The Impact of Contact

FROM THE FIRST NATIONS PERSPECTIVE

Positive Impacts:

1) Introduced chicken, horses, cows, sheep and pigs: provided more proteins and a wider variety of foods.

2) Introduced guns which helped first Nations peoples to hunt faster.

3) Introduced tools, fabrics and utensils. Make different clothing, colours (dyes) - changes daily life!

4) Introduced wheat and barley which changes their diet.

5) Introduced medicines and metal tools.


Negative Impacts:

1) Due to guns and horses, it increased the amount of animals being hunted which led to extinction (especially the beaver and the buffalo).

2) They were sometimes mistreated such as being kidnapped or taken away from their people/families.

3) Conflicts became more deadly because they now had guns to use.

4) The Europeans started up the Fur Trade which led to beaver extinction.

5) The Europeans were taking over the land, conflict arose due to land control.

6) First Nations peoples came dependent for basic items (due to the Fur Trade).


FROM THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE

Positive Impacts:

1) Europeans were introduced to bison, corn, beans and squash.

2) They were introduced to medicinal plants.

3) Europeans taught First Nations how to survive in cold climates (helpful).

4) Europeans introduced new ways of life such as travel (canoeing, portaging, snowshoeing)

5) Introduced to new lands which means being able to get a variety of furs.


Negative Impacts:
1) Lots of Europeans lost their lives in shipwrecks and due to starvation. Exploration was dangerous.

2) Europeans left families behind.

3) Conflicts arose over land control.

4) Settlers suffered from starvation and diseases.