Étienne (Stephen) Brûlé interpreter and explorer was born about 1591 at Champigny-sur-Marne near Paris. He is believed to have made the voyage to Quebec with Samuel de Champlain in 1608.  He was to become an interpreter or dragoman between the French and their Amerindian allies. 

He played an essential role in the first documented journeys of exploration in New France by going ahead of Samuel de Champlain, Gabriel Sagard, Jean Nicolet, Nicolas Perrot and others along the route to the Great Lakes.

He was also the first European to see the Ottawa Valley, Georgian Bay, Pennsylvania and four of the Great Lakes.

Brûlé was an excellent scout or pathfinder. He went on many expeditions for Champlain and the fur traders and explored land west of Quebec.