European contact

Monday March 6th and Tuesday March 7th

I can summarize material I am presented in my own words with factual accuracy.
I can understand colonialism and start applying this term to the British and French arrivals in Canada.
Colonialism & Arrival of Europeans
The way of life for all Indigenous peoples changed when Europeans began
arriving to North American lands. The very first Europeans to have arrived were
the Vikings in Newfoundland, establishing a small settlement. This area is known
today as L’Anse aux Meadows and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historical evidence indicates that the Vikings stayed in North American regions for
only short periods of time.
For many centuries, different countries have travelled to foreign lands to begin a
settlement of its own. This is known as colonialism. Usually, a colonizing country
will try to take over control of the new land. Often, countries would colonize new
lands to access goods such as minerals, furs, fish, and more. Another reason for
colonization was to convert new people to European religions such as Christianity.
Many European explorers made their way to North America, including the French.
Arrival of the French
In 1534, Jacques Cartier sailed as well as mapped the area known today as the
Gulf of St. Lawrence. This led to future voyages led by himself which brought upon
the discovery of the St. Lawrence River, which in turn led to his discovery of what
would eventually become major permanent settlements in Canada (Montreal and
Quebec City). He named the areas he had discovered “New France”.
In 1604, Samuel de Champlain founded the first settlement in Canada known as
Port Royal. Four years later in 1608 he founded Quebec. Along with being
responsible for setting up the first settlements in Canada, he was also responsible
for initial alliances and trade with the Huron and Algonquin peoples. He was also
responsible for further exploration inland, using the Ottawa River to discover the
Great Lakes.
Through constant communication with the Aboriginal people, the French began to
learn about waterways which would allow them to travel further inland. Towards
the end of the 17th century, Jacques de Noyon pushed further West beyond
present day Thunder Bay, Ontario. Given the understanding of the land from the
Aboriginal peoples, the French continued to move further inland and by 1738 Fort
Rouge had been established in what is present day Winnipeg.

As the rivalries in the fur trade began to escalate, the French began to move
further and further West using the Saskatchewan River and other waterways.
Towards the end of the 18th century, the French began to move further inland into
what is now currently Alberta, with the North West Company setting up trading
posts to rival the Hudson’s Bay Company throughout the province, which
eventually ended up near present day Edmonton.
Arrival of the British
In 1497 John Cabot sighted land in what was believed to be Newfoundland, one of
the first land sightings in Canada on record besides exploration done by the
Vikings hundreds of years before.

The next known British expedition was carried out by Martin Frobisher. He had set
out in search of a “Northwest Passage” (a sea route through North America that
would lead to Asia). In 1576 he claimed Baffin Island, Resolution Island, and later
on Frobisher Bay (the inlet on Baffin Island where Iqaluit is situated). He was also
the first to sail into what would later be known as Hudson Strait.
Henry Hudson was another British explorer who attempted to find the Northwest
Passage between 1607-1611. Most notable of his voyages was his last voyage
between 1610-1611 where he travelled through the Hudson Strait, in the process
discovering what would later be called Hudson Bay. He went as far south as
James Bay, and in 1611 a mutiny left Henry Hudson, his son, and seven other
crew members stranded aboard a small boat where they all passed away. Later on
the Hudson’s Bay Company was named in his honour.

Henry Kelsey became the first inland explorer for the Hudson’s Bay Company
(founded in 1670). He travelled the Churchill River and in some point between
1690-1692 became the first explorer to sight the prairies. Henry Kelsey later
became the first known European explorer to set foot in what is present day
Saskatchewan.
 Wednesday, March 8
I understand the ways of life in New France.
I can apply terminology when talking about the Ways of Life in New France.
Ch 3 textbook - read pg 76-78
Way of Life for New France
As more settlers arrived, life was centered on farming and trade. The land in New
France was owned and controlled by wealthy men called seigneurs [san - YEUR].
Habitants [a-bee-tawn] paid the seigneurs with part of their harvest in exchange
for being allowed to live on and farm the seigneurs land.
Way of Life for New France
Filles du roi [fee-doo-RWAR] means “daughters of the king”. This was the name
given to hundreds of young women from France. Encouraged by the French king,
they sailed to New France during the mid-1600s to marry male settlers and build
families to work on the farms. Many people now living in Quebec have ancestors
who were filles du roi.
To Do
Complete slide 4 of your digital Notebook. Remember to write your answers in
your own words. Your answer should only be 1-2 sentences max in length. Think
of your answers as a summary of what you learned about that topic.
Monday, March 13
Ch 4 textbook - Read pg 104-107
Coureurs de bois
The Coureurs de bois were men who travelled through the woods meeting up with
First Nations people to make Fur trade deals. Once they collected the furs from
the first Nations they returned to New France to sell them. These men worked
alone.
The Voyageurs
The voyageurs (a French word that means ‘traveler’) were men (mainly of French
background) who were hired by fur-trading companies. They were in charge of
travelling by canoe across Canada to exchange goods for furs with the aboriginal
peoples. Unlike the coureurs des bois, the voyageurs worked legally.

The Voyageurs by - NFB

The Fur Trade
Canada’s fur trading history begins with a furry, buck-toothed animal known as the
beaver. Fashion in Europe dictated that beaver fur was luxurious, and this created
a huge demand. When this demand could no longer be met by the European
wildlife, European explorers took to Canada’s beaver population.
Initially, the French had a monopoly (this means they had full control) over the
Canadian fur trade. Traditionally, the trading occurred with the First Nations
bringing furs directly to French merchants. However, there were adventurous
French explorers known as the coureurs des bois who ventured outside the Saint
Lawrence valley and into the wilderness to make fur trading deals. This was
considered illegal by the French. These explorers were fined for trading without a
license. They decided to turn to the English in Boston for support, which they
received.
On May 2, 1670, a charter was written giving the English a full monopoly over the
region drained by all rivers and streams flowing into Hudson Bay. This area was
called ‘Rupert’s Land’ for a while. This was a huge area, covering about 1/3 of
modern-day Canada and part of the United States.

Following this charter, the Hudson Bay Company was established and six posts
were created between 1668 and 1717. One of the posts, York Factory, became the
main post due to quick and easy access to main waterways. People would do
business at these posts.

The value of all goods was set by the value of beaver pelts. A token called
made-beaver would be given in exchange for beaver pelts worn for at least one
season. Beaver pelts were the main form of currency. Money was not valuable as
it is today. Rather, trading was for goods such as knives, beads, kettles, blankets,
and more.
In the fall and winter, First Nations and European men would trap beavers and
prepare the pelts for trading. They would travel by canoe and foot

The French had an extensive network of Indigenous allies in their fur trading
business. This would eventually lead to mass conflict and war, which was won by
the English. This win allowed the Hudson Bay Company to continue trading and
expand their operations.

Today, the Hudson Bay Company has evolved from trading posts to retail shops.
To Do
Complete slide 5 and slide 6 of your digital notebook. Remember to write
sentences to answer the questions in your own words!
 Tuesday, March 14
By the end of this lesson you should understand the Metis
people, who they are and their way of life
Ch 4 textbook - Read pg 112
The Metis
The Métis are the aboriginal people of Canada who are of both First Nation and
European ancestry. Michif, a blend of French and Cree, is the language of the
Métis. The Métis are one of three recognized aboriginal groups in Canada (along
with the Inuit and First Nations peoples).

The history of the Métis people began with the arrival of the French colonists and
establishment of New France. French men (many of them fur traders) and First
Nation women formed families. Their children, who were both French and First
Nations, were called Métis. The word ‘Métis’ is French for ‘mixed’.
It was not just French men who formed families with aboriginal women, but also
other Europeans such as the British and Scottish. Forming relationships with the
First Nations women allowed the fur traders to become closer to the First Nations
communities, and this made trading easier. The women would teach their
husbands their language, and even show them how to survive on the land.

The Métis culture is very unique because it includes aspects of both Aboriginal
and European cultures. The blue Métis flag features a white infinity symbol on a
blue background. This flag is meant to represent the joining of two cultures, and
the existence of their people forever. There is also a red version of this flag.
Metis History
The Métis experienced many difficulties throughout their history:

● At one point, they were prohibited from hunting buffalo on horseback by the
Hudson’s Bay Company, and from selling pemmican to anyone but the
Hudson’s Bay Company
● The HBC put limitations on Métis trading

In 1869, the Hudson’s Bay Company reached an agreement with the Dominion of
Canada to sell Rupert’s Land. Remember, Rupert’s Land was the area claimed by
the British when they began the Hudson’s Bay Company.
The Métis, and many other First Nations groups, wondered what right the HBC
had to sell the land, when it was them who were the descendants of the land’s
original inhabitants, not the British. The Aboriginal people believed that the
Canadian government had to get permission from them to acquire these lands.
This conflict resulted in the Red River Resistance.
The Métis established a committee and their own Métis government led by Louis
Riel. On behalf of the Métis people, he went to Ottawa to negotiate terms for the
entry of the Red River area into Canadian confederation. This resulted in the
Manitoba Act, which established Manitoba as a Canadian province. With this
agreement, the Government of Canada promised to protect the land, language,
and political rights of the Métis people.
These promises were not honoured. New European settlers and troops quickly
arrived in the region. Many Métis people left as a result, with many of them going
to areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan
Metis Language
The Métis speak a language called Michif, a language that is a mixture of Cree
and French. Historically, many Métis people spoke several different languages
such as: Michif, French, English, Cree, Ojibway, and more.
To Do
Complete slide 7 of your digital notebook
Wednesday, March 15
To Do

All slides in your digital notebook up to and including slide 7 need to be finished.

YOU MUST HAVE FULL SENTENCES!

I have gone through everyone's answers and made comments on what needs to
be completed or corrected. Please make these changes. DO NOT delete the
comments or change the colors of the boxes. I will delete the comments once I
have rechecked your work and am happy with your answers.
 Thursday, March 16
By the end of this lesson you should know who the Acadians
are, their way of life and how it has changed over time.
The Acadian
The first French colonies were along the Eastern coast. This region was called
Acadie in French, and Acadia in English. Acadia included parts of modern-day
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Acadia’s first capital was
Port-Royal. Colonists founded other centres beyond Port- Royal, including
Beaubassin and Grand-Pré.The Acadians had strong alliances with the two main
indigenous nations in the area, the Mi’kmaqs and Maliseet, with whom they
exchanged goods and knowledge.
The Acadians were resilient, and learned how to survive. They were self-reliant
and farmed, hunted, fished, and trapped. They .learned to work with the natural
marshes in the area, building dykes which were large grass-covered mounds of
dirt, and aboiteaux. These were drainage systems with doors to allow excess
water to drain.

Acadians have a tumultuous history of war and conflict. The French and British
repeatedly alternated control over the lands. Because of this, Acadians considered
themselves to be neutral and did not take sides. They did not see themselves as
French or British. They had an identity of their own.
In 1713, a peace treaty was signed between the British and the French called The
Treaty of Utrecht. This treaty gave the British control over much of Acadia. Acadians
worked hard to preserve their culture, language, and way of life. England demanded
that the Acadians pledge loyalty to them, however the Acadians only promised to
remain neutral. The British threatened the Acadians with deportation if they refused
to pledge loyalty. Eventually, the Acadians reluctantly accepted to pledge an
unconditional oath of allegiance. The British were not satisfied with the Acadian’s
reluctance and decided to deport them anyway.
Acadians were deported by ship to different English colonies and across the Atlantic
Ocean to Europe. Many people tried hiding and escaping to French territory. The
majority of the Acadian population was deported. This was a devastating time for
Acadians, with many dying of hunger, disease, and at sea.
Some Acadians were able to resettle. These were mostly people who had been in
exile, escaped deportation, or were released from prison. They were permitted to
resettle only after giving an oath of allegiance to Britain.
The way of life for Acadians changed. A large majority settled in Eastern New Brunswick. Presented with
less fertile land, many Acadians turned to forestry and fishing. Slowly, French-language institutions began
to open up including schools and newspapers.

Cajuns

The term ‘Acadian’ transformed into ‘Cajun’ in the United States. The Cajuns include descendants of those
exiled from Acadia living in the U. S. state of Louisiana, The Canadian Maritimes, and Québec. There are
1.2 million Cajuns today. After expulsion to English colonies in the United States, many Acadians made
their way to Louisiana. Today, Cajuns have their own culture including unique cuisine and music.

Acadians Today

The Acadians continue to celebrate their unique culture and way of life. Watch the following video
summarizing the history of Acadia and Acadia as it is today.
To Do
Slide 8 of your digital notebook called “Acadians”. Make sure you include detailed
answers and full sentences.
 Monday, March 20 and
Tuesday, March 21
By the end of this lesson, you should understand what the Great Migration
is, why it happened and how the Scottish and Irish were involved.
The Great Migrations
The period from 1815 to 1850 was one of high volumes of immigration to Canada.
Over 800,000 immigrants arrived, unable to secure economic stability in their
homelands in Europe.
The Industrial Revolution had a lot to do with this mass migration. This was a
prosperous time for Europe’s economy. The general standard of living was
growing and medical advances meant that more children were surviving.
Mechanization of tasks meant that jobs that were done by hand could now be
done more efficiently and at a lower cost. Many people who performed these jobs
no longer had steady work to rely on and were unable to support their families,
and so they turned to the British colonies.
Irish Migration
France and Ireland have historically had a strong relationship. Because of this, the
Irish have been living in Canada since the 1600s, many of them having lived in
New France. This was only the beginning of Irish migration.

Although the first group of settlers in the 1800s century were mostly British, the
Irish arrived shortly after, including many migrants escaping the Great Potato
Famine. This was a difficult time in Irish history full of disease and starvation.
Many people relied on potato crops, and these were damaged by an infestation
making them inedible.
Many Irish people settled in Eastern Canada, and specifically in Prince Edward
Island and Newfoundland, since the climate was similar to Ireland’s. Today, the
Irish are spread out across Canada, with Ontario having the most significant
population. There are approximately 5,000,000 Irish Canadians living in Canada
today.

The Irish have had significant influence in Canada. Watch the following video
about the Irish influence in Toronto.
Scottish Migration
Scottish influence is evident in Canada. For example, Calgary is named after a
Scottish beach. Scottish people have been migrating to the land now known as
Canada for hundreds of years, however the greatest influx was in the 1800s.
Watch the following video.
Think about the following questions while you watch the
video:
1. What challenges did the Scottish people face once
they arrived in New Brunswick?
2. What industries were important to the Scottish
people?
3. What important Scottish person is referenced in the
video? Why was this person important?
4. How is he described?
To Do
Complete the questions on slide 9 of your digital notebook using full sentences.
Make sure it is the slide with the title “The Great Migration”.

If you finish early make sure your other slides are complete!
 Thursday, March 23
By the end of the lesson, you should know who the United
Empire Loyalists were and what they did
United Empire Loyalists
The earliest explorers in what is today called the
United States were the Spanish, Dutch, and
French. The most prominent presence, though,
was that of the British. They set up 13 colonies on
the Atlantic coast: Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
In 1765, Britain decided it would tax these colonies in order to pay for the costs
associated with its war with France. The colonists felt that they had already paid enough.
Americans began to protest and rebel. These feelings of frustration played an important
part in the Americans declaring independence, and the American Revolutionary War.
Those Americans who wanted to be independent from Britain were called Patriots.
There were other Americans who were loyal to the British crown, and they were called
the Loyalists.

Many people were enticed to side with the British, including many First Nations groups
and black Americans who were promised freedom from slavery in exchange for their
loyalty to Britain. Eventually the war was won by the Americans, and the thirteen
colonies became part of the United States of America. The loyalists were targeted. Many
were publicly humiliated, threatened, and others were even killed. Many had to flee to
safety. The British compensated the loyalists with Canadian land and money. Much of
the land given to the loyalists was formerly Acadia.
To Do
Complete slide 10 of your digital notebook called United Empire Loyalists. Use full
sentences.
Blooket review - Monday, April 3

Play Solo | Blooket

Slavery - Tuesday, April 4
What is Slavery?
Slavery refers to the owning of people as property. Slavery occurred within First Nation
communities, and notoriously in what is called the Atlantic Slave Trade. This Atlantic Slave Trade
refers 400-year-long period during which Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and sent
to the Americas as slaves. This trading involved three steps:
1) Ships would leave Europe filled with goods to be traded in exchange for slaves
2) In Africa, the goods would be traded for slaves that would be sent across the
Atlantic Ocean towards America, where the slaves would be sold.
3) The slave owners would send back to Europe agricultural products produced by the
slaves such as sugar, cotton, coffee, and tobacco.
Conditions for slaves were terrible. Many black slaves attempted to rebel and were
meet with severe punishments. There were many people who believed that
slavery should be abolished. As early as the 1780s, efforts were made to help
slaves escape from Southern plantations to the North, where slavery was not as
common-place. This was done through a network of safe-houses, which were
strategically locates houses owned by supporters of abolishing slavery. Slaves
would be moved from house to house until reaching the Northern US or Canada.
This was known as the Underground Railroad. It is estimated that over 30,000
slaves fled to Canada during this time. The following Heritage Moment
summarizes how the Underground Railroad worked:
To Do
Complete slide 11 of your digital notebook using full sentences.
Black Loyalists
During the American Revolution, black people were promised their freedom if they fought
alongside Britain against the American patriots. Over 30,000 people responded and
fought alongside the British in different roles. When the Americans won, many of these
black loyalists fled throughout the world including England, Belgium, Germany, the West
Indies, Québec, and quite prominently to Atlantic Canada. Many black slaves were forced
to move to these areas as they were still under the ownership of their loyalist masters.
Approximately 5000 black people moved North, with the largest community of free black
people being in Birchtown, Nova Scotia. Despite being promised freedom and other
provisions, many people never received these. In fact, it was difficult for many free black
people to make a living and many worked as servants earning little pay. They faced
discrimination and were subjected to similar treatment as when they were slaves.
Government authorities were slow in granting land, and when land was granted it was
usually in areas less-desirable than those granted to other loyalists.
In 1791, a British lieutenant, John Clarkson, worked with black loyalist leader
Thomas Peters to organize for 1,200 black people living in Nova Scotia to depart
for Africa. Specifically, they would depart for Sierra Leone for better opportunities.
They arrived in 1972 to establish the city of Freetown, which is today the capital of
Sierra Leone.

Despite the poor treatment, difficult climate, and lack of opportunities, many black
loyalists did remain in the maritime area. Conditions improved with time, and there
were even three black militia units that fought against the Americans in the War of
1812. The following Heritage Minute shares the story of Richard Pierpoint, a
former enslaved black loyalist who petitioned for the establishment of an all-black
unit to defend Upper Canada.
To Do
Complete slide 12 of your digital Notebook
Settling in Canada - Tuesday, April 10
By the end of this lesson your should understand how
Canada became a country.
A timeline of Canadian Confederation ( the forming of
Canada as we know it today);
● In 1600s, North American land was split into French and british colonies
● New france continued to expand across North American land
● Britain took control of all lands that drained into the Hudson Bay. They
established this land as “Rupert’s Land”
● On July 1, 1867 three British colonies (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the
province of Canada - Ontario and Quebec) joined to form one country -
Canada
● The Hudson bay company sold rupert’s Land to Canada, since the fur trade
was beginning to decline.
● New Canadian province joined confederation:
○ 1870 - Manitoba, NWT
○ 1871- British Columbia
○ Between 1870s - 1949 PEI, Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and labrador
○ 1999 - Nunavut
Canada’s first prime minister was Sir John A. Macdonald. He believed that for
Canada to be a successful nation, more settlers were needed. He believed the key
to settlement was to develop a railway that would cross all of Canada, from East to
West.

In 1871, British Columbia decided to join Canada, but only when Sir John A.
Macdonald promised that a railway would be built within ten years to join the
province to the rest of the nation.
The railroad faced many challenges:

- It was expensive to build

- They were on a tight timeline (they promised it would be done in 10 years)

To build this railway quickly and affordably, the Canadian government recruited
thousands of Chinese workers. These workers were paid significantly less than
workers in Canada. They were also willing to do dangerous work that other
workers were not willing to do. Many Chinese workers died while building the rail.
To Do
Slide 13 should be completed with full sentences.
 Chinese Canadian History -
Wednesday, April 12
By the end of this lesson you should be able to explain the history of the chinese canadians.
Chinese Canadian history begins on Canada’s west coast. The earliest record of
Chinese settlers is in 1788, when 120 Chinese labourers were brought by ship to
Canada to assist in the building of a fortress and schooner.

Nearly 100 years later, in 1858, many Chinese arrived again to Western Canada in
the area now known as British Columbia. This time they were tasked with work
related to the gold rush mining. Chinese workers built trails, drained swamps, dug
ditches, and completed other grueling tasks. Although the gold rush provided
economic prosperity for many, by 1865 it was over and the Chinese were blamed
for taking away work from others since they were willing to work longer and for
less pay.
In 1872 the provincial legislature of British Columbia passed an Act to prevent
Chinese and Indigenous peoples from voting. By 1881, there were 4,383 Chinese
living in Canada. Around this same time, construction on the Canadian Pacific
Railway was imminent. The government of British Columbia petitioned the federal
government to seek out immigrants from the British Isles. They did not want
Chinese labour. John A Macdonald responded, noting that Chinese labour was
cheaper. He stated an ultimatum to the BC government that if they did not accept
the Chinese labour, they simply would not have a railway. The BC government
accepted and by 1883, two thirds of the 9000 railway workers were Chinese.
Chinese Head Tax
Discrimination against the Chinese did not end there. In 1885 the government of
Canada created a head tax where every Chinese immigrant had to pay $50.00.
This was later increased to $100.00 and later $500.00. This law was meant to
discourage Chinese immigration to Canada.

Chinese Ban
In 1923 the federal government passed another Act that denied all Chinese
entrance into Canada. This period lasted from 1923 to 1947. This difficult time
meant that Chinese Canadians were permanently separated from family in China.
Chinese Military Presence
Despite mass discrimination and poor treatment, many young Chinese
Canada-born men decided to enlist for Canada’s armed forces. Many opposed,
but in the end over 600 Chinese Canadians served in World War II. In 1947 the
Canadian government repealed the Exclusion Act and other laws that
discriminated against the Chinese. Following this, Chinese immigration grew
tremendously.
CPR Challenges
The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was not only difficult due to
budget and time, but it was also a source of conflict because of the land. We have
learned all about Canada’s regions. There are mountains, foothills, badlands,
forests, and more. Can you imagine trying to build a railway through the
mountains? This was an enormously difficult task, and a very expensive one.
Thursday, April 12 - Treaties
The struggle of the First Nations
At this point in time, the First Nations people of Canada were not doing well. The arrival of

Europeans meant the introduction of new diseases that the First Nations peoples had never

experienced before. Many died as a result of illness. The buffalo were on the verge of

extinction due to over hunting for fur, meat, and sport. Some fur traders introduced

whiskey as part of trading with the First Nations people, despite knowing the effects this

liquor could have on people. This often led to addiction to the liquor, which in turn led to

malnutrition, poverty, and even death.

Preparing for Treaties
The government was anxious to prepare land for settlement, and to have land
cleared for the railway. The government saw the struggle of the First Nations
people: they were sick, starving, and many were dying. With this in mind, treaties
were proposed.

Think, Pair, Share

When you think of the word treaty what comes to mind?

A treaty is an agreement between two nations. In this case, it was an agreement
between the Government of Canada and different First Nations groups across
Canada. The government made many promises to the First Nations people in
exchange for land:
We Are All Treaty People - Full Book - YouTube
Northwest Mounted Police - Monday, April 17
The Northwest Mounted Police was founded in 1873 by Prime Minister Sir
John A. Macdonald to help bring law and order to the West.
Whisky Trading
At the time, the West was the scene of whisky trading between American
traders from Montana and the First Nations of the region. These
Americans would set up illegal trading posts, one of which was Fort
Hamilton (better known as Fort Whoop Up) near present day Lethbridge.
First Nations People would come to trade furs, but instead of receiving
blankets, guns, utensils, etc. In return, they would receive whisky from the
Americans. This whisky would be responsible for the poisoning of many
people, and the Americans used it to take advantage of the First Nations
people.
Wolfers Attack
On June 1st 1873, a group of “Wolfers” (trappers who hunted wolves and
coyotes for their furs) were searching for a missing horse in the Cypress
Hills region. They discovered a group of Nakoda people camping nearby,
and they attacked them, killing 30 people in the process. This became
known as the Cypress Hill Massacre.
Upon receiving reports of this incident, John A. Macdonald formed the
NWMP. This police force trained in Manitoba, and in July 1784, they
began their trek to the west
The NWMP would eventually become the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police – the RCMP.
Settling in the West - Tuesday, April 18
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)
The railway was essential to settling Western Canada, including Alberta. The
Railway knew that they needed more people passengers to earn more money, and
there weren’t as many people living in Western Canada as in Eastern Canada.
Because of this, the CPR worked to encourage settlement in the West.

• It sold land to settlers

• It advertised crops that could be grown in train cars, and toured these around
Eastern Canada for all to see what the West had to offer.

• It advertised in European newspapers, telling how the Canadian prairies had rich
farmland ready for new settlers.

• The CPR sold ready-made farms that included a house, barn, well and pump.
These were built close to schools and other amenities.
Free Land
The Canadian government offered free land to immigrants who were willing to
move to the West. An immigrant is someone who moves to a different country
permanently. The government advertise using posters in countries in Europe and
even in the United States. Many people saw the opportunity to farm, and to
receive free land and jumped on the chance to move to Canada. This is because
many of these people could not otherwise afford land, and some could not farm in
their home countries.
Homesteading

Homesteads were free pieces of land given by the Canadian

government to new settlers. These pieces of land were divided into
specific sizes.
Homesteads were free if you met the following qualifications:
• You were a male
• You were 18 or older
• If you were a woman, you were the only parent for children under
18
If you met these requirements, then you were given a homestead.
However, you did not own the land until:
• You lived on the land for at least three years
• You improve the land, which means:
• Building a house worth at least $300
• Building a barn and fence
• Preparing the land for crops
Other Tales of Settlement
South Asian Settlers

South Asians are those people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri
Lanka. The first South Asian migrants arrived in 1903 in Vancouver. The
majority of these migrants were Sikh. These were men who had left their
families behind in hopes of gaining employment. Just as with the Chinese,
South Asian migrants faced significant discrimination. They were denied many
opportunities, including the right to vote. At one point, the government of
Canada dictated new legislation that banned immigration of wives and
children of Indian men already living in Canada. These laws existed for over
four decades.
Japanese

Japanese Canadians faced many difficulties in Canadian history. Watch the

following video to learn about Japanese Canadian internment camps.