Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 78 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
o o o
Stepping Stones
At Val Tetreau, not far from the Taché Boulevard entrance to the Gatineau Park there is a genuine antique, a device used by the Indians centuries before even Champlain who himself took advantage of it, in 1613. It is the Little Chaudière portage. It was constructed of large stones laid to form a stepway around the falls and rapids.
Other explorers than Samual de Champlain made use of the ancient portage. The earliest of these were Etienne Brûlé, in 1610 and Nicolas de Vigneau in 1611. Of these three we have a record.
It would be surprising if Father Jean de Bréubeuf did not once step the same way.
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES
Etienne Brûlé
A young man in 1609, survived the severe winter of that year, in the village of Quebec, along with Champlain. He was to end his career as a traitor by going over to the English whom he shrewdly thought would take over the territory. Upon meeting Champlain he appeared sheepish and reluctant to meet the older man's eyes.
Nicolass de Vigneau
Another young man. He told Champlain that his explorations had taken him to Hudson's Bay where he'd seen the wreck of Hudson's ship. Champlain didn't believe him, correctly it was proved. The younger man had gained the information from the Indians.
Father Jean de Brébeuf
A Jesuit priest, Father Brébeuf, early on in his work wrote that he had baptized 50 or more of the friendly Indians, The Hurons, in the faith. He was a massive and strongly built person, but mild in nature, being the best loved of all the missionary priests, but sadly and bravely suffered a martyr's death at the hand of the vicious Iroquois. Brébeuf Park, in his memory, is at the western end of the portage.