Histories and Stories of Ways of Life in Canada
Early European Settlements
First Nations people have lived in North America for thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. Canada's vast and diverse geography, topography, and latitude have contributed to the First Nations different ways of life and similar beliefs.
Voyageurs and Coureurs de bois
Voyageurs
Travelers 1680s to 1870s Men hired by trading companies to transport furs and other goods between the St. Lawrence Valley and western trading posts. When the British took over, their travels expanded to the far northwest. Legal – In 1681, the licensed trade was introduced in New France. Up to 25 licenses were issued which allowed 3 men to transport furs in the west using a canoe. |
Coureur des Bois
Fur traders 1660s to 1715 Independent fur traders and small businessmen trapped and traveled deep into the wilderness to trade with Indigenous communities. Illegal – Men worked outside the system because they were unlicensed. The licensed trade system was supposed to limit men absent from the colony so that the population would increase. |
To beat the English, Samuel de Champlain wanted to build alliances with the indigenous. He sent French boys to live in Indigenous communities and work as interpreters. These boys quickly picked up the languages and customs of the groups they lived with. The most famous was Étienne Brûlé. Eventually, grown men who worked in the fur trade began to do this as well, with the same end result. This served as the foundation of the voyageurs and coureurs des bois.
This website has more excellent information on the Voyageurs and Coureur des bois
cdnhistorybits.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/voyageurs-and-coureur-des-bois/
cdnhistorybits.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/voyageurs-and-coureur-des-bois/
General Outcome
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the people and the stories of Canada and their ways of life over time, and appreciate the diversity of Canada’s heritage.
Specific Outcomes
Values and Attitudes Students will:
5.2.1 appreciate the complexity of identity in the Canadian context:
• recognize how an understanding of Canadian history and the stories of its peoples contributes to their sense of identity
• acknowledge oral traditions, narratives and stories as valid sources of knowledge about the land and diverse Aboriginal cultures and history
• acknowledge the roots of Francophone identity and presence in Canada
• acknowledge British influence and presence in Canada
• acknowledge the contributions made by diverse cultural groups to the evolution of Canada
• recognize how changes in society can affect identity
5.2.3 examine, critically, ways of life in New France by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How do stories and legends of the coureurs des bois and voyageurs inform us about Francophone history, culture and presence throughout Canada?
• What do stories about the habitants tell us about Francophone history, culture and presence in Canada?
5.2.4 examine, critically, ways of life of the fur traders by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How are the stories of the Métis people, their culture and heritage rooted in the fur trade?
• How do stories about ways of life in fur trade forts reflect the British influence in Canada?
• What were the main languages spoken by fur traders and their families in the fur trade forts?
5.2.5 examine, critically, ways of life of the United Empire Loyalists by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of the United Empire Loyalists tell us about British culture and presence in Canada?
• How did the diversity of United Empire Loyalists contribute to Canadian diversity?
5.2.6 examine, critically, the ways of life of immigrants from the British Isles during the Great Migration by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of Irish and Scottish immigrants tell us about their heritage and presence in Canada?
• What do stories of British peoples tell us about the British history, culture and presence in Canada?
5.2.7 examine, critically, how the North West Mounted Police shaped ways of life in Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of the North West Mounted Police tell us about the settlement and development of western and northern Canada?
• How have stories of the North West Mounted Police shaped identity in western and northern Canada?
5.2.8 examine, critically, ways of life of non-European immigrants by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How do stories of Chinese immigrants (i.e., railway workers) contribute to an understanding of the development of Canada?
• What do stories of the Underground Railroad tell us about the history and presence of Black communities in Canada?
• How do stories of immigrants from India contribute to an understanding of diversity in Canada?
5.2.9 examine, critically, how European immigrants shaped ways of life in western Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of immigrants from Ukraine, Poland, Russia and Germany tell us about their history and presence in western Canada?
• How were European immigrants affected by pressures to conform in western Canada?
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the people and the stories of Canada and their ways of life over time, and appreciate the diversity of Canada’s heritage.
Specific Outcomes
Values and Attitudes Students will:
5.2.1 appreciate the complexity of identity in the Canadian context:
• recognize how an understanding of Canadian history and the stories of its peoples contributes to their sense of identity
• acknowledge oral traditions, narratives and stories as valid sources of knowledge about the land and diverse Aboriginal cultures and history
• acknowledge the roots of Francophone identity and presence in Canada
• acknowledge British influence and presence in Canada
• acknowledge the contributions made by diverse cultural groups to the evolution of Canada
• recognize how changes in society can affect identity
5.2.3 examine, critically, ways of life in New France by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How do stories and legends of the coureurs des bois and voyageurs inform us about Francophone history, culture and presence throughout Canada?
• What do stories about the habitants tell us about Francophone history, culture and presence in Canada?
5.2.4 examine, critically, ways of life of the fur traders by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How are the stories of the Métis people, their culture and heritage rooted in the fur trade?
• How do stories about ways of life in fur trade forts reflect the British influence in Canada?
• What were the main languages spoken by fur traders and their families in the fur trade forts?
5.2.5 examine, critically, ways of life of the United Empire Loyalists by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of the United Empire Loyalists tell us about British culture and presence in Canada?
• How did the diversity of United Empire Loyalists contribute to Canadian diversity?
5.2.6 examine, critically, the ways of life of immigrants from the British Isles during the Great Migration by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of Irish and Scottish immigrants tell us about their heritage and presence in Canada?
• What do stories of British peoples tell us about the British history, culture and presence in Canada?
5.2.7 examine, critically, how the North West Mounted Police shaped ways of life in Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of the North West Mounted Police tell us about the settlement and development of western and northern Canada?
• How have stories of the North West Mounted Police shaped identity in western and northern Canada?
5.2.8 examine, critically, ways of life of non-European immigrants by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How do stories of Chinese immigrants (i.e., railway workers) contribute to an understanding of the development of Canada?
• What do stories of the Underground Railroad tell us about the history and presence of Black communities in Canada?
• How do stories of immigrants from India contribute to an understanding of diversity in Canada?
5.2.9 examine, critically, how European immigrants shaped ways of life in western Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What do stories of immigrants from Ukraine, Poland, Russia and Germany tell us about their history and presence in western Canada?
• How were European immigrants affected by pressures to conform in western Canada?
Resources
Coureurs de bois
- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coureurs-de-bois/
- https://cdnhistorybits.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/voyageurs-and-coureur-des-bois/
- https://rover.edonline.sk.ca/system/guides/morning_in_the_north_west.pdf
- http://www.acer-acre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/English-brule-5-grades-2-4-opt.pdf
Coureurs de bois
- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coureurs-de-bois/
- https://cdnhistorybits.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/voyageurs-and-coureur-des-bois/
- https://rover.edonline.sk.ca/system/guides/morning_in_the_north_west.pdf
- http://www.acer-acre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/English-brule-5-grades-2-4-opt.pdf