Basque fisheries in Eastern Canada, a special case of cultural encounter in the colonizing of North America

Abstract

The early European explorations of current Canadian lands were seeking a passage that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was never found, but the rich marine resources that were discovered instead promoted the development of a thriving fishing industry based on whale hunting and cod fishing. Basque seamen were active agents in the origin of this process, promoting the development of seasonal settlements on that new found land. Although they were divested of their prominent role in the late sixteenth century, their activity did not cease until the eighteenth century. The study of the Basque fisheries overseas provides a rich example of colonial diversity and multiculturalism. On the one hand, it allows us to delve deeper into the casual nature of early colonialism, underscores the random nature of its development, and stresses the importance of individual actions in the colonial process. On the other hand, it offers a more plural and necessary vision of colonialism. The first phase of the colonizing of Canada is a special case of cultural interaction between Europeans and the local population. The development of a Basque-Algonquin pidgin and their collaborative relationship are examples of a different sort of cultural encounter than what developed elsewhere in America.