the first nation people
The First Nation
Modern historians believe that Aboriginals came from Asia about 30 000 years ago. Many of the Aboriginals colonized in Australia but some of them also settled in Canada while other chose to continue to the south. They lived in every region of the country. To survive Canada’s rough climate they needed to rely on each other, to share and respect the environment. At the time of European contact, they had developed clear nations throughout what is now Canada with a total population of perhaps 350 000 people.
In 1982 the Constitution act acknowledged three main groups of Aboriginal people in Canada: the First Nations and the Inuit, who were the first Aboriginal groups in Canada, and the Metis, who emerged after the settlement of Canada. People of the First Nation lived in all areas of Canada. Those who lived on Canada's coasts depended on fishing and hunting while those who lived on the savannah moved with buffalo herds which they hunted for food, clothing, and tools. First Nations people who lived in central and eastern Canada hunted and grew vegetable crops. Today, more than half of the First Nations people live on reserves. Others live and work in cities across whole Canada.
Many of the early French fur traders and some English traders married First Nations women. Their children and descendants are the Metis people. The Metis were an important part of the fur trade and they developed their own distinct freestanding on the savannah.
When Europeans arrived in what is now Canada, they began to make agreements, or pacts, with Aboriginal people. The pactmaking process meant that Aboriginal people gave up their title to lands in exchange for certain rights and benefits. Most of the agreements included reserving pieces of land to be used only by Aboriginal peoples. These pieces of land is called "reserves". Today, Aboriginal groups and the Canadian government continue to negotiate new agreements for land and the acknowledgment of other rights.
Modern historians believe that Aboriginals came from Asia about 30 000 years ago. Many of the Aboriginals colonized in Australia but some of them also settled in Canada while other chose to continue to the south. They lived in every region of the country. To survive Canada’s rough climate they needed to rely on each other, to share and respect the environment. At the time of European contact, they had developed clear nations throughout what is now Canada with a total population of perhaps 350 000 people.
In 1982 the Constitution act acknowledged three main groups of Aboriginal people in Canada: the First Nations and the Inuit, who were the first Aboriginal groups in Canada, and the Metis, who emerged after the settlement of Canada. People of the First Nation lived in all areas of Canada. Those who lived on Canada's coasts depended on fishing and hunting while those who lived on the savannah moved with buffalo herds which they hunted for food, clothing, and tools. First Nations people who lived in central and eastern Canada hunted and grew vegetable crops. Today, more than half of the First Nations people live on reserves. Others live and work in cities across whole Canada.
Many of the early French fur traders and some English traders married First Nations women. Their children and descendants are the Metis people. The Metis were an important part of the fur trade and they developed their own distinct freestanding on the savannah.
When Europeans arrived in what is now Canada, they began to make agreements, or pacts, with Aboriginal people. The pactmaking process meant that Aboriginal people gave up their title to lands in exchange for certain rights and benefits. Most of the agreements included reserving pieces of land to be used only by Aboriginal peoples. These pieces of land is called "reserves". Today, Aboriginal groups and the Canadian government continue to negotiate new agreements for land and the acknowledgment of other rights.