Kezia

October 17, 1789 Another of us have died today. I have spent 16 years in Huronia without a single convert. 18 of us have been killed by the Natives. Some have even given up and returned home to France. Although it is difficult, I would never go back. As the religious leader in the community I feel it God’s calling to me to spread the truth. The shamans are against us and the Natives are stubborn. In exchange for trading goods and military assistance they only have to listen to us-we’re only trying to help them! and they kill us off because they refuse to accept the truth. One other priest and myself live in this community, among the Natives, along with many other missionaries. The Huron call us “the Black Robes”. They think that we are casting spells on them and making them die. That’s what the shamans are telling them. I read it in a Huron woman’s diary. She said that unless we are killed then we will devastate the country and nobody will survive. I can’t believe the lies the shamans tell them, sometimes I wonder why we even try, but then I just pray to God and ask him for guidance and perseverance. We spent the day baptizing their babies, helping with their business dealings and attempting to befriend the savages and they repay us by leaving us the night to bury one of our own. I now can fluently speak the Huron language. We had hoped that if we could speak to them in their own tongue it would be easier for them to accept. Apparently we were wrong. No progress has been made. I understand why the Natives reject those of us who refuse to take on our faith, but even when we get down to their level and live as one of them, how can they still be so inflexible?
 * Francois Collier-Jesuit in Huron society**

October 23, 1789 Sunday is by far the best day of my week. The savages are quiet and somewhat respectable. Some French coureurs de bois and missionaries passing through our village stop by the church for the morning. Hard as I try not to think it, it is extremely refreshing to have the white people help balance out the natives. I know that I’m their leader in many ways and even though they don’t want it to be this way, they look up to me, but every once and a while I need a break from them. 16 years is far too long a time to be away from a proper civilization. I read long powerful chapters from the word of God, hoping to enrich and impact the lives of these people; hoping that they would at least listen. After the service I met up with another Jesuit, Jean Pierre. We had to talk about a particular fille du rois new to New France, named Therese Clary, who had recently been married by Jean. We sought for insight together in silence for a while, but eventually had to part. Many of the French visitors had questions for me about these Huronians. I tried to sound cheerful and speak highly of them. It was difficult. Lastly, a man called Pierre whom I’ve begun to have many talks with on Sunday mornings pulled me aside. I was not the only one worrying about our progress with the natives. He thinks its just about time that we gave up and left back for home. I tried to reassure him that the progress maybe is slow and hard, but that God can do all things in time. We prayed together and I felt much better after that. The priest I work with in this community and I decided to go fishing, since we haven’t done much for ourselves for the longest time. It was peaceful and I quite enjoyed it, and to complete our day, we cooked up the cod we caught for supper. As I said, Sundays are good. But Mondays, now…well.

-Baldwin, Douglas. //New France// //and the Fur Trade//. Calgary: Weigl Educational Assoc, 2003. Print. -Horwood, Harold Andrew. //The Colonial Dream, 1497-1760//. unknown: Canada's Illustrated Heritage, 1977. Print. -Jeune, Paul Le. //Brieve relation dv voyage de la Novvele France, fait au mois d'Auril dernier par le P. Paul le Ieune de la Compagnie de Iesvs: EnuoyeÌ// //  //// e au R.P. Barthelemy ... by the Massachusetts Historical Society) // . Massachusetts: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1924. Print. -Dr. Jaenen, Cornelius J. //First Contact// -Francis, Daniel. //Discovering First Peoples and First Contacts.//