Lesson 3.1

In what ways has historical globalization benefited people?

Many opponents of globalization will disagree that historical globalization has any benefits. To get a balanced view on globalization, explore what benefits may have resulted in the historical pursuit of globalization in Canada.

Aboriginal Peoples and the Crown

The colonialism of the British Empire opened up the West for settlement. Our geographic understanding of Canada is based on the territory defined within our borders. The territory of Canada was created by the treaty negotiations with First Nations before and after Confederation and the immigration campaigns that invited newcomers to settle the West. This land we define as Canada has origins in historical globalization.

In many cases, the initial contact between Europeans and Aboriginal peoples in New France and the British North American colonies began with a spirit of co-operation between the two groups. The relationship between Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the Crown is one such example. Although the Crown, as the British governing body was often referred to, viewed the territory as British colonial territory, it was willing to continue Aboriginal usage of the land. Treaties captured the importance of negotiating land from Aboriginal peoples and prevented colonists from purchasing Aboriginal lands. After Confederation, in the spirit of the Crown, the early Canadian governments continued to negotiate treaties and land with the Aboriginal peoples. Many historians believe this relationship avoided the attempts to violently eradicate the entire population of Aboriginal peoples, as the American policies to the south had almost achieved.