Who We Are

Who we are

Canada is known around the world as a strong and free country. It has the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world and is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.

To understand what it means to be Canadian, you need to know the three founding peoples: Aboriginal, French and British.

Key points

• The three founding peoples of Canada are Aboriginal, French and British.
• Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.
• Canadian institutions are committed to “Peace, Order, and Good Government”, a phrase from the British North America Act of 1867.
• Ordered liberty, enterprise, hard work and fair play helped Canadians build a prosperous society in a rugged environment from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Arctic Circle.
• Poets and songwriters have called Canada the “Great Dominion”.

Practice questions: Who are considered the founding peoples of Canada?

Aboriginal origins and rights

The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are believed to have come from Asia many thousands of years ago. They were well established long before European explorers reached North America. First Nations cultures were rooted in religious beliefs about their relationship to the Creator, the natural environment and each other.

Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution. Territorial rights were first guaranteed through the Royal Proclamation of 1763.

Key points

• The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are believed to have migrated from Asia many thousands of years ago.
• Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution.
• Territorial rights were first guaranteed through the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by King George III.
• The Royal Proclamation set the basis for negotiating treaties with the newcomers. These treaties were not always fully respected.
• On First Nations reserves, band chiefs and councillors have major responsibilities, including housing, schools and other services.
• Provincial, regional and national Aboriginal organizations speak for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people with federal, provincial and territorial governments.
• Today Aboriginal peoples enjoy renewed pride and confidence, with significant achievements in agriculture, the environment, business and the arts.

Practice questions: Where are the ancestors of Aboriginal peoples believed to have migrated from? · Which document established the basis for negotiating treaties between Aboriginal peoples and the newcomers? · Which monarch issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763? · About what share of Aboriginal people in Canada are First Nations? · Who has major responsibilities on First Nations reserves, such as housing and schools?

Residential schools

From the 1800s until the 1980s, the federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools. The aim was to educate them and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian culture.

The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students. Some students were physically abused, and Aboriginal languages and cultural practices were mostly prohibited. In 2008 Ottawa formally apologized to the former students.

Key points

• Residential schools ran from the 1800s until the 1980s.
• Their purpose was to educate and assimilate Aboriginal children into mainstream Canadian culture.
• The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship; some students were physically abused.
• Aboriginal languages and cultural practices were mostly prohibited in the schools.
• In 2008, the federal government (Ottawa) formally apologized to former students.

Practice questions: What was the purpose of residential schools? · In what year did the Government of Canada formally apologize to former students of residential schools? · Over which period did the federal government place Aboriginal children in residential schools? · Which statement about residential schools is true?

First Nations, Inuit and Métis

The term Aboriginal peoples refers to three distinct groups: First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

First Nations are the largest group. The Inuit live across the Arctic, and most Métis live in the Prairie provinces.

Key points

• The three distinct groups are First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
• “Indian” refers to all Aboriginal people who are not Inuit or Métis. The term First Nations began to be used in the 1970s.
• About half of First Nations people live on reserve land in about 600 communities; the other half live off-reserve, mainly in urban centres.
• “Inuit” means “the people” in the Inuktitut language.
• Inuit live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic. Their knowledge of the land, sea and wildlife helped them adapt to one of the harshest environments on earth.
• In Nunavut, about 85% of the population is Inuit.
• The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry. Most live in the Prairie provinces.
• The Métis come from French- and English-speaking backgrounds and speak their own dialect, Michif.
• In the 2021 Census, about 58% of Aboriginal people were First Nations, 34.5% Métis and 3.9% Inuit.

Practice questions: What are the three distinct groups of Aboriginal peoples in Canada? · What does the word “Inuit” mean in the Inuktitut language? · Who are the Métis? · Where do most Inuit live? · When did the term “First Nations” begin to be used? · About what share of Aboriginal people in Canada are Inuit? · Where do most Métis live? · In Discover Canada, which term refers to all Aboriginal people who are not Inuit or Métis?

English and French

Much of Canadian society comes from the English-speaking and French-speaking Christian civilizations that European settlers brought. English and French shape daily life for most people and are the two official languages.

English and French speakers have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years.

Key points

• English and French are Canada’s two official languages and important symbols of identity.
• The federal government must by law provide services across Canada in English and French.
• An Anglophone is a person whose first language is English; a Francophone is a person whose first language is French.
• In the 2021 Census, English was the first official language of about 75% of Canadians and French of about 21% (more than 7.8 million people).
• Most Francophones live in Quebec. One million live in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba, with a smaller presence in other provinces.
• New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
• Anglophones and Francophones have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years.
• Life in English-speaking areas was shaped by hundreds of thousands of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish settlers, soldiers and migrants from the 1600s to the 20th century.
• Because of these British roots, Anglophones are generally called English Canadians.

Practice questions: What are the two official languages of Canada? · The basic way of life in English-speaking areas of Canada was established by settlers of which origins? · Which province is home to the majority of Francophones? · About how many Canadians have French as their first official language? · For more than how long have English and French speakers lived together in partnership in Canada? · What is a Francophone?

Acadians and Quebecers

The Acadians are descendants of French colonists who settled in what are now the Maritime provinces. Between 1755 and 1763, during the war between Britain and France, more than two-thirds of them were deported from their homeland, but they survived and kept their identity.

Quebecers are the people of Quebec, the vast majority French-speaking. In 2006 the House of Commons recognized that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada.

Key points

• The Acadians descend from French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces in 1604.
• Between 1755 and 1763, during the war between Britain and France, more than two-thirds of the Acadians were deported.
• This deportation is known as the “Great Upheaval”.
• The Acadians survived, kept their identity, and Acadian culture is now a flourishing part of French-speaking Canada.
• Most Quebecers descend from 8,500 French settlers of the 1600s and 1700s and keep a unique identity, culture and language.
• In 2006 the House of Commons recognized that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada.
• One million Anglo-Quebecers have a 250-year heritage in Quebec.

Practice questions: Who are the Acadians? · What was the “Great Upheaval”? · In 2006, what did the House of Commons recognize about the Quebecois? · Most Quebecers are descendants of whom? · Today, Acadian culture is a lively part of which community?

Diversity and immigration

Most Canadians were born in Canada, but the country is often called a land of immigrants. Over the past 200 years, millions of newcomers helped build and defend it.

Many ethnic and religious groups live and work in peace in Canada. Since the 1970s most immigrants have come from Asia, and many languages are spoken at home.

Newcomers are expected to embrace democratic principles such as the rule of law.

Key points

• Most Canadians were born in Canada, and this has been true since the 1800s.
• Canada is often called a land of immigrants because, over the past 200 years, millions of newcomers have helped to build and defend its way of life.
• The largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian.
• Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries.
• Chinese languages are the second most-spoken at home, after English, in Toronto and Vancouver; Mandarin is the main non-official language spoken at home in both cities.
• John Buchan, the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada from 1935 to 1940, said in 1937 that immigrant groups should keep their individuality and each contribute to the national character.
• Newcomers who have lived through war or conflict must not bring violent, extreme or hateful prejudices to Canada.
• In becoming Canadian, newcomers are expected to embrace democratic principles such as the rule of law.
• By the 1960s, one-third of Canadians had origins that were neither British nor French.
• Diversity enriches Canadians’ lives, particularly in the cities.

Practice questions: What has Canada often been called because of its history of newcomers? · Which Governor General said immigrant groups should keep their individuality and each contribute to the national character? · Since the 1970s, where have most immigrants to Canada come from? · Which non-official languages are the second most spoken at home in two of Canada’s biggest cities? · In becoming Canadian, newcomers are expected to embrace which principles? · According to Discover Canada, what enriches Canadians’ lives, especially in the cities?

Religion, faith communities and equality

Most Canadians are Christian, but other religions, and people with no religion, are growing in number.

The state has traditionally partnered with faith communities on social welfare, schools, health care and resettling refugees, while upholding religious freedom. Gay and lesbian Canadians enjoy full protection and equal treatment under the law.

Key points

• The great majority of Canadians identify as Christians.
• The largest religious affiliation is Catholic, followed by various Protestant churches.
• The numbers of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, other religions and people with “no religion” are growing.
• The state has traditionally partnered with faith communities to promote social welfare, harmony and mutual respect.
• This partnership helps provide schools and health care and resettle refugees.
• It also upholds religious freedom, religious expression and freedom of conscience.
• Gay and lesbian Canadians enjoy full protection and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage.
• Together these diverse groups share a common Canadian identity and form today’s multicultural society.

Practice questions: What is the largest religious affiliation in Canada? · How does Canadian law treat gay and lesbian Canadians? · How has the state traditionally worked with faith communities in Canada? · According to Discover Canada, how do the great majority of Canadians identify their religion?