Étienne Brûlé (c. 1592 – c. June 1633)^[1] was the first of European French explorer to journey along the St. Lawrence River with the Native Americans and to view Georgian Bay and Lake Huron in the 17th century. A rugged outdoorsman, he took to the lifestyle of the First Nations and had a unique contribution to the geographical knowledge of New France. He departed from his home in Champigny-sur-Marne, southeast of Paris, France, at the young age of 10^[2] and set sail for Quebec, which was part of the newly claimed lands of New France. Brûlé, becoming an interpreter for Champlain, traveled with the Native population and not only explored the many dangerous areas of the unknown wilderness, but also learned the habits and customs of the indigenous peoples, particularly the Hurons. He was sent on many portages by Samuel de Champlain as well as sent to live among the Huron people. He scouted the rivers and forests and was a guide and interpreter for Champlain, but in 1629, he betrayed his friend and patron. Not long after his disloyalty to Champlain, Brûlé was killed by the Bear tribe of Huron Indians.

Early life[link]

A plaque to commemorate Étienne Brûlé's discovery of the pathway to the Humber in Etienne Brule Park of Toronto, Ontario, puts his date of birth at 1595.

Brûlé was born c. 1592 in Champigny-sur-Marne, France.^[1] Brûlé has not left any recollection or description of his early life, his life among the indigenous peoples, or of his expeditions. Therefore, his existence has been viewed through the works of Champlain, Sagard, and Brébeuf.

Life in New France[link]

Champlain wrote of a youth who had been living in New France since 1608, and whom many believe to have been young Brûlé. In June 1610, Brûlé told Champlain that he wished to go and live with the Algonquins and learn their language as well as better understand their customs and habits. Champlain made the arrangement to do so and in return, the chief Iroquet (an Algonquin leader of the Petite nation who wintered his people near Huronia), requested that Champlain take Savignon, a young Huron, with him to teach him the customs and habits of the French. Champlain instructed Brûlé to learn the Huron language, explore the country, establish good relations with all Indian nations, and report back in one year’s time with all that he had learned. On June 13, 1611, Champlain returned to visit Brûlé, who astonishingly had done all that Champlain had asked of him. Brûlé was dressed as though he was one of the indigenous people and was extremely pleased with the way he was treated and all that he had learned. Champlain requested that Brûlé continue to live among the Indigenous peoples so that he could fully master everything, and Brûlé agreed.

For four years, Champlain had no connection or communication with Brûlé. In 1615, they met again at Huronia. There, Brûlé informed Champlain of his adventures and explorations through North America. Brûlé explained that he was joined by another French interpreter by the name of Grenolle. He reported that they traveled along the north shore of what they called la mer douce (the sweetwater sea), now known as Lake Huron, and went as far as the great rapids of Sault Ste. Marie where Lake Superior enters Lake Huron.

In 1615, Brûlé asked permission from Champlain to join 12 Huron warriors on their mission to see the Andaste (Susquehannock) people, allies of the Hurons, to ask them for their support during an expedition Champlain was planning. Champlain ordered the party to travel west of the Seneca country because they needed to arrive there quickly and the only way to do so was by crossing over enemy territory.^[3] This proved to be dangerous but semi-successful for Brûlé did reach the Andastes; however, he arrived at the meeting place Champlain chose two days too late to assist Champlain and the Hurons, who had been defeated by the Iroquois.^[4]

Brûlé probably visited four of the five Great Lakes—Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario—and may have also seen Lake Michigan. Brûlé was more than likely the first white European to complete these expeditions across North America. In these expeditions he visited places such as the Ottawa River, Mattawa River, Lake Nipissing, and the French River to Georgian Bay. From Georgian Bay Brûlé was able to cut into Lake Huron. He paddled up the St. Mary’s River and portaged into Lake Superior. He journeyed through Lake Simcoe and portaged through what is now Toronto to Lake Ontario. From Lake Ontario Brûlé was able to travel in Upstate New York and explore Pennsylvania and cross down the Susquehanna River to Chesapeake Bay.^[5] It is also said that it is very probable that Brûlé was one of the first Europeans to stand along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan.^[5] He had spent months visiting indigenous peoples that lived along Lake Erie between the Niagara and Detroit Rivers.

Champlain and the Jesuits often spoke out against Brûlé's adoption of Huron customs, as well as his association with the fur traders, who were beyond the control of the colonial government. Brûlé returned to Quebec in 1618, but Champlain advised him to continue his explorations among the Hurons.^[4] Brûlé was later confined in Quebec for a year, where he taught the Jesuits the natives' language. He was then sent back to Europe and prohibited from coming back to New France. Brûlé then set out for England and in 1629 betrayed his country when he guided an English force led by the Kirke Brothers down the St. Lawrence River to their successful capture of Quebec City (though the colony was returned to France in 1632). Champlain said of him: "Brûlé is licentious and otherwise depraved, thus setting a bad example to the savages, for which he should be severely punished."

After 1629, Brûlé continued to live with the natives, acting as an interpreter in their dealings with the French traders. Though the circumstances of his death are unclear, the prevailing view is that he was captured by the Seneca Iroquois in battle and left for dead by his Huron group. He managed to escape death by torture, but when he returned home, the Hurons did not believe his story and suspected him of trading with the Senecas. Treated as an enemy, Brûlé was stabbed to death, his body was dismembered, and his remains were consumed by the villagers in 1633. He died at Toanche, on the Penetanguishene peninsula, Ontario, and was eaten by the Hurons, who interred only those who met death by violence.^[1]

See also[link]

New France portal

• Timeline of Quebec history
• Timeline of Ottawa history
• Timeline of Toronto history
• Coureurs des bois
• Samuel de Champlain
• École secondaire Étienne-Brûlé
• French colonization of the Americas
• Etienne Brule Park

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Douglas, Gail (2003). Étienne Brûlé: The Mysterious Life and Times of An Early Canadian Legend, Canmore, Alberta: Altitude Publishing Canada, 141 p. (ISBN 1-55153-961-6)
• Jurgens, Olga. "Brûlé, Étienne", in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, University of Toronto and Université Laval, 2000
• Baker, Daniel ed. Explorers and Discoverers of the World. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993
• Cranston, James Herbert (1949). Etienne Brulé, Immortal Scoundrel, Toronto : The Ryerson Press, 144 p.
• Butterfield, Consul Willshire (1898). History of Brulé's Discoveries and Explorations, 1610–1626, Cleveland: Helman-Taylor, 184 p. (online: archive.org, Library of Congress)
• Woods, Shirley E., Jr. "Ottawa: The Capital of Canada" Doubleday, 1980., p 9.
• David Hackett Fisher. Champlain’s Dream. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008.
• Grace Morrison. Étienne Brûlé. Markham: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1989.
• Gervais Carpin. Le Réseau du Canada. Québec : Presses de L’Université de Paris-Sorbonne, 1999.
• James Herbert Cranston. Étienne Brûlé : Immortal Scoundrel. Toronto : The Ryerson Press, 1949.
• Jurgens Olga. “Étienne Brûlé” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. University of Toronto and L’Université Laval, 2000. (http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?BioId=34217), accessed October 2, 2010.