The Aboriginal peoples were the first to inhabit North America.
A few hundred years ago, European explorers arrived in America as they searched for a route to India. This was the case for Jacques Cartier, who landed in Gaspésie in 1534, and who established initial contact with the Aboriginals. Beginning in the 1600s, contact between the Aboriginal peoples and the Europeans became more frequent.
Over the years, the Europeans established colonies in America. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City. Fur trading posts were used to trade with the Aboriginal peoples.
By the end of the 17th century, New France was spread over a very large territory, which stretched as far as the Great Lakes and Louisiana.