12 000 before this day Estimated arrival of first
humans in Québec.
The year 1000 Vikings visit Baffin
Island and the coast of Labrador.
End of 15th century Basque and French fishermen
fish the Gulf of
Saint Lawrence and make contact
with inhabitants.
1534-1542 French navigator
Jacques Cartier explores the shores
of the Saint Lawrence traveling to
Stadacona
(Québec City) and Hochelaga
(Montréal).
End of 16th century Fur trade expands in New
France. Tadoussac becomes
an important center of trade
between the Europeans
and Aboriginal people.
1625 Samuel de
Champlain establishes a colony at
Québec City with the intention of
settling the
New World and consolidating the
fur trade.
1625 The Jesuits arrive
in New France to convert and settle
the Aboriginal people.
1648-1658 The balance of power
that existed between First Nations
at the time of contact is upset by
new alliances and
the introduction of firearms.
Aboriginal people ally
themselves with the British or the
French.
1670 Creation of the
"Hudson's Bay Company", a vast British
commercial empire dedicated to the
fur trade.
1701 After years of
negotiation, representatives of several
First Nations sign the Montréal
Great Peace Treaty of 1701.
1759 British victory on
the Plains of Abraham.
1763 The Treaty of Paris
makes New France a British colony.
A royal Proclamation recognizes
land rights of Aboriginal
people and creates a new colony,
Québec.
1874 Passing of the
Indian Act defining the government's
responsibilities toward aboriginal
people.
Creation of Indian reserves.
1958 Aboriginal people
allowed to vote in federal elections.
1969 Aboriginal people
allowed to vote in Québec
provincial elections.
1970 The government of
Québec announces hydroelectric
dam projects for James Bay and
establishment of the
Québec Association of Indians and
Inuit.
1975 Signing of the
James Bay and Northern Québec
Agreement concerning several
aspects of Cree and
Inuit life. First major treaty
negotiated in Québec
and Canada.
1990 Oka crisis sets
Mohawks against Governments of
Québec and Canada.
1996 Report of the Royal
Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples proposing among other
things the creation
of an Aboriginal level of
government.
