Who We Are
To understand what it means to be Canadian, it is important to know about our three founding peoples — Aboriginal, French and British.
Aboriginal peoples
The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are believed to have migrated from Asia many thousands of years ago. They were well established here long before explorers from Europe first came to North America. Today, the term Aboriginal peoples refers to three distinct groups: Indian (First Nations), Inuit, and Métis. About 65% of Aboriginal people are First Nations, while 30% are Métis and 4% are Inuit. Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution. In 2008, Ottawa formally apologized for the harm caused by residential schools.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis
First Nations (formerly called Indians) number about half on reserve land in about 600 communities, and half off-reserve mainly in urban centres. The Inuit — meaning 'the people' in Inuktitut — live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic. The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, the majority living in the Prairie provinces, who speak their own dialect, Michif.
English and French
Canadian society today stems largely from English-speaking and French-speaking Christian civilizations brought here from Europe by settlers. English and French define the reality of day-to-day life for most people and are the country's official languages. Today, there are 18 million Anglophones and 7 million Francophones. While the majority of Francophones live in Quebec, 1 million Francophones live in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
Acadians and Quebecers
The Acadians are descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces in 1604. Between 1755 and 1763, more than two-thirds of Acadians were deported by the British — an event known as the Great Upheaval. Quebecers are the people of Quebec, the vast majority French-speaking, most descending from 8,500 French settlers from the 1600s and 1700s. In 2006, the House of Commons recognized that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada.
Diversity in Canada
Many ethnic and religious groups live and work in peace as proud Canadians. The largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian. Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries. Canada's diversity includes gay and lesbian Canadians, who enjoy full protection of and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage. The great majority of Canadians identify as Christians; the largest religious affiliation is Catholic.
Immigration and Canada's future
Canada's population has grown enormously through immigration. Since 1947, more than 5 million people have immigrated to Canada from every corner of the world. Canada welcomes thousands of permanent residents each year through economic, family, and humanitarian streams. Newcomers to Canada are encouraged to integrate into Canadian society while maintaining their cultural heritage — this is the foundation of Canadian multiculturalism. All permanent residents have a path to citizenship after meeting residency requirements. Canada is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and accepts thousands of refugees fleeing war, persecution, and natural disaster each year.
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Key Facts
- •The three founding peoples of Canada are Aboriginal, French and British
- •Aboriginal peoples' ancestors are believed to have migrated from Asia thousands of years ago
- •About 65% of Aboriginal people are First Nations, 30% Métis, 4% Inuit
- •Inuit means 'the people' in Inuktitut
- •There are 18 million Anglophones and 7 million Francophones in Canada
- •New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province
- •The Métis speak their own dialect called Michif
- •In 2008, Ottawa formally apologized for residential schools
- •The House of Commons recognized in 2006 that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada