Black Robe
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In the film “Black Robe”, it tells a story about the contact between the French-speaking Jesuit missionaries and three different First Nations in Quebec, Canada back in the 1630s. Father Laforgue is on a mission to convert the Huron to Catholicism, during his journey to the Great Lakes Area, he encounters difficulties getting along with the Algonquins, Huron and Iroquois. Throughout Father Laforgues arduous journey, it shows the lifestyle and culture of the three First Nations. Moreover, it displays their adaptations to their geography and worldviews.
During Father Laforgues mission to the Huron, he is guided by Daniel and the members of the Algonquins tribe. The Algonquins are hunter-gatherer groups who are headed by chief Chomina. They usually live near water since they travel by canoes to hunt. Yet, when winter approaches, they will follow wild games to survive. As they are hunter-gatherer groups, they rely heavily on hunting and problem solving skills. Everyone in the group needs to cooperate and participate. Both men and women play a tough role when it comes to survival. They are trained or even born to be warriors who are willing to sacrifice and protect members in their tribe. As they are tough warriors, they can easily adapt to new environment. They need to have high adaptability towards surrounding geography and environment in order to become hunter-gatherers. Moreover, they value women very much among themselves. They can even make love in the public which Father Laforgue cannot withstand. This indicates the cultural different between the French and the Algonquins. Furthermore, they might value their dreams like prophecies and destinations. Dreams are something that they must follow which might seem unpractical for Father Laforgue. He thinks that they do not live accordingly to the reality. However, his dream or perspective actually came true about the over dependency of steels and weapons. Father Laforgue is not comfortable living with the Algonquins since they have different perspectives, beliefs, and culture. Although the Algonquins do not like Father Laforgue, Chomina still tries to accomplish his mission.
As the Algonquins return from winter hunting, they are captured together with Father Laforgue by the Iroquois. The Iroquois is a farming-based group consisting of five First Nations. For instance, the Mohawks, Oneida, Onandaga, Cauyga and Seneca. They live as a big group and have permanent homes. They build wooden house in their villages and are less likely to travel around to hunt. They are enemies with the Huron as well as the French since both of them have contact. They are the most cruel group in the film which they torture Daniel, Father Laforgue and Chomina. The Iroquois want them to beg and cry for survival. They believe that if a person cries before his death, they will be able to own his soul. Moreover, the Iroquois depend on both farming and hunting. This might