Reductions
A more successful endeavour was the establishment of "reductions", villages where natives were settled under the control of the Jesuits. The reductions in North America were inspired by the Jesuit Reductions of South America, especially Paraguay. Reductions were first established for the nomads of the Saint-Laurent valley, at Sillery near Quebec and Conception near Trois-Rivières, and later among sedentary Indians: the Hurons at Notre-Dame-de-Foy and later at Lorette, and the Iroquois at La Prairie de la Madeleine.
One of the most famous reductions was that of Sillery, near Quebec, which was established with the financial help of Noël Brûlart de Sillery in 1637. In 1645, there were 167 native inhabitants in Sillery. The reduction was raided by the Iroquois in 1646. In 1670, Sillery was subject to an epidemic of measles, so that the Montagnais and Algonquins left the territory. In 1698, the Jesuits abandoned their post there as missionaries, and transferred the territory to the jurisdiction of the parish of Notre-Dame-de-Sainte-Foy.
Read more about this topic: Jesuit Missions In North America, The Jesuit Establishment
Famous quotes containing the word reductions:
“The work was like peeling an onion. The outer skin came off with difficulty ... but in no time you’d be down to its innards, tears streaming from your eyes as more and more beautiful reductions became possible.”
—Edward Blishen (b. 1920)