Transcript Culture of the First Occupants

Culture of the First Occupants
(CIRCA 1500)
Environment, social relationships and spirituality
 Aboriginal people respected the environment, which
ensured their subsistence in the territory and supplied
them with the resources that were essential for their
material production.
 Social relationships among aboriginal peoples were
determined by qualities such as gift giving, which they
greatly valued. An individual had to possess these
qualities to be chief.
 Aboriginal peoples believe in animism. They believe in
the existence of spirits and entered into contact with
them through various means such as smoke, dreams and
shamanism.
Encounter with Europeans
 The encounter with Europeans transformed the
Aboriginal peoples’ material culture. They discovered
new materials and changed their clothing and food
habits. (Guns being an important trading object)
 The encounter with Europeans had negative
demographic effects on Aboriginal societies.
Exposure to European diseases like smallpox
devastated Aboriginal populations because they had
no natural immunities built up to fight the disease.
Culture under the French Regime
Immigration to Canada: imports and adaptations
 French immigrants imported techniques and skills as
well as objects that they adapted to the requirements
of the colony’s climate (Ex: agricultural techniques).
 They also adopted certain aboriginal practices and
customs. Ex: Aboriginal jackets, moccasins, mitasses
(leggings), tuques, snowshoes, sleds, canoes.
 These changes led to the emergence of a new
identity. Over time settlers would identify less as
being French, but more as being Canadien.
The Catholic Church
 The Catholic Church is one of the most influential
forces that shaped Quebec’s culture throughout its
history.
 In the 17th century, the Church made it its mission to
convert Aboriginals to the Catholic religion.
 The Church took charge of social services (ex:
medical care) and education in the colony.
 The Church displayed its power through religious
art and buildings. This is an important part of
Quebec’s cultural heritage.
The Catholic Church (cont)
 The local church in a parish was the center point of
any community. It is where people met and
socialized.
 The Church used this fact to control the society of the
colony and enforce their Catholic morality.
Absolutism in the colony
 Absolutism: A ruler is said to receive his or her
power directly from God and was God’s
representative. They rule with complete authority
and there are no laws to limit their authority.
Everything belonged to the King
 Examples of Absolutism in New France: Before 1663,
all chartered companies had to answer to the king
and he had the power to dissolve them. Later, the
governor’s and intendants were the king’s
representatives and had comparable powers.
 Place names Ex: Louisiana
Gallicanism
 Gallicanism: A doctrine whereby the Catholic Church
in France enjoyed autonomy with respect to the
authority of the Pope.
 The idea was that since the king is God’s
representative on Earth, he should also be the leader
of the Church in that territory. The King would
appoint Bishops in France and New France.
 In reality, it probably had more to do with the King
having more control and power over the influential
Catholic Church
Culture under British Rule (1760-1867)
 After the Conquest, the British were left with the
problem of trying to govern a people that had a
completely different culture (language, religion,
customs) than them.
 They tried to create policies that maintained their
authority but allowed the Canadiens to keep identity.
 The British let the Catholic Church keep its power in
return for the Church promising to support the
British.
 Root cause for dissatisfaction with Church in the
1960’s. (Mr. Macleod’s opinion)
Liberalism, Nationalism and Republicanism
(1760-1830’s)
 The change of empire coincided with the rise of
liberalism in the colony. Both Canadien and British
liberals wanted a more democratic political system.
 After 1791, linguistic tensions in the Legislative
Assembly encouraged the development of partisan
press.
 Canadien liberals grew more radical and became
republicans and nationalists, resulting in rebellions
in Lower Canda during 1837-1838. They wanted to
create a separate nation for the Canadiens in North
America.
Ultramontanism, liberalism, anticlericalism
(After 1840)
 The Act of Union tried to assimilate Canadiens. They
turned to the Catholic Church for support and to
protect their identity.
 Ultramontanism: The Catholic Church inserting
itself into all aspects of life in the colony, including
political power. The Church builds many classical
colleges to educate young people.
 The new French Canadian nationalist movement is
survival nationalism. Where the Catholic religion is a
central part of what it means to be Canadien. It
supporters were rural and conservative.
Liberalism and Anticlericalism
 There were still Canadien liberals who were in favour
of nationalism but did not agree with the Church
being a leading power in that movement. This is
known as anticlericalism.
 This is the beginning of a new secular society in
Quebec.
 Secular nationalist were mostly located in the cities
and were more liberal in their views on society. They
believed in religion, just not it being a part of
governing a country.