country it is today.  People often think of history as events that have happened when really a huge part of history is about the people who lived those experiences.  One of the reasons I love history is because everybody sees history through a different lens, when reading an article almost everybody interprets the information in a slightly different way.  Another interesting question that was posed to me was “how do you do History.” In my eyes doing history is just to learn about what happened in the past.  I think that statement “history repeats itself” is incredible true, and unless we want to relive some of the most awful moments in history we have to learn how and why they happened.

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This is my final project for my History 1120 class with Dr Tracy Penny Light. This website will encompass the learning, struggles and troubleshooting I had while going through the course.

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