10. Building a French Outpost in the Mocama World

“Building a Village in the Wilderness” National Park Service display

"How Fort Caroline is Remembered" A painting depicting how Fort Caroline has often been imagined, a fort and fully-functional French colony. Watch out, the painting depicts European women, who would not arrive to Fort Caroline until after the fort became non-functional. Source: National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center Commissioned Art Collection (HFCCAC) Creator: Richard Schlecht

La Caroline was located in between the hica (town) of Saturiwa and another Mocama hica. The French were eager to settle in Saturiwa territory because they believed it had the best access to yereba nali (gold) and yereba nayo (silver) and also to hono (food). The Mocamas permitted the French to settle on lands that they did not use. La Caroline was not in a wilderness but in an unsettled place that did not have a yalu (marsh) and was exposed to storms and wind.

Without a yalu (marsh) and its abundance of wildlife, the French found it much harder to survive. Not only was it more difficult to fish and collect shellfish but the surrounding soil was less fertile. It was hard to grow crops and to forage for native plants. The French also had to go farther to hunt.

Throughout their time here, the French depended on the Mocamas for hono (food). This was the Mocamas’ strategy. They could not only closely monitor the French but also ensured the French were reliant on them for survival.

Audio

Building a French Outpost in the Mocama World Audio Narration This is an audio narration for this stop on the Indigenous Fort Caroline Tour. Source: Department of History, Center for Instruction and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida Creator: Amarilys Sánchez Date: 2024

Images

"Building a Village in the Wilderness" NPS Wayside Display A still image of the "Building a Village in the Wilderness" National Park Service wayside display located on the path prior to the replica fort. Source: National Park Service Creator: The National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial

Indigenous Fort Caroline Tour Map A map displaying the physical locations associated with each tour spot. You are now at Spot 10 in front of the “Building a Village in the Wilderness” National Park Service display located outside of the Fort Caroline replica. Our path takes you from the Main Parking Lot, past the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center, overlooking the river, along the Fort Caroline Memorial Trail, to the actual replica of Fort Caroline. Source: Center for Instructional and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida, and the National Park Service Creator: Michael Boyles and the National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial Date: 2023

Location

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Metadata

Citation Info

Indigenous Florida, “10. Building a French Outpost in the Mocama World,” Indigenous Florida, accessed October 16, 2024, https://indigenousflorida.domains.unf.edu/items/show/44.