Why are first nations important to canada
how did first nations shape canada
Who did they impact
When did first nations shape canada
what did the first nations impact
how are the first nations shaping our history

1)
- The First Nations travelled to North America by foot from Siberia to what is now Alaska approximately 12000 years ago.
- The First Nations are important to Canada because they have been here for over 12000 years. They are the first people to be here. This is their home land.

2)
- The First Nations shaped Canada in many ways. First and foremost, they were here nearly 12000 years before Europeans came here. They lived on the land, existed among the wildlife, etc. They hunted, they farmed (with their own farming strategies -- which varied between tribes and across different areas), etc. Canada was very different until Europeans came. The European interaction with them continued to be a part that shaped Canada... trade with the Europeans... changes and assimilation of their culture... etc. They have been a part all along. A lot can be said (too much).

3)
- Who did they impact? What does that mean? They were here, and anyone who visited here was impacted by them, and they were impacted by anyone who visited here as well. That means the French and British (primary European factors in Canada), but also other Europeans as well (Dutch, Spanish, etc... though Spanish were more South). After Canada became Canada, they've continued to impact Canadians and Americans, and they themselves are Canadians now and have been for some time... bla bla bla... currently there's still treaty issues, conflicts, etc.

4)
- They began shaping Canada the moment they got here 12,000 years ago. No one can decide "when" they started to shape Canada because that is completely based on opinion. What is "shaping"? It depends on what angle you take when you address this sort of question. How did they shape Canada becoming Canada? Well, there was First Nation resistance, help by the First Nations with the HBC, fur trade, help in exploration, trade with European settlers, etc. They helped Europeans explore Canada. There were also those who eventually resisted (though most did not). The Metis are an example of a French-First Nations mix (half bloods). There's a lot about how they shaped Canada, and they are always a part of Canada... so there's no "when", they always have and will continue to do so as long as they exist.

5) Uhhh... same thing as question #4. You can look at so many things. The exploration of Canada, helping the Europeans, resisting in certain circumstances, being wronged by the Europeans in way too many instances, etc... then you can get into more recent things, look at residential schools where we tried to assimilate them into our culture and really messed with them. There's a lot.

6) These questions are repetitive. Right now they've helped shape our perception of history because we're looking back and seeing what we did wrong, how we screwed with them, etc.

I'm answering generally because there's so many things that can be said... not sure what grade level you're asking these questions at.

This post was edited by Canadian_Man on Sep 13 2013 03:44pm