It did not begin with Douglass Houghton, whose 1840 geological report led to the Treaty of La Pointe. Nor did it begin with the British explorer and trader Alexander Henry who tried to open a copper mine in a sand bank on the Ontonagon River in 1771, five years before the American Revolution began.

It actually began about a year before the Mayflower landed on the eastern shore of the New World in 1620, with a kid who couldn’t read.

Samuel de Champlain recorded that he was young. In fact, historical records reveal that he was probably around 16 years old when he set sail from France with Champlain, on their journey to establish the city of Quebec in 1608. In spite of his young age, Etienne Brule quickly gained Champlain’s confidence.

In 1610, Champlain got an idea. He arranged an exchange between the French and the Wendat, whom the French had mistakenly called the “Huron.” Etienne, under this arrangement, would be sent to live among the Wendat, where he would learn their language and customs, and the son of a Wendat chief would be sent to France to learn French language and customs.

Young Brule may have been unschooled, but apparently he was far from stupid. In less than a year he returned to Champlain at Quebec in the company of 200 Wendat who wanted to enter into a trade agreement.

For some reason, Champlain was shocked when he laid his eyes on young Brule. Not only could the boy speak the Wendat language fluently, his dress and mannerisms were those of his new companions. Why Champlain was surprised by this is a guess, because that was the very reason Brule had been sent to live among the Wendat.

Brule did not remain long in Quebec. Accompanying a large group of Wendat, Brule journeyed to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, returning in 1612 to report his explorations and findings to Champlain.

While Champlain’s records give mention to Brule, apparently, he was disappointed in the young man, often referring to him as a “savage,” equating him to the native peoples whom Champlain regarded as inferior.

Regardless of Champlain’s opinion of him, Brule served him exceedingly well. Brule became a pathfinder for the French explorers, missionaries, and traders who would come behind him. By the time they arrived on the interior, Brule had already gone ahead, establishing friendly relations.

By 1618, Brule had already visited Lakes Erie, Ontarion and Huron. In 1620, he found himself at the place the French would later name “Sault de Sainte Marie,” or the Falls of Saint Mary. He then spent time exploring what the French would later name Lac Tracey, and the British would name Lake Superior.

Upon his return to Quebec, Brule brought with him a curious item, a specimen of native copper.

Gabriel Segard-Theodat, who some historical accounts claim was his employer, wrote a book in which he mentioned Brule’s discovery.

“…For about 80 or 100 leagues from the Hurons, there is a mine of red copper from which the interpreter Brule showed me an ingot, on his return from a journey which he made to the neighboring people, with a man named “Grenoble.”

Champlain did not reward Brule for his explorations, or for his opening up the interior for others who would follow his paths. On the contrary, Champlain accused Brule of treason in 1629, forcing Brule to leave his ties in France, as well as in New France, and live with the Wendat until they murdered him 1632.

The copper he had shown to Segard, however, impressed the writer deeply, for he wrote:

“There are copper mines from which profit might be drawn if there were people and workmen who would be willing to work faithfully, which could be done if colonies were established there.”

Segard was correct. Unfortunately, his words would not be taken seriously for another 211 years.

Editor’s note:?Graham Jaehnig can be contacted at gjaehnig@mininggazette.com.