Before the arrival of the Europeans, the First Peoples lived in close contact with the land. They organized community life according to their needs and managed the use of natural resources.

When the Europeans arrived, many things changed. The Aboriginal people continued to hunt, fish, farm and live according to their traditions, but the fur trade, military alliances with Europeans and the arrival of colonists added new dimensions to their lives. The Aboriginal people and the Europeans coexisted and traded, but sometimes they also clashed.

The Indian Act of 1876 took away many of the First Nations’ rights, especially the ability to make the decisions that affect them. It has taken a very long time to regain some of these rights.

Today, some nations have regained more autonomy and independence to manage their communities. For example, the James Bay Agreement gave more power to the Inuit and Eeyou (Cree). The Northeastern Quebec Agreement did the same for the Naskapi. Through these agreements, these nations can make decisions about the land, natural resources, community organization, education, etc.