When Cartier sailed farther up the gulf and into the Bay of Gaspé, he and his men were greeted warmly by a group from the Iroquoian nation of Stadaconé. They had come from their home, which is now the site of Québec City, on a fishing expedition.
The story goes that Cartier asked the chief, Donnacona, what the land was called. The chief, who was inviting Cartier into their camp, replied "kanata," their word for village, as well as their name for the area around their home, Stadaconé. Maybe Cartier understood Donnacona, or maybe he did not, but "Canada" has remained the name of the whole vast territory that comprises our country.
Cartier sailed back to France with two of Donnaconna's sons, then returned again to Canada. On his second voyage, he sailed up the St. Lawrence River and visited the site of Montréal. He opened the door to French settlement of the rich land, and later colonists followed.
At first the aboriginal people were friendly, but many became hostile when they understood that their old way of life could not survive with the arrival of so many strangers. The struggle to establish peace and understanding between the people of the First Nations and the European settlers has continued during the many centuries since Cartier's arrival.
Historica Minute Cast
Cartier | Pierre Carl Trudeau | |
Young Man | Pierre Auger | |
Priest | Jean-Louis Millette | |
Chief | Guy Provencher | |
Young Indian | Jason Cavalier | |
Indian | Marc Bacon | |
Indian | Don Brisbois | |
Indian | Francis Couteau | |
Indian | Myles Henderson | |
Indian | Mike Sandy | |
Indian | Darrel Martin | |
Indian | Daniel-Paul Bork | |
Indian | Raymond Hervieux | |
Sailor | Mathieu Price | |
Sailor | Paul Fauvel | |
Sailor | Paolo Iovannone | |
Sailor | Pierre Goulet | |
Sailor | Michael Merovitz | |
Sailor | Gabriel-Jean Baule | |
Sailor | Gus Bucci | |
Sailor | Johnny Galati | |
Sailor | Guy Boutet | |
Sailor | Gerard Soler |