Canada Past and Present: A Citizenship Education Guide

2. BEFORE CONFEDERATION In this section, you will learn about some important events from before Confederation that contributed to shaping post-Confederation Canada. The term “before Confederation” describes Canada in the years before 1867 and “post-Confederation” means Canada after 1867. From the early 1600s to the mid-1800s, the fur trade was an important part of the commercial economy of what would become Canada. Desire for beaver furs drove European colonization of North America. The fur trade also led to encounters with Indigenous peoples as Europeans tried to take control of land and resources. Britain and France were rival imperial powers in Europe, and this competition spread to North America, which both countries tried to control. Events such as the Seven Years’ War, the Acadian Deportation, and the passing of the Quebec Act show how the two countries competed for land and resources. Britain eventually took control, exerting political and cultural dominance over the land and people in it. Key Terms Imperial (adj.): Imperial is a term used to describe a nation that is an empire, and usually has a king or a queen. In the context of Canada, Britain and France were competing imperial powers fighting for control over North America. Colonialism (n): Colonialism is the act of taking control of another land or people, occupying it with settlers, and taking advantage of it economically. In Canada, French and British governments and settlers colonized the area that would become Canada, disrupting and displacing the original Indigenous peoples in the process. The impacts of colonization are still being felt by Indigenous peoples today. This activity uses the Indigenous Peoples in Canada Worksheet, available on the Education Portal. 1. Think about what you already know about Indigenous peoples. Review the questions below. You can write down point-form notes. If in a classroom, work in small groups to share what you already know about Indigenous peoples. You can use these questions to help your discussion: • Before you came to Canada, what did you know about Canada’s Indigenous peoples? • What do you know now? 2. There is tremendous diversity between Indigenous cultures across Canada. Read the Indigenous Peoples in Canada Worksheet . Use that information to answer the questions that follow the reading. If in a classroom, share what you’ve learned with a partner. Work together to answer the questions on the worksheet. 3. Learn more about symbols used by some Indigenous peoples in Canada. Look at the images of three symbols on the Indigenous Peoples in Canada Worksheet . As a class, discuss: • Which symbol is used by which of the three legally recognized Indigenous groups in Canada? Make your best guess. Remember that Indigenous peoples are diverse. Not all Indigenous peoples or groups use the same symbols. • Have you ever seen these symbols before? • What do you think these symbols mean to First Nations, Métis, or Inuit people? • Read about the symbols on the Indigenous Peoples in Canada Worksheet to learn what they mean. Optional Variation for Steps 2-3: The teacher can tape the three short descriptions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit to the walls of the classroom. Students can work in pairs to do a “read-and-run” activity, in which one student reads about a group, returns to the table, and shares what they have learned with a partner, who must write down the facts. One person in each pair must stay seated at all times for this activity. EXTENSION: With a partner, visit the website native-land.ca . This website shows First Nations, Inuit, and Métis territories across Canada. Search for your city or town and find out which Indigenous peoples live in your region. You can search online to find more information, including population, language(s), reserves, and any other details. ACTIVITY 2: FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS, AND INUIT (Continued) Josiah Henson, 1983 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/1990-033 CPA/©Canada Post Corporation 1983. Reproduced with Permission). Champlain in an Indian Canoe by J. H. de Rinzy, ca. 1897-1930 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/1993-343-3). A Family of the MicMac Indians with their chief in Nova Scotia , by Hibbert Binney, c. 1801 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-003135). 4