The history of Indigenous peoples in Canada is the history of many distinct First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It is not one single story. Every Nation, community, family, and region has its own history, language, cultural practices, relationships to the land, and experiences of colonialism and change.
This section provides a starting point for learning about First Nations history, Inuit history, and Métis history in Canada. It includes histories of communities and Nations, treaties, colonial policies, resistance, cultural continuity, and the continuing work of self-determination.
History Did Not Begin With European Contact
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis histories did not begin when Europeans arrived in North America. Indigenous peoples had long-established systems of governance, trade, diplomacy, family relationships, food gathering, travel, art, ceremony, education, and law.
Knowledge was preserved and shared through oral history, place names, language, family teaching, songs, stories, community practices, and relationships with the land and waters. Oral traditions are important historical sources and should be treated with the same respect as written records.
First Nations History
First Nations are diverse Indigenous Nations whose homelands extend across what is now Canada. Their histories include thousands of years of community life, trade, diplomacy, adaptation, innovation, and relationships with neighbouring Nations.
Explore First Nations history through individual Nation and community articles, regional histories, language information, treaty resources, and the First Nations A–Z guide.
Inuit History
Inuit are Indigenous peoples of the Arctic with distinct histories, languages, knowledge systems, and homelands. Inuit history includes long-standing relationships with land, water, ice, animals, family networks, and regional communities across Inuit Nunangat.
Inuit history also includes the effects of outside control, relocations, residential schools, medical evacuation, settlement policies, and other colonial actions. Inuit communities continue to protect and renew language, culture, family knowledge, and self-determination.
Visit Inuit in Canada to explore Inuit Nunangat, Inuit communities, Inuktut, history, culture, and Inuit-led resources.
Métis History
Métis history is rooted in the development of distinct Métis communities in the historic Northwest. Métis people developed their own identity, culture, language traditions, family networks, political life, and relationships with the land during and after the fur trade era.
Important subjects include the Red River Resistance, the North-West Resistance, Métis communities, Michif, buffalo hunting, trade routes, family history, and the continuing work of Métis governments and organizations.
Visit Métis in Canada for an introduction to Métis history, culture, communities, and self-determination.
Treaties and Relationships
Treaties are agreements between Indigenous Nations and the Crown. They remain important today because they shape relationships, responsibilities, rights, and understandings of land and governance.
Treaty history differs by region. Some areas are covered by historic treaties, while others are connected to modern treaties, land claims agreements, or other ongoing relationships and negotiations. Learning about the treaty history of a specific place is an important part of understanding Canada’s history.
Colonial Policies and Their Effects
Colonial governments introduced laws and policies that attempted to control Indigenous peoples, lands, families, languages, and governance. These included the reserve system, the Indian Act, residential schools, forced relocations, restrictions on cultural practices, land dispossession, and unequal access to services.
These policies caused lasting harm, but they did not erase Indigenous peoples, identities, languages, or communities. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples have continued to protect their cultures, rebuild institutions, pursue justice, and pass knowledge to new generations.
Residential Schools
Residential schools were part of a system designed to separate Indigenous children from their families, languages, cultures, and communities. Survivors, families, and communities continue to live with the effects of this system.
Learning about residential schools should centre the voices of Survivors and Indigenous communities. It is also important to understand that this history is connected to present-day work involving truth, healing, language renewal, child welfare, education, and reconciliation.
Living History and Self-Determination
Indigenous history is not only about the past. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples continue to lead work in education, language revitalization, arts, environmental stewardship, health, governance, law, business, and community development.
Current topics include Indigenous self-determination, land and water protection, language revitalization, community-led education, and truth and reconciliation.
Explore Indigenous History in Canada
- First Nations History
- Inuit History
- Métis History
- Treaties
- Residential Schools
- Indigenous People and Leaders
- Languages
- Resources for Further Learning
For the most accurate information about a particular Nation, community, or historical subject, seek sources created by that Nation or community whenever possible.