The Canadians

I. Introduction Canada’s population is made up of many different cultures. The largest group of Canadians has a European heritage, but the country is home to people from all continents.

I. Introduction Unlike the United States Canada has had difficulty achieving a strong sense of being one nation. The country’s vast distances and largely separate cultures have made Canadians feel more closely attached to their own region or culture than to Canada as a whole.

II. Canada’s History Canada’s first inhabitants were Native Americans and the Inuit. The first Europeans in Canada were Viking explorers who arrived around A.D. 1000.

English and French explorers followed. II. Canada’s History English and French explorers followed. England and France fought for control of the territory, which Britain won in 1763.

II. Canada’s History For about 100 years, Great Britain held Canada as a colony. In 1867 the British united the French and English territories into one nation known as the Dominion of Canada.

II. Canada’s History As a dominion, Canada had its own government to run local affairs, while British officials still controlled Canada’s relations with other countries. During the 1900s, Canadians fought side by side with the British in two world wars.

II. Canada’s History Canada’s loyal support in these conflicts gradually led to the nation’s full independence. In 1982 Canadians peacefully won the right to change their constitution without British approval. The British king or queen still reigns as king or queen of Canada, but this is a ceremonial position with no real power.

II. Canada’s History The Canadians have a British-style parliamentary democracy in which voters elect representatives to a lawmaking body called Parliament. These representatives choose an official called the prime minister to head the government.

III. A Bilingual Country About one-third of Canadians are descended from French-speaking settlers. Most live in Quebec. Canada is a bilingual country, or a country that has two official languages—English and French.

IV. Nunavut - A New Territory In 1999 the Inuit were given a region of land known as Nunavut—meaning “our land.” The Inuit have formed their own government and also gained control over the minerals in the region. This is called autonomy.

IV. Nunavut - A New Territory Half of Nunavut is islands in the Arctic Ocean. More than 60 percent of the population is under the age of 25. Nunavut must develop an economy so its citizens will not have to depend on government welfare.

V. A Growing Ethnic Diversity Canada’s population has grown rapidly, is ethnically diverse, and has a long history of religious diversity. Canadians are known for their outdoor sports, such as ice hockey, skiing, skating, and snowboarding.