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Period: Jan 1, 1000 to
Canadian "contacts"
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Nov 23, 1000
Norse exploration
1st European contact with North Americans
1000 CE
led by Leif Eirikson
3 voyages landed in Baffin Island, Newfoundland, Labrador
First European son born in North America = Snorri, Thorfinn Karlsefini = father
Thorfinn establishes a settlement and makes contact with the native Skraelings
Contact is peaceful and leads to trading
Little Ice Age forces the Norse to abandon settlements during the 15th century -
Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot finds Cod Fish
June 24, 1497, John Cabot arrives off the coast of Newfoundland and begins an era of continuous contact
Finds an abundance of cod fish
Cod fish are important for European Catholics-cannot eat meat for 160 days of the year
Cod = easy source of food and it leads to many European fishers to go to Newfoundland for fish
Cabot never interacts with natives but knows that they are there -
Dec 17, 1501
Enslavement of the Beothuks
1501, enslavement of the Aboriginal peoples occurrs when Gasper Corte Real, Portuguese businessman, captures seventy five Beothuk men and women
Attempts to bring them to Portugal.
All slaves die from disease while in transport or shortly after arriving in Portugal.
This results in the Beothuk becoming more distrustful of Europeans and causes them to retreat into the interior of the Newfoundland.
Interactions become more violent -
May 28, 1534
Cartier lands in Newfoundland
May 1534, Jacques Cartier, representing King Francois I of France, lands in Newfoundland
He explores and creates detailed maps of St. Lawrence River He finds rugged country with abundant wildlife
Cartier makes contact with the Mi’kmaq
Interaction = brief and dominated by Cartier’s misplaced distrust and fear of the Mi’kmaq
He does establish some trading during this first encounter -
Sep 2, 1534
Cartier comes back
September 1534, Cartier meets the St. Lawrence Iroquois at Baie de Gaspe
Meeting is cordial and festive
Tensions rise when Cartier erects a cross emblazed with, “Long Live the King of France”
Iroquois become concerned and distrustful after this event, Cartier convinces Iroquois chief, Donnaconna, to allow two sons to return to France
Cartier promises to return from France with goods for trading in exchange for sons -
Oct 9, 1550
First European Fishery
1st European fishery established in North America by Spanish Basque whalers
Stations established on Red Bay, Strait of Belle Isle and on Saddle Island, on the westcoast of Newfoundland
Created in the mid 16th century, ended at the end of the 16th century
Whaling ends due to overhunting which depleats the whale stocks and pirating in the Atlantic Ocean
Fishing villages come in contact with Beothuk peoples
Europeans lacked respect for natives because they were not Christians, and enslave them
