July 16, 2004 Champlain the Remarkable Founder of New France

In January 2004 I looked at some of the events from the past that will be remembered in 2004.  These events included the first attempted permanent settlement in Canada on the island of St. Croix 400 years ago. 

The survivors and others located at Port Royal near Annapolis Royal and started what became Acadia.  The British expelled the Acadians 150 years later but many came back and many with Acadian roots are returning this summer to remember the past 250 years and plan for their future. 

In this article I want to look at the life of Samuel de Champlain who came as a young man in 1604 and over the next 30 years made an incredible impact on future of Canada.  Champlain’s brief stay in our area in the summer of 1615 and on his way back is recognized in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, the site of the Canadian Ecology Centre and the Voyageur Museum.  Champlain Park at the Lake Nipissing end of Premier Road has a cairn with scuptural renditions of Champlain’s arrival.  389 years ago this month he came up the Mattawa River crossing the La Vase portage (where there is another Champlain plaque) and spent two days in the area visiting with the 7-800 native people on the shores of Lake Nipissing.  

Much has been written on Champlain and Champlain wrote extensively about his experiences in his Voyages.  These writings were originally circulated in France to raise money for his work and to encourage settlement.  He was also an outstanding cartographer and his maps played a significant role in early commerce and exploration.  An excellent profile of Champlain’s visit to our area can be found in Bill Steer’s book North Woods (1990) (18-24).

Champlain’s 1632 map of our area showing Native presence.

Champlain sent his advance man Etienne Brule an early courier du bois ahead to check out the territory 5 years before he ventured forth to open the interior.  When Champlain did go he had 4 priests along since one of his motivations was to convert the native people.  He was also looking for the Northwest Passage and along with others called the native people Indians.  One of his priests Joseph Le Caron went ahead of Champlain in 1615 and arrived at Lake Nipissing 8 days ahead of Champlain on July 18 – 390 years ago this Sunday.  Champlain the third official white man arrived on the 26^th.  He eventually ended up in what became New York State (where Lake Champlain is named after him) before returning. 

Champlain’s claim to fame besides surviving for 30 years was his versatility.  He was remarkably good with people gaining sponsorship for his trips and later in getting settlers to come.  His writing and map making were exceptional and he had to have great skill as an administrator. 

He was also a shrewd businessman and politician among other things supporting the local native people against the Iroquois to gain their support.  He was also not afraid to travel and explore, often at some considerable discomfort.  He was wounded in a battle during his trip through here while supporting his Huron friends against the Iroquois and spent a winter recuperating in Huronia. 

In his diary during his 1615-1618 trip he described the native people and their customs in detail.  He was well received and very impressed with the Nipissing native population.  I mentioned his description of the Manitou Islands in a recent article.  He described the 14 portages on the Mattawa and his 2 day trip across the La Vase ridge and how he was ready for a rest when he got to Lake Nipissing. 

Cover of National Film Board video on Champlain.

When he returned to Quebec he spent the next 19 difficult years as Governor of New France, dying in 1635.  For further information on Champlain check out the book mentioned above and Murray Leadtherdales book Nipissing – Brule to Booth (1975).  The National Film Board has a 15 minute film on Champlain available at the North Bay Public Library (#3148).  There will also be much written on his life this summer including major reports in the Globe and Mail.  There are many other books including an extensive collection in French in the North Bay Public Library.  There is also a lot of information on line including www.vmnf.civilization.ca/explor/expled_e.html 

Now 400 years later French, English and Native people live together in an incredibly different world.  Take a moment to imagine the events here in July 1615 and recognize our beginnings.