History

Haudenosaunee

A confederacy of six nations including Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, known for their agricultural skills and matrilineal family structure.

Inuit

Indigenous people of Northern Canada, known for their community-focused culture and belief in spirits, adapting to seasonal changes for hunting and living.

Métis

A community of mixed First Nations and European descent, recognized by the Constitution of Canada, known for blending cultures and establishing trade connections.

New France

A colony established by France in the 1530s, encompassing parts of Canada, where settlers faced challenges like harsh winters and food scarcity.

French Settlers

Individuals who migrated from France to New France, primarily farmers who relied on manual labor and engaged in trade with Indigenous communities.

Seigneurs

Landowners in New France who received large areas of land from the king and developed them with the help of habitants.

Habitants

Farmers in New France who worked the land owned by seigneurs, paying taxes and giving a portion of their crops to the seigneurs.

Society in New France

Governed by officials appointed by the King of France, including a viceroy, intendant, and members of the sovereign council, creating a hierarchical structure.

Coureurs de bois

Young French men who traveled to eastern Canada for fur trading, engaging with First Nations in a social and economic exchange.

Women and the Fur Trade

Both Indigenous and European women played crucial roles in the fur trade, handling cooking, sewing, and fur processing.

Thanadelthur

A Dene woman who facilitated peaceful relations between the Hudson’s Bay Company, Dene, and Cree, known for her skills as a guide and interpreter.

Country Wives

Indigenous women who partnered with European fur traders, contributing to the formation of the Métis community through ethnogenesis.

Catholic Church

The dominant religious institution in New France, focused on spreading Catholicism and establishing schools, often conflicting with Indigenous spiritual beliefs.