The History of Canada
The history of Canada spans from the migration of Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago to today. The modern Canada has a rich history. It was inhabited by indigenous people, each with their own distinct trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and lifestyle. Many of these beautiful ancient civilisations were nonexistent by the time Europeans arrived and have been uncovered through archaeological research.
The first humans to migrate to North America came from Asia, likely crossing a now-submerged land bridge from Siberia to Alaska during the last Ice Age. Some theories suggest that people may have arrived even earlier, possibly up to 60000 years ago. The Inuit, who currently inhabit Canada’s Arctic regions, were the last of the Indigenous peoples to reach Canada.
When Europeans discovered Canada, they found regions occupied by Indigenous peoples they called Indians. The native people lived off the land in various ways, some by hunting and gathering, others by raising crops. The Huron-Wendat of the Great Lakes region, like the Iroquois, were farmers and hunters. The Cree and Dene of the Northwest were primarily hunters-gatherers, while the Sioux were nomadic. The Inuit lived off the Arctic.
There were 12 main indigenous language groups among the indigenous peoples living in what is now Canada: Algonquian, Iroquoian, Siouan, Athabascan, Kootenaian, Salishan, Wakashan, Tsimshian, Haidan, Tlinglit, Inuktitut, and Beothukan.
From the 15th century, French and British expeditions explored, colonised, and contested various regions in what is now Canada. New France was claimed in 1534, with permanent settlements beginning in 1608. Following the Seven Years’ War, France ceded nearly all its North American territories to Great Britain in 1763 through the Treaty of Paris. In 1791, the British Province of Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. These two provinces were united as the Province of Canada by the Act of Union in 1840, which took effect in 1841.
In 1867, the Province of Canada joined with the British colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through Confederation, forming a self-governing entity. The name “Canada” was chosen as the legal name of the new country, and it was designated as a “Dominion.”
Canada obtained legislative independence from Britain in 1931, and with the passage of the 1982 Canada Act, it formed its constitutional independence.
Canada has ten provinces and three territories stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and extending northward into the Arctic Ocean. English and French are the two official languages, and there are more than 100 languages that are spoken in the diverse Canada.
It’s a country where peace and diversity are loved. Canada is the second largest country on earth, and under Prime Minister Trudeau, it’s one of the best, safest, and most preferred places to live.
