"Keepers of the Game: Indian-Animal Relationships and
the Fur Trade" by Calvin Martin
[SA currently]
A 17th Century Micmac speaks to the French on how
the Micmacs have a better lifestyle because the French
lack happiness rooted in their dissatisfaction which
inclines the French to greed is found in this quote
below from the book given above as follows:
Chapter Two:
ca. 1600: "He (Biard) found it incredible that
these 'savages' would honestly fancy themselves more
clever, courageous, wealthy, and in general a better
sort of people than the French. 'For,' they say, 'you
(Frenchmen) are always fighting and quarreling among
yourselves; we live peaceably. You are envious and
are all the time slandering each other; you are
thieves and deceivers; you are covetous, and are
neither generous nor kind; as for us, if we have a
morsel of bread we share it with our neighbor.'
Elsewhere, he accused the Micmac of
'self-aggrandizement.' 'You will see these poor
barbarians, notwithstanding their great lack of
government, power, letters, art and riches, yet
holding their heads so high that they greatly
underrate us, regarding themselves as our superiors.'
....Le Clercq recorded a powerful speech
delivered by a native spokesman, who began by
observing that his people were happier than the French
because they were satisfied with what little they had.
France must indeed be an impoverished place, he
mused; otherwise the French would not subject
themselves to such great personal discomfort to enrich
themselves on these shores. The dissatisfaction and
penury of the French were manifest in their greed for
the 'old rags and ... miserable suits of beaver which
can no longer be of use to us, and ... in the fishery
for cod which you make in these parts, the wherewithal
to comfort your misery and the poverty which oppresses
you.' The Indians, maintained the speaker, were
satisfied by the conveniences they found readily at
hand, and he contrasted his people's contentment with
the work ethic of the French which made them obsessive
codfishers. codfish were so basic to the French diet
that when they got bored with it and wished for 'some
good morsels, it is at our expense; and you are
obliged to have recourse to the Indians, whom you
despise so much, and to beg them to go a-hunting that
you may be regaled.'
Continuing to delineate the pleasures of Indian
life vis-a-vis the cares of the French, he reminded
the Recollet that his people had lived longer before
the arrival of the French, with their bread and wine.
But as they gradually adopted the French manner of
living so, too, did their longevity decrease.
Experience showed that those Indians lived longer who
declined French bread, wine, and brandy, choosing
instead 'their natural food of beaver, of moose, of
waterfowl, and fish, in accord with the custom of our
ancestors and of all the Gaspesian nation.'
Finally, he summed up his harangue, ' there is no
Indian who does not consider himself infinitely more
happy and more powerful than the French.' For the
freedom to live anywhere and be assured of a
livelihood, to be his own master with unrestricted
hunting and fishing rights, without anxiety, all made
the Gaspesian unquestionably more content than the
Frenchman.
Le Clercq, who bore the brunt of this diatribe,
felt compelled to confess that his informant was
correct in his comparison of French and Micmac life.
Overlooking their ignorance of Christianity, wrote the
Recollet, the Micmac indeed led a peaceful, contented,
harmonious existence.
There could be no shunting aside of the Christian
mysteries, however, despite whatever virtues the
heathen life could boast. That sweet message would
bring civilization and salvation to the 'savage'."
[SA currently]
What was thought by the Europeans at the time was
Christianity was a universal truth, and thus, this
broad sword swinging of the Europeans did not see what
to them became trival. Though the Indians
demonstrated a way of life with no quarreling amongst
themselves (the Micmac), and lived more peaceably than
the French (who slander each other noticeably often) -
the blinding broad sword swings a perspective that
overlooks nonquarreling, peaceful relations, and
health as mere trivals.
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