History of Settlement
The first settlers in parts of the country we call Canada began some twelve-thousand years ago. Each first aboriginal nation demonstrated a self-governed community and within it developed a culture using the surrounding resources. The settlements followed seasons of migration and relocation based on their environment and available resources, as well as due to climate of the area. Conflicts also arose as new countries arrived and “found” new land in Canada. The settlement patterns in Canada can be found through the history of Canada and its first people up to today.
The first aboriginal nations in Canada had already participated heavily in trading. There were various tools and pottery found as evidence of early trade. When the Europeans first arrived around the early 1600’s, French and British establishments were then formed. The French, initially founded Quebec and New France in 1608, from there, they extended their settlements into the east coast of Canada. The British started from North America above French Canada, and worked their way south towards the Thirteen Colonies. Alliances between Europeans and the first aboriginal nations were beneficial, like from the “Guns, Germs and Steel” study where Indians would have tools, skills and knowledge of the area to adapt to the new land, and Europeans had trade goods and advanced weaponry. The native people shared medicine with the Europeans, but also contracted their diseases.
Traveling to and from places, either during seasonal migration, or just making travel, consisted of either lots of walking, or use of the waterways. European settlers relied on the native people to guide them through the waterway systems. Snow shoes and toboggans were developed by the native people and revolutionized snow travel for the people. Using resources such as the birch tree, the Indians were able to construct stable canoes and continued to stay in use even after the arrival of the Europeans.
Between the 1600’s and the 1700’s conflict rose between the French and British along with their corresponding first aboriginal nations due to competition over trade routes and goods. In particular, the Fur Trade was in abundance in Canada. The Company of New France was created on the idea that fur trade would bring money and settlers to New France. Various trading forts were established where villagers would bring in their furs to trade or look for work. In and around this time, European settlers were taking native people wives, establishing the first instances of Métis families in Canada. This was due to the coureurs-des-bois needing the women to cook, prepares supplies, and other essentials for travel.
Early settlement in Canada worked in tandem with early settlement in the Thirteen Colonies of what is now the United States. It brought along trouble for the native people, as well as built the nation that we see here today. Though credit is taken by the European explorers, it is equally, if not more important, to thank the first settlers in North America. Without their presence, the new colonists would not have been able to succeed in forming the United States and Canada of today.
Sources:
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/explore.php Lang=1&tableid=11&tablename=theme&elementid=15__true&pageid=ew_1.1&contentlong
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/91513/Canada/43279/Settlement-patterns
http://www.slmc.uottawa.ca/?q=european_colonization
The first aboriginal nations in Canada had already participated heavily in trading. There were various tools and pottery found as evidence of early trade. When the Europeans first arrived around the early 1600’s, French and British establishments were then formed. The French, initially founded Quebec and New France in 1608, from there, they extended their settlements into the east coast of Canada. The British started from North America above French Canada, and worked their way south towards the Thirteen Colonies. Alliances between Europeans and the first aboriginal nations were beneficial, like from the “Guns, Germs and Steel” study where Indians would have tools, skills and knowledge of the area to adapt to the new land, and Europeans had trade goods and advanced weaponry. The native people shared medicine with the Europeans, but also contracted their diseases.
Traveling to and from places, either during seasonal migration, or just making travel, consisted of either lots of walking, or use of the waterways. European settlers relied on the native people to guide them through the waterway systems. Snow shoes and toboggans were developed by the native people and revolutionized snow travel for the people. Using resources such as the birch tree, the Indians were able to construct stable canoes and continued to stay in use even after the arrival of the Europeans.
Between the 1600’s and the 1700’s conflict rose between the French and British along with their corresponding first aboriginal nations due to competition over trade routes and goods. In particular, the Fur Trade was in abundance in Canada. The Company of New France was created on the idea that fur trade would bring money and settlers to New France. Various trading forts were established where villagers would bring in their furs to trade or look for work. In and around this time, European settlers were taking native people wives, establishing the first instances of Métis families in Canada. This was due to the coureurs-des-bois needing the women to cook, prepares supplies, and other essentials for travel.
Early settlement in Canada worked in tandem with early settlement in the Thirteen Colonies of what is now the United States. It brought along trouble for the native people, as well as built the nation that we see here today. Though credit is taken by the European explorers, it is equally, if not more important, to thank the first settlers in North America. Without their presence, the new colonists would not have been able to succeed in forming the United States and Canada of today.
Sources:
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/explore.php Lang=1&tableid=11&tablename=theme&elementid=15__true&pageid=ew_1.1&contentlong
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/91513/Canada/43279/Settlement-patterns
http://www.slmc.uottawa.ca/?q=european_colonization
Maps
This map shows the first settlers in Canada by group and location. Hover over the images in the gallery below to find the location of the photo by region in Canada.
Additional Information
Both sites are interactive in creating a "virtual museum" for viewers to partake in learning about the history of Canada. For the first site, there are various opportunities to learn about the aboriginal people. The second site goes into further detail on conflicts and groups of travel.
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Population Pyramids
Canada's population today is aging. That is made evident by the lessened margin of younger people in recent years. As reflected by the pyramids above, the younger, larger population in 1965, became the larger mid-to-older range of people in 2010. However, looking forward into the predicted population of Canada, it's shown that the demographics will even out by age in percentage of populations. The incurring trend is a near 50/50 of men and women still.
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