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 Ocean. Hearne presents himself with superiority and describes the Natives in a negative light to work against them. Hearne presents himself as morally superior to the Natives through his supposed sympathy. Hearne assumes his companions are “greatly superior” than the Esquimaux, even when he knows that his companions can easily kill the poor Esquimaux. He shows sympathy towards the Natives only to have his agenda of finding copper fulfilled and to show himself as a man of feeling with superior morals, “because feelings were deemed natural, they united people rather than isolating them.” (Greenfield) While the Natives were killing the Esquimaux, he only cared about his own safety, “I would not have any hand in the murder they were about to commit, unless I found it necessary for my own safety.”(Hearne, pg. 35) Hearne, “portrays himself as a pitiful and sympathetic European who is constantly on the side of the Natives’ innocent victims.” (Schubert, 2009). Hearne only wants his own safety and present a sympathetic attitude towards natives. Hearne further shows the Native’s inferiority through their deficient skills in painting shields. The narrator shows that “ I learned that each man painted his shield with the image of that being on which he relied most for success in the intended engagement”which displays the Natives belief in “superstitions”. In preparation to attack the Esquimaux, the Kaler 2 …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 Ocean. Hearne presents himself with superiority and describes the Natives in a negative light to work against them. Hearne presents himself as morally superior to the Natives through his supposed sympathy. Hearne assumes his companions are “greatly superior” than the Esquimaux, even when he knows that his companions can easily kill the poor Esquimaux. He shows sympathy towards the Natives only to have his agenda of finding copper fulfilled and to show himself as a man of feeling with superior morals, “because feelings were deemed natural, they united people rather than isolating them.” (Greenfield) While the Natives were killing the Esquimaux, he only cared about his own safety, “I would not have any hand in the murder they were about to commit, unless I found it necessary for my own safety.”(Hearne, pg. 35) Hearne, “portrays himself as a pitiful and sympathetic European who is constantly on the side of the Natives’ innocent victims.” (Schubert, 2009). Hearne only wants his own safety and present a sympathetic attitude towards natives. Hearne further shows the Native’s inferiority through their deficient skills in painting shields. The narrator shows that “ I learned that each man painted his shield with the image of that being on which he relied most for success in the intended engagement”which displays the Natives belief in “superstitions”. In preparation to attack the Esquimaux, the Kaler 2 …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