Question

Summarize the Gaspesian's arguments in the chapter primary source “A Gaspesian Indian Defends His Way of Life, 1641." Whose way of life strikes you as superior; that of the Frenchman, or the Indian?

Answer 1

Answer: Chrestien Le Clerq once travelled to New France as a missionary. To his observation, Native Americans were not interested in adopting European cultural practices. A Gaspesian Indian explains in detail why his way of life is more superior to Le Clercq’s. Indians are happier because they are content with the little that they have. They labour enough to have food and live. They are comfortable with this and need no more than that. They are not interested in large houses as they feel that a large house is unnecessary. Indian consider excessive comfort as superfluous. They feel pleasure in hunting and fishing. They do not want to adopt a modern culture that has a high risk of life. They are satisfied with simple food and drinks. Gaspesians lived longer than after there was French arrival. It is because they consumed more natural and fresh foods. Use of wine and other harmful things to the body have decreased their average life span. Indians consider themselves more happy and powerful than the French. All these above-described facts indicate that the Indian way of life was superior.