EUROPEANS AND INDIGENOUS
The formation of Canada as a nation involved a unique blending of British, French, and Indigenous peoples over centuries.
THE FRENCH
When French explorers and settlers arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries, they established colonies, trading networks, and settlements, particularly along the St. Lawrence River. They often formed alliances and intermarried with Indigenous nations, learning local languages, customs, and survival skills. These partnerships were vital for trade, military defence, and cultural exchange.
THE ENGLISH
Later, British conquest and colonization, particularly after the Seven Years’ War and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, brought British governance, laws, and institutions into formerly French territories. The British allowed the French-speaking population to maintain their language, religion (Catholicism), and legal systems under policies like the Quebec Act of 1774, promoting coexistence rather than forced assimilation.