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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
First Nations became sick with European disease.
*No exact dates
When the Europeans came to North America they brought European diseases with them. The first Nations people did not have any immunity to these diseases and didn’t have the proper medicine to treat the diseases. As much as 80% of the First Nations people died from diseases such as small pocks and influenza. -
Apr 30, 1534
Jacques Cartier first trip to North America
In 1534, the king of France pays for Jacques Cartier voyage to North America. Cartier determines that to find his way through the continent he would need help from the First Nations. He meets an Iroquois group and their leader, Donnaconna. Donnaconna allows Cartier to take his sons back to France to learn French, so when he returned, Donnaconna‘s sons could be his guide -
Apr 30, 1535
Jacques Cartier second trip to North America
When Cartier returned to North America Donnaconna’s sons helped him navigate further into the continent. When they planned to return, Cartiers ship got stuck in the ice, and the crew would have all perished from scurvy if it wasn’t for Donnaconna’s sons showing them how to make a vitamin c rich drink from tree bark. -
Samuel de Champlaine establishes first lasting settlement.
Champlaine establishes Quebec for the French at what was known as Stadacona as a permanent trading post. This leads to much trading and interaction with First nations people and is the beginning of New France -
Champlaine goes to war with the Huron/Algonquin
In order to establish a trading relationship with the Huron and Algonquin, Champlaine had to also form a military alliance. In 1609, the French and the Huron/Algonquin went to war together to defeat the Iroquois. This Increased the trust between the Huron/Algonquin and the French but made the French enemies of the Iroquois -
Trade with Henery Husdon
In search of the Northern Passage, Henery Husdons ship gets frozen in the ice in hudsons bay. A indigenous man comes to the ship and trades with Hudson. This was the first modest transaction on Hudsons Bay. -
Period: to
Jesuits try and convert First Nations
*unknown end time
France sends Jesuits to North America to try and convert First Nations to Christianity. The Jesuits lived in the First Nations camps. Not many First Nations wanted to switch religion, but there were advantages to becoming a Christian like being able to use guns. -
The Nonsuch sails for Northa America
In 1668, the English ship, the Nonsuch sails for a different route into the heart of the country through Hudsons Bay. The journey was a success and the English set up a small a small trading post at the bottem of James Bay. The First Nations traded with the English and the Nonsuch returned the next year with a cargo full of beaver pellets. -
The Hudson's Bay Company is formed
In 1670, with the discovery of the new route into the Hudsons Bay, the Hudson’s Bay Company was founded. The HBC has countless interactions with the First Nations people as it had several trading posts along the bay and owned a large area of land. The HBC would trade European goods like guns and blankets in exchange for furs especially Beaver pelts -
Period: to
Country Marriages
Not exact dates and time period doesnt really end
To cement trading alliances, First Nations people would offer their daughters to Frenchmen who wintered in North America. Many of these relationships, called country marriages, became more than just an arranged marriage, but a relationship that led to kids, and therefore a new kind of Canadian people, the Métis. -
Period: to
The 7 Years War
In the 7 Years War, First Nations People fought on both the French and the British in many major battles. The British ended up winning which allowed them to expand their colonies which meant that the First Nations were forced out of their land. That is why the First Nations are sometimes referred to as the biggest losers of the 7 year war. -
Joseph Brant goes to London
In 1775, Joseph Brant sails to London to meet with King George. Joseph speaks for the 6 Nations Confederacy and wants to make a deal with the king. The white settlers have squeezed the First Nations out of most of their land and are worried that an independent America would push them out completely. Britain agrees to guard the First Nations land if they go to war against the King’s enemies. -
The North West Company
In 1779, a group of merchants from Montreal form the North West Company to compete with the Hudson’s bay company in the fur trade. The North West company travels inland and does trade directly with the First Nations, which gave them the advantage over the Hudson’s Bay Company who let the First Nations come to them -
From Canada by Land
In search of extending trade to Russia and China, Alexander Mackenzie goes in search of a river route to the Pacific Ocean through the country. He completes the voyage which is the first recorded cross country trip. Along the way he meets many First Nations, some who help him find his way, and some who don’t want him there and tell him to turn back. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
In the War of 1812, Major-General Sir Isaac Brock of Britain made allies with the Shawnee chief, Tecumseh who agreed that the First Nations people would fight with the British in hopes of defending Canada from the invading Americans. Together, the British and First Nations people won many battles against the Americans.
