Inhabiting New France : bodies, environment and the sacred, c.1632-c.1700
The historiography of colonial and âreligiousâ encounters in New France has tended to focus on encounters between human beings, between âcolonisersâ and âcolonisedâ or ânativesâ and ânewcomersâ. This thesis will focus on encounters between people and environment. Drawing on recent anthropology, notably the work of Tim Ingold, it will argue that whilst bodies shaped environment, environment also could shape bodies â and their associated religious practices. Through the examination of a broad variety of source materials â in particular, the Jesuit Relations â this thesis will explore the myriad ways in which the sacred was created and experienced between c.1632 and c.1700. Beginning with the ocean crossing to New France â an area largely unexplored in the historiographical literature â it will argue that right from the outset of a missionaryâs journey, his or her practices were shaped by encounters with both humans and non-humans, by weather or the stormy Ocean Sea. Reciprocally, it will argue, missionary bodies and practices could shape these environments. Moving next to the mission terrain, it will analyse a variety spaces â both environmental and imaginary â tracing the
Macdonald, Robin
Inhabiting New France : bodies, environment and the sacred, c.1632-c.1700. The historiography of colonial and âreligiousâ encounters in New France has tended to focus on encounters between human beings, between âcolonisersâ and âcolonisedâ or ânativesâ and ânewcomersâ. This thesis will focus on encounters between people and environment. Drawing on recent anthropology, notably the work of Tim Ingold, it will argue that whilst bodies shaped environment, environment also could shape bodies â and their associated religious practices. Through the examination of a broad variety of source materials â in particular, the Jesuit Relations â this thesis will explore the myriad ways in which the sacred was created and experienced between c.1632 and c.1700. Beginning with the ocean crossing to New France â an area largely unexplored in the historiographical literature â it will argue that right from the outset of a missionaryâs journey, his or her practices were shaped by encounters with both humans and non-humans, by weather or the stormy Ocean Sea. Reciprocally, it will argue, missionary bodies and practices could shape these environments. Moving next to the mission terrain, it will analyse a variety spaces â both environmental and imaginary â tracing the
new france body environment sacred historiography colonial religious encounter new france tend_focus encounter human_being coloniser colonise native newcomer focus encounter people environment drawing recent anthropology notably work argue_whilst body shape environment environment also could shape body associate religious_practice examination broad variety_source material particular jesuit relations explore myriad way sacred create experienced beginning ocean cross new france area largely_unexplored historiographical literature argue right outset missionary journey practice shape encounter human non humans weather ocean sea argue missionary body practice could shape environment moving next mission terrain analyse variety space environmental imaginary tracing