French-Indian Contact
Although many people believe that the European settlers wanted to wipe out the first nation people in North America, it is not so true when it comes to the French people. The French unlike the English settlers did not have the mentality in their mind to take everything away from the Indians, and conquer as much land as possible. New France began as a fishing ground, and a fur trade industry, however slowly started to expand into a colony. Unlike the British, the French developed their colonies in lands that were not inhabited by the Indians at that time. The early contact of the French with the Indians in the 17th century did benefit both parties; however the French were benefited more. The French were benefited in ways such as how to survive in the new world, and their home country France was also benefited by New France.
If it was not for the Indians, the French settlement into the new world might have never happened as early as the 17th century, because the new world along with its riches, also offered harsh conditions. Due to that, it was another game just to survive in the new world. When Jacques Cartier’s made his first expedition to the new world in 1535-36 the entire crew face an extremely cold winter near Stadacona on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Due to the harsh weather conditions, twenty-five members of the crew ended up not having survived the winter, and as a result died from scurvy. If it wasn’t for Dom Agaya who was an Iroquois Indian, the rest of the crew would have never survived. Dom Agaya thought Jacque Cartier the traditional Indian cure for scurvy, which ended up saving his crew, and many more to come after that. Therefore it can be understood that the French benefited greatly from the Indians, where they were thought methods of survival in the new world. Other methods of survival were also thought by the natives to the French people. Such methods were native curative practices such as dieting, and how to get their body the vitamins it needs to survive. The French were also thought to use medical plants which gave them a new and better option over using European remedies of bleedings, purges, and emetics. Other forms of survival techniques were also thought to the French by the Indians. Such techniques were; how to get around the area, and use the land and its resources to the fullest potential. An example of that can be using snowshoes to get from one place to another during winter times. As well using bark canoes to travel the St. Lawrence River. This all contributed greatly towards the survival of the French people in the New World, and it is all thanks to the Indians. Therefore the French gained greatly, where they were thought the key aspect about migrating to a new world, which is to survive.
