|
Etienne Brulé
Park recognizes the accomplishments of one of North America's earliest
explorers. On September 19, 1615, at the age of twenty, Etienne
Brulé became the first European to see Lake Ontario and, later,
was probably the first to see Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan
and Lake Superior. He was also the first European to live among
the native people and adopt their customs.
Brulé
had come to North America as a servant to Samuel de Champlain, the
father of the French colony of New France. In an attempt to win
Huron Indian support, Champlain offered to help them wage war against
the Five Nation Iroquois Indians of upstate New York. Champlain
sent Brulé to the New York-Pennsylvania border (near the Town
of Waverly) to meet an allied tribe known as the Carantouans, and
enlist their help with the raid. From Huron territory around Lake
Simcoe, Brulé travelled south along the Holland and Humber
Rivers, across Lake Ontario, then through New York to the Susquehanna
River.
Although Brulé
ultimately deserted the French and was ostracized by Champlain,
his exploration of the hinterland was very important to the expansion
of the fur trade. A commemorative plaque and marker is located at
South Humber Park.
|
