Lesson 2
Aboriginal peoples, English and French, and a country of many origins.
Aboriginal peoples lived in what is now Canada long before Europeans arrived. There are three main groups: First Nations, Inuit and Métis. About 65% of Aboriginal people are First Nations. The Inuit, whose name means 'the people' in Inuktitut, live mostly in the Arctic. The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry. From the 1800s until the 1980s, many Aboriginal children were sent to residential schools, which were badly run and caused lasting harm; the federal government formally apologized in 2008. On First Nations reserves, band chiefs and councillors carry major responsibilities.
Canada's three founding peoples are Aboriginal, French and British. English and French are the two official languages, and they have equal status in the Parliament of Canada and throughout the federal government. Most French speakers, called Francophones, live in Quebec. The Acadians are descendants of French colonists who settled in the Maritimes from 1604. Quebecers are the people of Quebec, most of whom speak French. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
Canada is often described as a land of immigrants. Over generations, people have come from every part of the world, and cultural and ethnic diversity is part of the national identity. Most Canadians who identify with a religion are Christian, and Catholics are the largest single group. In British Columbia's cities, Chinese and Punjabi are the most spoken languages after English.
Answer: English and French. English and French have equal status in federal courts and Parliament.
Answer: New Brunswick. New Brunswick is constitutionally bilingual.
Answer: First Nations, Métis, Inuit. The Constitution recognises three Aboriginal groups.
Answer: In the Parliament of Canada. French and English have equal status in Parliament and throughout the government.
Answer: English and French. English and French are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity.
Answer: From "Kanata", the Huron-Iroquois word for village. The name Canada comes from the Huron-Iroquois word "kanata", which means village.
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