Cabeza De Vaca Natives Encounter Analysis

Through our readings from Cabeza de Vaca’s Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America and “Native Encounters”, the authors extensively illustrate their knowledge of how European colonist treated Natives in order to depict to the reader the trials and tribulations that these Native Americans would encounter in their day to day lives. During this time period, the Europeans and Native Americans faced many confrontational situations. Despite their differences, a number of individuals attempted to exert an unnecessary amount of effort into trying to maintain a cordial relationship within the given shared space. However, their expectations for the use of the land, ideal living condtions, and their religious views all differed substantially enough …show more content…
Not only were they pushing their presence, but they were demanding and expecting the Natives to practice their religion. The Natives were outraged over changes that were being permanently established and their numerous conflicting views caused an exceptional amount of strife between the people. Aspects of life that each group valued were on different spectrums. Religion was amongst some of the most important. Natives avoided suppressing the European’s desires in an effort to remain peaceful, however when not met equally they challenged them with anger. The Indians were very passive in the early stages of colonization because resources were abundant, however, when ownership started running sparse, the wrongdoings of the Europeans became extremely recognizable. The Indians had already compromised so much and the Europeans were expecting even more. The Europeans failed to acknowledge that the Indians had deeply rooted beliefs of their own and were expecting ownership not only of the area but of their beliefs as well, pressuring them into Christianity. Some Natives, in an effort to prolong the need for violence, went so far as to get baptized. One native in particular named Paquiquineo was kidnapped and baptized as ‘don Luis de Valasco’ “joined a Jesuit expedition to his homeland—and once home, led his people in killing all the missionaries.” The Natives also expressed their frustration in that the Europeans had suggested their …show more content…
The Natives employed great efforts to maintain peace between their land’s visitors, however as time passed it became almost impossible. Native Americas went to great lengths to meet the requests of the Europeans. Unfortunately, greed overcame these colonialists and their true agenda was quickly unveiled. Their intentions were never to coexist, but to co-occupy under their conditions. Their goals for the future, anticipated division of land, hopes, and beliefs differed so far apart that they left no prospect of unison. For the Europeans it became far too easy to ignore the damage being done while caught up in the midst of the conquest that not only the people, but the culture and essence of the Native land was lost in the