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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.
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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.
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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.
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Postal
Reform
The
early 19th 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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