Many people played important roles in the contact and colonization of New France, but none more so than the European expedition leaders and tribal leaders indigenous. Although there are a large number of indigenous chiefs and European explorers who played important roles in the contact and colonization of New France, the three I decided to focus on are: Chief Membertou, Jacques Cartier and Christopher Columbus. This page will explain these three individuals in detail and explain their importance to the contact and colonization of New France.Jacques CartierJacques Cartier was born in Saint-Malo, France on December 31, 1491. Jacques Cartier is important to the contact and colonization of New France. the colonization of New France. because he led three major French expeditions into what is called Canada and asserted many of the territorial claims of the French at the time. It is to him that we attribute the name of Canada to the First Nations name, “kanata”, which means village or settlement. He played an important role in French colonization because he was the one who initially formulated French demands in North America. In 1534, Francis I of France commissioned him to explore the northern part of what is now Canada, in search of gold and spices. His first voyage took him, with two ships and a crew of 61, to the St. Lawrence Seaway, where he chanced upon a First Nations tribe on July 7. The two groups discussed and exchanged items, constituting the first recorded trade between the French and the First Nations of North America. Even if relations were not all roses and sunshine between the French and the First Nations tribes! The relationship was tarnished when Cartier "claimed" Gaspé Bay, erected a 30-foot cross at Pointe-Penouille, lied to Donnacona, the indigenous chief of the region by saying the cross was... . in the middle of a paper... ... circa 1510 to 1611, a centenary which was even rarer at that time than today. He played an important role in contact and colonization, as his tribe was among the first to welcome Europeans when they arrived in North America. He was important because the French and the Mi'kmaq trusted him. The most important thing Membertou ever did to contribute to smooth and peaceful European contact and settlement was to be the first Mi'kmaq to be baptized in the Catholic Church. This was extremely important because Membertou was well respected in the community and his baptism inevitably led to the baptism of most members of the Aboriginal community. Very little is known about Membertou because the Mi'kmaq did not keep written records as the Europeans did. All we know is that he was an intelligent, witty, kind and powerful man..