Samuel Hearne’s Travels: European opposition towards Canadian Natives
Canada has a long history of explorers and fur traders seeking to map out the country on their own terms. One such explorer is Samuel Hearne; he is a fur- trader, author, naturalist and worked for Hudson’s Bay Company. He travelled from Prince of Wales’s Fort to the Northern Ocean in search of Coppermine River and copper. On the way, he would journal his observations about Canadian life, looking at particular the Aboriginals (Indians) way of life. Hearne was also the first explorer known to have lived alone with the natives.
Later, his work has been valued by ethnographers in his published field notes, A Journey from Prince of Wales’s Fort in Hudson’s Bay to the Northern …show more content…
Hearne describe the paintings as a silly notion and depicts the Natives as those who believe in superstitions.
In Hearne’s descriptions about his journey the Natives are described in a barbaric and violent manner. In Hearne’s description of “the bloody massacre”, he describes how two groups of Natives fight against each other. The Esquimaux tribe were ambushed in the midst of their sleep and neither had the time nor power to make any resistance against the
“Northern Indians”. Only one alternative remained for the Esquimaux, that is jumping into the river but none of them attempt it. They have no choice but to fight the Indians. Samuel’s horror increased when an 18 year old girl was killed in front of him. She was struck by a spear in her side and fell down at his feet and twisted around his legs making it difficult for
Samuel to disengage from her dying grasps. The Indians look harshly towards Samuel as they felt that if he feels pity towards the girl, then Samuel should go and take her as his wife. The Indians taunt Samuel for having feelings for the “enemy” Esquimaux. The narrator empathizes with the girl who is exhausted by pain and the loss of blood and still wants
Canada has a long history of explorers and fur traders seeking to map out the country on their own terms. One such explorer is Samuel Hearne; he is a fur- trader, author, naturalist and worked for Hudson’s Bay Company. He travelled from Prince of Wales’s Fort to the Northern Ocean in search of Coppermine River and copper. On the way, he would journal his observations about Canadian life, looking at particular the Aboriginals (Indians) way of life. Hearne was also the first explorer known to have lived alone with the natives.
Later, his work has been valued by ethnographers in his published field notes, A Journey from Prince of Wales’s Fort in Hudson’s Bay to the Northern …show more content…
Hearne describe the paintings as a silly notion and depicts the Natives as those who believe in superstitions.
In Hearne’s descriptions about his journey the Natives are described in a barbaric and violent manner. In Hearne’s description of “the bloody massacre”, he describes how two groups of Natives fight against each other. The Esquimaux tribe were ambushed in the midst of their sleep and neither had the time nor power to make any resistance against the
“Northern Indians”. Only one alternative remained for the Esquimaux, that is jumping into the river but none of them attempt it. They have no choice but to fight the Indians. Samuel’s horror increased when an 18 year old girl was killed in front of him. She was struck by a spear in her side and fell down at his feet and twisted around his legs making it difficult for
Samuel to disengage from her dying grasps. The Indians look harshly towards Samuel as they felt that if he feels pity towards the girl, then Samuel should go and take her as his wife. The Indians taunt Samuel for having feelings for the “enemy” Esquimaux. The narrator empathizes with the girl who is exhausted by pain and the loss of blood and still wants