Inuit History
Until recently, outsiders called the Inuit "Eskimo." Now they prefer their own term, "Inuit," meaning simply "people." There are about 40,000 Inuit in Canada. Here is an overview of their history, from their origins to the creation of Nunavut.

Snow Travel
In ancient Canada, people invented special clothing, footwear and other devices for traveling over cold, snowy landscapes during the winter season. Some of these inventions, such as snowshoes and toboggans, were so effective that people are still using them today.

Lottie Betts
The turn of the twentieth century was an exciting time for working women. Skilled typists were in great demand, and many young women mastered the new writing machine. Some outstanding typists took part in international typewriting competitions that attracted hundreds of spectators.

Postal Reform
The early 19^th century was a key period in Canada's postal history. Colonists demanded and were eventually given the opportunity to take charge of their postal affairs. This change was both a cause and an effect of the larger process of Canadian independence.

Vinland
The country named "Vinland" began to be mentioned by European scholars
almost 1000 years ago. Today we know enough about this land to sketch its
general location on a map, and reconstruct the historical events leading up
to the discovery and naming of "Vinland" by Norse explorers from Iceland and
Greenland.

Immigration
In the early 1900s, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier boldly predicted that "as the nineteenth century was the century of the United States, so shall the twentieth century belong to Canada." The main reason for his optimism was increased immigration into the Prairie West. This influx had long been awaited.

Jean Talon
Prior to the arrival of Jean Talon, New France was thinly populated and the fur trade had fallen into disarray. Faced with imminent ruin and dissolution, the colony needed an experienced and confident administrator. Unmarried and of noble birth, Talon served as Intendant of New France for five years - view his many accomplishments.

Hygiene
Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, water was scarcely used for
personal grooming as it was considered the principal vehicule for many
diseases. In the upper classes, cleanliness was ensured by the use of
cosmetics and a more or less frequent change of clothing. The general
population was content with washing their hands and face from time to time,
and occasionally changing their shirts.