Indigenous Peoples
A type of traditional home used by many Indigenous peoples in eastern Canada, especially the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). It was a large, wooden structure that could house several families.
Longhouse
A person who travels to unknown places to discover new lands, people, and things. Early Europeans came to North America to learn more about the land and its people.
Explorer
A tall, famous tower located in Toronto, Ontario. It was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world.
CN Tower
This means a society or community made up of many different cultures, traditions, and people from various backgrounds.
Multicultural
A traditional beaded belt made by Indigenous peoples, especially the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). The belts are made from shells and have patterns that represent important stories, agreements, or history.
Wampum Belt
These are the three different types of Indigenous Peoples that lived (and continue to live) in Canada.
First Nations, Inuit and Metis
A large British company that started in 1670. It was involved in the fur trade, and it controlled a lot of land and trading posts across Canada.
Hudson's Bay Company
A national holiday celebrated on July 1st each year. It marks the anniversary of the day in 1867 when Canada became a country through the Confederation of several provinces joining together to form one nation.
Canada Day
A religious group with a strong belief in peace, simplicity, and community. Many of these people have moved to Canada from other countries, especially from Europe.
Mennonites
The process of people moving from one country to live in another country.
Immigration
Schools set up by the government in Canada, where Indigenous children were forced to go. The goal was to erase their culture and teach them to live like non-Indigenous people. Many children faced harm and mistreatment at these schools.
Residential School
A small, furry animal that was very important in the fur trade. Its fur was used to make hats, coats, and other items. They were trapped by European settlers and Indigenous peoples for trade.
Beaver
This community in Canada has been here since the 1700s. Today, many of these people live in cities like Toronto and Montreal. They celebrate holidays like Hanukkah and Passover and are important contributors to Canadian life. They also practice their worship in a synagogue.
Canada's Jewish community
Treating people unfairly or differently because of things like their race, culture, or background.
Discrimination
Reasons that make people want to leave their home country, such as war, poverty, or lack of opportunity.
Push Factors
Land that has been used by a specific group of people (often Indigenous peoples) for many generations, and where they have cultural, spiritual, or historical connections.
Traditional Territory
French-Canadian fur traders and explorers who paddled canoes, carrying trade goods and furs between settlements in Canada and trading posts.
Voyageurs
a secret network of safe houses and routes used by African American slaves in the United States to escape to freedom in Canada and other northern states.
The Underground Railroad
A person who has recently moved to a new place or country, often for a better life or new opportunities.
Newcomer
Reasons that attract people to move to a new country, such as better jobs, safety, or a higher quality of life.
Pull Factors
A name used by some Indigenous peoples to refer to North America, based on their creation stories that tell of the land being created on the back of a giant turtle.
Turtle Island
A type of fish that was very important in early Canadian history, especially for European settlers who came to fish and trade it.
Cod
A famous set of large waterfalls located on the border between Canada and the United States. They are known for their beauty and power, with millions of gallons of water flowing over them every minute.
Niagara Falls
A group of people who live in the same area or share common interests or goals, and who work together to support each other.
Community
A statement that recognizes the Indigenous peoples who have lived on and cared for the land long before others arrived. It is often said at the beginning of events or gatherings to show respect for the history and rights of Indigenous communities.
Land Acknowledgement