1.3: Jean Nicolet, the Negotiator of New France

History: Beyond the Textbook

Jean Nicolet is generally not the first name that comes to mind as a key player with regard to the topic of French colonization of North America; that honor generally belongs to Samuel de Champlain. However, Nicolet lived among numerous Indigenous nations, learned their languages and customs, and travelled with his Huron companions on the Great Lakes, landing west of Lake Michigan. However, the details of Nicolet's adventure, along with the motivations for this journey, have been misinterpreted for centuries, leading to a misunderstanding as to its true significance. To explore French designs on North America with respect to how they differed from those of England and Spain, as well as a case study in deconstructing beliefs long accepted as fact, episode three of History: Beyond the Textbook explores Jean Nicolet: the Negotiator of New France.
Key People
Jean Nicolet, French interpreter
Samuel de Champlain, French explorer
Key Events
Establishment of New France

The second season of History: Beyond the Textbook focuses on the stories of individuals who shaped the Revolutionary era in American history, and runs from February 27-May 7.
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