How did Indigenous people likely arrive in North America?
On foot from Eurasia across the Bering Strait land bridge
This land bridge existed from the end of the last ice age until about 10,000 years ago.
By the 15th Century, which European countries began to establish colonies in North America?
- France
- Britain
Europeans created trading posts to exchange goods for fur and meat.
What does the Wampum Belt symbolize in the agreement between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch?
- Friendship
- Peace
- Forever
Each principle is represented by purple rows in the belt, symbolizing coexistence.
The fur trade lasted how many years?
300 years
It involved thousands of Indigenous traders and Hudson’s Bay Company merchants.
What was the purpose of the Royal Proclamation issued in 1763?
To establish good relations between First Nations and settlers
It aimed to address Indigenous concerns regarding land.
What challenges did British colonists face in Canada during the early 17th century?
- Harsh winters
- Clashes with Indigenous peoples
- Struggle for survival
These challenges were part of establishing their presence in a new land.
What was the Indigenous perspective on the arrival of British ships?
A mixture of curiosity and trepidation
Indigenous peoples had thrived for generations and were uncertain about the newcomers’ intentions.
By the end of the 19th Century, what caused the decline of the fur trade?
Decreased demand for furs
This decline coincided with rising mining and exploitation of natural resources.
What did the Haldimand Treaty (1784) grant to the Iroquois?
A tract of land in compensation for their alliance with British forces
This treaty remains controversial today.
What were Indigenous peoples forced to do as a result of European settlement?
- Give up migratory habits
- Settle on reserves
- Learn farming and trading
They were also subjected to Christian religious instructions.
What diseases contributed to the decline of Indigenous populations after European contact?
- Smallpox
- Influenza
- Measles
These diseases led to what is considered one of the worst genocides in human history.
What role did the Crown assume regarding Indigenous lands?
Guardian of Indigenous lands
This arrangement took away Indigenous people’s legal rights to their land.
What was the first residential school opened in Canada, and when?
Opened in Brantford, Ontario, in 1931
It was designed to assimilate Indigenous children into Eurocentric society.
What characterized treaties between settlers and Indigenous peoples prior to the 1800s?
Friendship and respect
This changed with the introduction of numbered treaties focusing on land surrender.
What significant act united three British colonies into the first four provinces of Canada in 1867?
British North America Act
This act established Canada as a dominion under the British Crown.
Who was Canada’s first Prime Minister?
Sir John A. Macdonald
He continued the British practice of attempting to wipe out Indigenous culture.
