HOW DID THE FIRST PEOPLE ARRIVE IN NORTH AMERICA? WHERE DID THEY ORIGINATE FROM?

# 1. Aboriginal people have lived in North America for at least 12,000 years and possibly much longer.

#2. Different theories exist as to how they arrived. The two most common being: The Land bridge hypothesis (accepted) Watercraft hypothesis (questioned)

After the ice sheets began to retreat some 10,000 years ago, aboriginal peoples moved into modern day eastern Canada

Among the unique features of First Nations culture are the creation legends. The legend of Turtle Island

#3. Creation legends are intended to explain how the world was created. These legends are usually passed down orally from generation to generation.

The Aboriginal conception of the world differed a great deal from the Europeans they would soon come in contact with. How did their values/beliefs differ?

# 4. The natives believed in having a balance with the environment around them, and living in harmony with nature. The natives did not believe in ownership of land or possessions as we have come so accustomed to today. Ownership was collective (everyone owns). Women also played a very important role in everyday life.

The native people used the resources provided by the surrounding environment, but did not believe they controlled the world around them. The world was controlled by spirits called manitous.

#5. Traditions and culture were passed on by elders orally.

A little more about Native Beliefs: Most native peoples believed that life was circular: A circle of Birth, Adolescence, Maturity, and Old Age, that would repeat itself. The circle of life was used to show the inter-connections of all things.

The First Nations: Group # 1:The Iroquois

An Iroquois Village # 6. The Iroquois were sedentary people. They lived in villages, and usually stayed in one place for a number of years.

# 7. The Iroquois lived in longhouses that were protected by the surrounding palisade. They also practiced agriculture.

The First Nations: Group # 2: The Algonquians (Hunter and Gatherer Nations)

# 8. The Algonquians were a nomadic people (hunter gatherers). They moved around a large territory, and followed their food sources. # 9. The Algonquians lived in wigwams which facilitate quick movement.

The Final Native Group in Canada: The Inuit peoples of the Arctic The Inuit were the last native group to arrive in North America from the shores of Asia. # 10. The Inuit lived in igloos, in very harsh weather conditions of the arctic.

Don’t all Canadians live in igloos?

“How can you say you discovered a country when there were people there greeting you from the shore?”

Throughout their history, our natives have faced many hardships. Today many native groups are making demands for: - native rights - land claims - treaty rights - political autonomy and self determination NATIVE CLAIMS AND THE RECOGNITION OF RIGHTS IN QUÉBEC TODAY

# 11. The Indian Act is a set of laws that was passed in This Act has been modified many times since then. However, when it was created, one of its main goals was the assimilation of all native Canadians. (Assimilation is the disappearance of native languages, lifestyles, beliefs, and culture. The goal is for the group to be absorbed into mainstream Canada) The Indian Act set the rules of how to govern Indian reserves. The reserve is owned by the federal government, but managed by the band council which ensures the observance of law and order. The Indian Act also defines who is, and who is not recognised as an "Indian".

Here come the explorers…

Who were the First Europeans to discover North America?

Leif Eiriksson

Portuguese, Basque and Spanish Fisherman Why were they here in the “New World?”

What is it that Europeans were looking for during the age of exploration?

Cristoforo Colombo

Giovanni Caboto

Giovanni da Verrazano

Jacques Cartier

Cartier attempted to set up a colony.

Samuel de Champlain – The Father of New France

The development of the fur trade led to the growth of Canada as a nation