INDG 228 Assignment: Indigenous History within Canada

Indigenous History within Canada
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Consequences of First Nations Involvement in The European Conflict Over Control of North America.
First Nations had inhabited the modern-day Canada for thousands of years before the Europeans discovered Canada. They are among the indigenous people who inhabited the North American continent and depended on the locally available resources in the environment for their livelihood. First Nations economic activities were mainly hunting and fishing and subsistence farming that supported their livelihood. They also traded among themselves and established trade patterns and routes all over North America. When Europeans discovered their world, they quickly sought to establish alliances and trade relationships. At first, the Europeans targeted the resources found in their land. As the benefits of the trade between Europeans and First Nations increased, each European nation strategized on how to take control of North America and control the trade. It was a move that later led to colonization of North America. Since each Europeans nation wanted a piece of the cake, enmity sprouted and fierce competition for the resources often led to wars. The wars had a significant impact on the lives of the First Nations’ members socially, economically and culturally. After in-depth research into the impact of European wars on First Nations, this article describes and analyses the consequences of First Nations involvement in European conflict over control of North America.
The European conflict in North America led to displacement of the indigenous people and mass migrations. The First Nations fled their ancestral lands and seek refuge elsewhere for fear of being collateral damage during the conflicts. Wherever the Europeans clashed, there could be a number of First Nations casualties and disruption of their peaceful lives. Most First Nations communities migrated southwards to present day United States. The First Nation communities fled their ancestral lands which they had inhabited since 1000BC to seek asylum and avoid the devastating effects of the European wars. As the wars intensified, the leaders of First Nations tried to resist the conflict but the Europeans had superior weapons and had long experience in wars both on land and in sea. Some communities migrated southwards and settled in the present day United States CITATION Fra09 \l 1033 (Francis, Jones and Smith 2009).[BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 Francis, R. Douglas, Richard Jones, and Donald B. Smith. 2009. Journeys: A History of Canada. Cengage Learning.]
Some of the First Nations or their subgroups relocated since their trade was greatly affected by war. Their economic activities such as fishing were increasingly being affected by the European wars. The First Nations also suffered some casualties especially for those communities which formed alliances and helped either sides if the warring European nations. The direct impact the communities suffered were deaths on the battlefield, wounded soldiers being returned home for better healthcare and war prisoners who were sold off as slaves. Some communities like the Acadians were forcefully evicted from their ancestral lands by the French and the British for seeking to be non-partisan in their war. The Acadian leaders wanted to sign peace treaty with the British and French while the two warring European nations wanted them to choose sides. Eventually, they were driven out of their land and the war went on. They moved southwards and settled in the present day United states.
During the conflicts, most First Nations communities formed alliances and took sides in the war. The alliances were mutual for the Europeans and the local communities. The Europeans wanted to strengthen their military forces to increase their odds of winning the war while the First Nations communities sought protection and trade relationships from them. The alliances lasted because of the mutual benefits targeted by both parties. When the communities chose their alliances, they were actively involved in the wars and the impact of the wars had more direct impact to them. Eventually, the alliances led to treaties that were founded on mutual interest the Europeans and First Nations had in North America. As competition for the rich interior intensified and Europeans communities especially the French and British delved further inland, the wars became fiercer and even the Europeans set up administrative institutions to manage their alliances. The Indian department was set up by the British to aid them in the wars against the French.
The royal proclamation of 1763 was as a result of the European conflict in North America. The proclamation stipulated the terms of interaction between the British and the Indian department. The proclamation divided their land into two and the First Nations had control of half of what they owned before the Europeans stepped into their land. The royal proclamation of 1763 was another effect of the British French conflicts in North America. After the war the British wanted a lasting peace agreement with the natives. King George issued the proclamation that protected the rights of the indigenous people living in North America especially the land. The land issues had sprouted during the wars and they had to be addressed after the war to ensure peace lasted. The proclamation required settlers to relinquish their land ownership that they had acquired before or during the war. Therefore, the war led to unpermitted settling of some British especially in the western part of North America. The procedure outlined in the royal proclamation of 1763 was measure to ensure peace and stability in the region along with healing the wounds the war had especially to the aboriginals. The sole purpose of the royal proclamation of 1763 was to avoid other conflicts that would have compromised peace co-existence of the Europeans and the Aboriginals.
As the wars intensified, the French and British, who were the main antagonizing European communities in the North America, sought alliances to strengthen their military. The Europeans especially French recruited the First Nations into their military to increase number of infantrymen. Therefore, the native communities in North America suffered war casualties directly. For being partisan in the war they also created enemies with their opponents. Their trade was also adversely affected by their new alliances thus limiting their trade partners. Since the wars were being fought on their land, security was adversely affected. The communities’ social organization was affected since many young energetic men were recruited to fight while children, women and the old were left at home. The contribution of men in the social groups had to be compensated by their efforts. Wars reduced their populations and weakened their defense against any external attacks. Another reason the Europeans sought to form alliances with the natives was to help them in navigation and treatment of diseases. The natives had long mastered the jungle and the Europeans needed that knowledge to s...