Migration: People on the Move

Canada’s identity has been formed by the movement of people. When people move from country to country, region to region within a country, they take their way of life and ideas with them.

First Nations & Inuit

There are a number of theories about the origins of the first inhabitants if Canada. The “first inhabitants” were the First Nation Peoples and the Inuit.

Theory #1: Land Bridge Theory

· Between 50 000 and 13 500 years ago the first people in the Americas migrated here

· Traveled over a land bridge that already existed between Asia and North America, the present location of the Bering Strait ( this bridge was not built, it occurred naturally)

· These first people than made their way south along an ice free corridor on the western coast of the continent to South America, their final destination. Not all made it to South America but spread out along the way, developing many civilizations later discovered by the Europeans.

Theory #2: Archeological Discoveries

· Challenges the land bridge theory

· Says first inhabitants crossed Pacific Ocean to the west coast of the Americas

· Came from Asia, Siberia or Australia

· Spread north and east

Theory #3:

· First People arrived in America by crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Europe

Theory #4:

· Many Inuit and First Nations say their civilizations began on the North American continent

· Have always lived here – “time immemorial”

Why Do People Move?

Push Factors – cause people to want to leave their current location

Common push factors include:

• Lack of political freedom
• Lack of religious freedom
• War
• Famine
• Poverty
• Climate changes
• Natural disasters
• Unemployment

Pull Factors – attract people to a new location

Common pull factors include:

• Greater economic opportunities
• Availability of land
• Reunion of families
• Advantages of mild climate
• Discovery and development of resources
• Access to technology
• Democratic political system