Chapter 2 · 2/10

Who We Are

Canadians come from many backgrounds, but they are united by shared values and a common citizenship. The three founding peoples, Aboriginal, French and British, together with generations of immigrants, have shaped the country we know today.

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 arrived. Aboriginal and treaty rights are recognized in the Canadian Constitution.

There are three distinct groups of Aboriginal peoples in Canada:

First Nations, of whom about half live on reserve land and half in towns and cities across Canada.
Inuit, who live in small communities across the Arctic. The word Inuit means the people in the Inuktitut language.
Metis, a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, the majority of whom live in the Prairie provinces.

The English and French

The English and French founding nations shaped Canada in profound ways. The majority of French speakers live in the province of Quebec, but there are also French-speaking communities (Francophones) across the country. About 18 million Canadians speak English and about 7 million speak French. Most English-speaking Canadians (Anglophones) live in other provinces, with significant French-speaking minorities such as the Acadians of the Atlantic provinces and the Quebecois.

A land of immigrants

Since the time of Confederation, millions of newcomers have helped build and defend Canada. Today, Canada is home to people from many cultures who have come from every part of the world. Greater diversity and a tradition of welcoming newcomers are among the features that define modern Canada.

English and French have lived together in Canada for more than 300 years, and their shared history has helped build a strong tradition of accommodation and tolerance.

Canadian symbols of identity

Canadians are bound together by shared values, including a belief in equality, in the rule of law, and in the dignity of every individual. Pride in being Canadian is shared by people of every region and background.

A commitment to equality between women and men.
Respect for the rule of law and for diversity.
Loyalty to Canada and to its institutions, including the constitutional monarchy.
A spirit of accommodation built over centuries of English and French cooperation.

The Great Religions

The largest religious affiliation in Canada is Christian, but Canada is home to people who practise a wide variety of faiths, as well as people who do not practise any religion. The freedom to worship, or not to worship, is protected under the Charter.

Key facts to remember

Aboriginal peoples were well established in Canada long before European explorers arrived.
The three groups of Aboriginal peoples are: First Nations, Inuit and Metis.
Inuit means the people in the Inuktitut language; the Inuit live across the Arctic.
Metis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, mostly in the Prairie provinces.
The English and French are the two founding nations alongside Aboriginal peoples.
Most French speakers live in Quebec; about 18 million Canadians speak English and 7 million speak French.
Anglophones speak English; Francophones speak French; the Acadians and Quebecois are major Francophone communities.
English and French have lived together in Canada for more than 300 years.
Canada is a land of immigrants, defined by diversity and a tradition of welcoming newcomers.

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