Étienne Brûlé Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Étienne Brûlé
Born	c. 1592 Paris, France
Died	c. 1633 (aged 40–41) Toanche, New France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Fur trader, explorer

Étienne Brûlé (born around 1592 – died about June 1633) was a brave European explorer. He was likely the first European to travel beyond the St. Lawrence River into what is now Canada. Étienne spent many years living with the Wendat (Huron) Indigenous people. He became very good at their language and learned a lot about their culture.

Brûlé worked as an interpreter and guide for Samuel de Champlain, another famous explorer. Champlain later sent Brûlé on many important missions. It is believed that Brûlé reached the Great Lakes before Champlain did. He explored places like Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, the Humber River, and the Ottawa River. In 1629, during a war between England and France, he was captured by the Seneca tribe but managed to escape. The exact details of his death are a bit of a mystery, but it is thought he died among the Wendat people.

Étienne Brûlé: Canada's First Explorer
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Étienne Brûlé: Canada's First Explorer

Early Life and Journey to New France

A plaque in Etienne Brule Park in Toronto, Ontario, remembers Étienne Brûlé's discovery of the path to the Humber River. It suggests he was born in 1595.

Étienne Brûlé was born around 1592 in Champigny-sur-Marne, a town near Paris, France. We don't know his exact birthday because some old records from that time are missing. He arrived in what was called New France (now Canada) in 1608 when he was about 16 years old.

Brûlé didn't write down his own stories or adventures. Because of this, we learn about his life and explorations through the writings of others. These include accounts from Samuel de Champlain, Gabriel Sagard, and Jean de Brébeuf.

Living with Indigenous Peoples

Learning Languages and Customs

Samuel de Champlain wrote about a young person who had been living in New France since 1608. Many historians believe this was Étienne Brûlé. In June 1610, Brûlé told Champlain he wanted to live with the Algonquins. He wished to learn their language and understand their way of life better. Champlain agreed to this plan. In return, Chief Iroquet, an Algonquin leader, asked Champlain to take a young Wendat man named Savignon. Savignon would learn about French customs.

Champlain gave Brûlé important tasks. He asked him to learn the Wendat (Huron) language, explore the land, and build good relationships with the First Nations people. Brûlé was also asked to report back in a year. On June 13, 1611, Champlain returned to find Brûlé. Étienne had done everything Champlain asked and more! He now dressed like an Indigenous person and was very happy with his experiences. Champlain asked Brûlé to continue living with the Indigenous peoples to master everything, and Brûlé gladly agreed.

Discovering the Great Lakes

For four years, Champlain had no contact with Brûlé. During this time, it is believed that Brûlé became the first European to see the Great Lakes. In 1615, they met again in a region called Huronia. Brûlé shared his amazing adventures and explorations across North America.

Brûlé explained that another French interpreter, Grenolle, had joined him. They had traveled along the northern shore of what they called la mer douce, meaning "the freshwater sea." This is now known as Lake Huron. They went as far as the great rapids of Sault Ste. Marie, where Lake Superior flows into Lake Huron.

Exploring Vast New Lands

In 1615, Brûlé asked Champlain for permission to join 12 Wendat warriors. Their mission was to visit a nation called Carantouan, who were allies of the Wendat. They needed to ask for their help in an expedition Champlain was planning. Champlain told the group to travel west of the Seneca territory. This was a dangerous route, but it was the fastest way to reach their destination.

Brûlé successfully reached Carantouan. However, he arrived at the meeting place Champlain had chosen two days too late. He could not help Champlain and the Wendat, who had been defeated by the Iroquois.

Brûlé likely visited four of the five Great Lakes: Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. He may have also seen Lake Michigan. He was probably the first European to complete these extensive journeys across North America. His travels took him to places like the Ottawa River, Mattawa River, Lake Nipissing, and the French River to Georgian Bay. From Georgian Bay, Brûlé could reach Lake Huron. He paddled up the St. Marys River and carried his canoe (a process called portage) into Lake Superior. He also journeyed through Lake Simcoe and portaged through what is now Toronto to Lake Ontario. From Lake Ontario, Brûlé traveled into Upstate New York and explored Pennsylvania. He even went down the Susquehanna River to Chesapeake Bay.

It is also very likely that Brûlé was one of the first Europeans to stand on the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. He spent months visiting Indigenous peoples living along Lake Erie. However, because he left no writings of his own, we know very little about the specific tribes he visited. Many of these tribes were greatly affected by conflicts a few decades later.

Challenges and Changing Loyalties

Champlain and the Jesuit missionaries often disagreed with Brûlé's choices. They didn't like that he adopted many Wendat customs. They also disapproved of his connections with fur traders who operated outside the control of the colonial government.

Brûlé returned to Quebec in 1618. Champlain advised him to continue his explorations among the Wendat. Later, Brûlé was held in Quebec for a year, where he taught the Jesuits the Wendat language. In 1626, Brûlé went back to France and worked as a merchant. He married Alizon Coiffier around 1626 or 1627.

In April 1628, Brûlé and his French ships were captured by the British near Anticosti Island. Brûlé was taken to London. After being released, he returned to New France. He then decided to support the Kirke brothers, who were English merchants, and continued his life among the Wendat and his trading activities.

In 1629, Brûlé made a controversial decision. He helped the Kirke brothers, who were English, by guiding their ships up the St. Lawrence River. He also shared information about the difficult situation of Quebec's defenses. This encouraged the Kirkes to attack Quebec. Champlain later accused Brûlé of acting against the French colony because he worked with the Kirke brothers when they took Quebec for England in 1629. After 1629, Brûlé continued to live with Indigenous peoples, acting as an interpreter for their trade with the French.

The Mystery of His Death

Étienne Brûlé died in 1633 at Toanché, a place on the Penetanguishene peninsula. However, the exact details of how he died are still unclear. The first news of his death reached Quebec through stories told by Algonquins. At that time, the Algonquins were believed to be in a trading disagreement with the Wendat.

One idea is that he was captured by the Seneca Iroquois during a battle. Although he escaped, when he returned to his home among the Wendat, they did not believe his story. They suspected him of trading with the Senecas. It is said they killed Brûlé.

Brûlé's death also seems to have caused disagreements among the Wendat themselves. Soon after he died, Toanché was abandoned, and new settlements like Wenrio and Ihonatiria were founded. This suggests there might have been a split within the community between those who supported his death and those who did not.

To make the story even more puzzling, Father Le Jeune wrote in his journal in 1633 that he met a French interpreter among a group of Wendat. This interpreter had lived with them for many years. It is unknown who else Le Jeune could have been talking about besides Brûlé, even though reports said Brûlé was already dead.