Who We Are: Aboriginal, French, and British Peoples — Citizenship Test
Quick Answer
Canada's three founding peoples are Aboriginal, French, and British. Aboriginal peoples include First Nations (~65%), Métis (~30%), and Inuit (~4%). New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province. Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries.
The "Who We Are" section of Discover Canada covers the diverse peoples who make up Canada, including Aboriginal peoples, French and British communities, and waves of immigration from around the world.
Three Founding Peoples
Canada recognizes three founding peoples:
Aboriginal Peoples
Aboriginal peoples have lived in Canada for thousands of years, long before European contact. There are three main groups:
First Nations (~65% of Aboriginal peoples) First Nations include hundreds of distinct groups with their own languages, cultures, and traditions. They live across all regions of Canada. Before European contact, they had sophisticated societies, governance systems, and trade networks.
Métis (~30%) The Métis are people of mixed Aboriginal and European (primarily French) ancestry. They developed their own distinct culture, including the Michif language (a blend of French and Cree). The Métis played a central role in the fur trade and in the Red River Rebellion of 1869-1870, led by Louis Riel.
Inuit (~4%) The Inuit live primarily in the Arctic regions of Canada — Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, northern Quebec, and Labrador. "Inuit" means "the people" in the Inuktitut language. Nunavut, created in 1999, is the Inuit homeland territory.
French Heritage
French explorers and settlers established New France beginning in the early 1600s. Today, approximately 7 million Canadians are Francophones. Quebec is the centre of French-Canadian culture, but French communities exist across Canada, particularly in New Brunswick (the only officially bilingual province) and parts of Ontario and Manitoba.
The Acadians are French settlers who were deported from Nova Scotia by the British between 1755 and 1763 in what is known as the Great Upheaval (le Grand Dérangement). Many returned to Canada, and Acadian culture remains vibrant in New Brunswick.
British Heritage
British influence in Canada began with the arrival of settlers in Newfoundland and expanded after the conquest of New France in 1760. The United Empire Loyalists (40,000+) who fled the American Revolution profoundly shaped English-speaking Canada. British legal traditions (common law, parliamentary democracy) form the foundation of Canada's government.
Immigration and Diversity
Canada has been shaped by successive waves of immigration: - Before 1900: Primarily British, Irish, Scottish, and French immigrants - 1900-1945: European immigrants (German, Italian, Ukrainian, Polish, Scandinavian) - Since the 1970s: Primarily Asian immigrants (Chinese, South Asian, Filipino, Korean, Middle Eastern)
Today, Canada is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Multiculturalism has been official government policy since 1971 and was enshrined in the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988.
Bilingualism
Canada has two official languages: English and French. This was formalized by the Official Languages Act of 1969 (updated 1988). Federal government services are available in both languages. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
Residential Schools
Residential schools were government-funded, church-run schools that operated from the 1880s to 1996. Aboriginal children were removed from their families and communities and placed in these schools, where they were forbidden from speaking their languages or practicing their cultures. The system caused immense suffering and cultural damage.
In 2008, the Government of Canada formally apologized to former students of residential schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to document the experiences of survivors and promote healing.
How to Study This Topic
- Read the relevant chapter in the Discover Canada guide
- Note the key facts, dates, and names mentioned
- Use CitizenApp's spaced repetition to practice questions on this topic
- Take a topic-specific practice test to identify any remaining weak spots
- Review any questions you get wrong and re-read the relevant section
CitizenApp's free tier includes questions from all 10 topics. Start practicing today to build confidence for your citizenship test.
Test Your Knowledge
What is the official study guide for the citizenship test?
Key Facts
- Three founding peoples: Aboriginal, French, British
- Aboriginal peoples: First Nations, Métis, Inuit
- Inuit means 'the people' in Inuktitut
- New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province
- Acadians deported 1755-1763 (Great Upheaval)
- 2008 — Ottawa apologized for residential schools
- Since 1970s — most immigrants from Asian countries
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions about who we are are on the citizenship test?
The citizenship test has 20 questions drawn randomly from all 10 topics. Typically, 1-4 questions will come from this topic, though the exact number varies per test.
What is the best way to study this topic?
Read the relevant chapter in the Discover Canada guide, then use spaced repetition to practice questions on this topic. Focus on memorizing key dates, names, and concepts specific to this section.
Is this one of the harder topics on the test?
Difficulty varies by applicant. Canadian History and Government tend to be the most challenging topics overall. Take a practice test to identify your personal strengths and weaknesses.
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