Greg Marchildon speaks with Micah True about his book, The Jesuit Relations.

The Jesuit Relations were annual reports written between 1632 and 1673 by Jesuit missionaries in what is now Eastern Canada. Traditionally viewed as firsthand missionary narratives, Micah True’s work challenges this notion by revealing that the texts were shaped by many contributors—including Indigenous people, settlers, nuns, and editors in France. He explores the influence of historical context, such as Jesuit writing traditions and the Paris book trade, on their creation. True also examines how different editions since the 19th century have altered the interpretation of these texts. His analysis offers a more nuanced understanding of the Jesuit Relations and their role in shaping the history of New France and Indigenous-European encounters.

Micah True is professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta.

Image Credit: McGill-Queen’s University Press

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The Jesuit Relations

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New tracks tagged #Jesuit missionaries Canada