History
Indigenous people
The native Canadians are called indigenous or aboriginal peoples. There are three groups: First Nations, Innuit and Métis and they have different languages, cultures and religions. Now they are only 4% of the population (1.4 million).
The majority of Inuit live in the Northwest Territories and in Nunavut. In the past, people called them `eskimos´, but that name is not acceptable any more. The Métis get their name from the French word for `mixed´, because their ancestors are both First Nations and Europeans.
Most of them live in modern houses, but they also build igloos when they go hunting and fishing.
Their children go to local schools, but they need to move to the big cities when they go to university.
National Indigenous Peoples Day is June 21, the summer solstice. It is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate their unique heritage.
The scandal of residential schools
Residential schools for Indigenous children existed from the 17th century until the late 1990s. They were run by religious organizations and the government. At least 150,000 children were forced to live in these schools, which were created to impose assimilation and destroy their culture and history.
Children were separated from their parents and taken to these institutions where they were converted to Christianity. They suffered harsh discipline, malnutrition, poor healthcare, physical and sexual abuse, neglect and the suppression of their cultures and languages. Thousands of children died and the burial sites remain unkown.
It has been described as a cultural genocide which caused trauma, violence and broken relationships. The Prime Minister of Canada and the Pope have recently asked for forgiveness for this attrocious event.
The Vikings from Iceland reached Newdoundland but they didn’t stay there. European settlements began in 1497 with the expedition of John Cabot, who claimed the area for the English king. Later, in 1534, Jacques Cartier claimed the land for the king of France and called it Canada because the Iroquoian word for village is kanata. These two nations fought for control and finally, the British defeated the French in 1759. For some time, the colony was known as the “Province of Quebec”.
The Europeans traded with the natives and gave them money and products, but they also brought alcohol and guns, and this created problems. They also brought new infections and epidemics.
At that time, all North America was one British colony, but after the American independence, the Canadians wanted to remain loyal to Britain and they separated, becoming two independent countries.
Europena Colonization
The dominion and the independence
Canada consisted of lots of small colonies, so they united them to make a strong country on 1st July, 1867 (Canada Day), an area called the Dominion of Canada.
The Canadians became tired of British control and did not want to fight in World War I. Finally, in 1931, Canada became an independent country with its own government, but the British monarch, Charles III, is still the king of Canada.
Canada is a country of immigrants. `Diversity´ is the word to describe it. Most people came originally from the USA, the United Kingdom and France, but recently there has been immigration from all over the world.
Immigrants represent one quarter of the population.
Inmigration
