Immigration and the Changing Face of Canada · Term 4

Historical Waves of Immigration

Students explore the waves of immigration that have shaped Canada, learning about why people come to Canada and the contributions immigrants make.

About This Topic

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Canadian government launched a massive campaign to settle the Prairies with European farmers. This 'Last Best West' campaign used posters and advertisements to promise free land to homesteaders. While this led to a rapid increase in the settler population and the growth of the Canadian economy, it had a devastating impact on the Indigenous peoples of the Plains, who were moved onto reserves to make way for farms and the railway.

Students will investigate the experiences of homesteaders, including the isolation, the harsh climate, and the hard work of 'breaking the land', as well as the systemic displacement of the Cree, Blackfoot, and other nations. This topic is essential for understanding the roots of modern land issues in Western Canada. This topic comes alive when students can analyze the persuasive techniques of historical advertisements and compare them with the reality of life on a sod house farm.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: The 'Last Best West' Posters

The teacher displays government posters used to recruit settlers. Students analyze the images and text, noting what is promised (e.g., 'free land') and what is missing from the pictures (e.g., winter, Indigenous people).

⏱ 35 min·Individual

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Simulation Game: The Homesteader's First Year

Students are given a 'plot of land' and a list of tasks (build a house, plant crops, survive winter). They must make choices about how to spend their limited time and resources, experiencing the difficulty of prairie life.

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

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Inquiry Circle: The Impact on the Buffalo

Groups research how the arrival of settlers and the railway led to the near-extinction of the buffalo. They create a 'cause and effect' chart showing how this affected the traditional economy and diet of Plains Indigenous peoples.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The land in the West was 'free' and 'empty.'

What to Teach Instead

The land was the traditional territory of many Indigenous nations and was only made available to settlers after Indigenous people were moved onto reserves. Comparing maps of traditional territories with settler land grants can help students visualize this displacement.

Common Misconception

All homesteaders became wealthy farmers.

What to Teach Instead

Many homesteaders struggled with debt, crop failure, and extreme weather, and many eventually gave up and moved away. Reading diary entries from unsuccessful homesteaders can provide a more balanced view of the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the 'Last Best West'?

It was a famous advertising campaign by the Canadian government in the early 1900s. It used posters and pamphlets to convince people from Europe and the U.S. that the Canadian Prairies were the best place to find free, fertile farmland.

What was a 'sod house'?

Because there were few trees on the Prairies, many early settlers built their first homes out of 'sods', blocks of earth and grass cut from the ground. These houses were cheap to build and warm in the winter, but they were often dirty and leaky.

How did Western settlement affect Indigenous peoples?

Settlement led to the loss of traditional hunting grounds and the near-extinction of the buffalo, which were central to Indigenous life. The government used treaties and the Indian Act to move Indigenous communities onto small reserves to make room for settlers.

How can active learning help students understand the settlement of the West?

Active learning allows students to critique the 'marketing' of the West and compare it with the lived reality of both settlers and Indigenous peoples. By engaging in simulations and document analysis, students develop a more nuanced understanding of the costs and benefits of Canada's westward expansion.

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