Indigenous Peoples and Settlements in Canada

Earliest Indigenous Peoples

• Early inhabitants of Canada were often nomadic or semi-nomadic.
• The Assiniboine, a First Nation group, were semi-nomadic and followed bison herds.

European Settlers

• European settlers' arrival made it difficult for Indigenous peoples to maintain their nomadic lifestyles.
• European settlers built homes and cultivated crops on the land, displacing Indigenous populations.
• The Indian Act and Canadian government policies forced Indigenous peoples onto designated territories.

Settlements

• A settlement is where people establish a permanent community.
• Settlements began to develop throughout Canada.

Geography of Settlements

• Geographers study the influence of physical environments on settlements and the impact of settlements on people.
• Some questions geographers might ask:
  • How do mountains affect housing locations?
  • How does climate influence the type of homes people build?

My Settlement

• The author resides in a suburb.
• Their settlement is characterized by numerous shopping centers and reliance on car transportation.

Types of Settlements

• There are three main settlement types: rural, urban, and suburban.
• These categories are based on population density and location.

Urban Settlement

• Urban areas are densely populated cities.
• Approximately 80% of Canadians live in urban areas.
• Urban communities typically have over 1000 residents living in close proximity.
• Urbanization, the growth of urban populations, is a prevalent trend.
• Urban areas are often characterized by tall buildings and limited green space.

Rural Settlement

• Rural settlements are communities with fewer than 1000 people.
• Houses in rural areas are spaced far apart, offering extensive green space and farmland.
• Many developing countries and over half of Canada's population a century ago were predominantly rural.

Suburban Settlement

• Suburban areas are denser than rural but less dense than urban areas.
• These settlements are often situated near major cities, serving as residential areas.
• Residents in suburban areas often rely on cars for transportation to work and shopping centers.

Settlement Location Factors

Site and Situation

• Settlements around the world exhibit diverse characteristics.
• Even within the same settlement type, significant variations can exist.
• Settlements are unique due to their site and situation.
  • Site: Refers to the physical features that make a location distinct.
  • Situation: Refers to a settlement's specific location in relation to its surroundings and other places.

Types of Land Use

• Institutional:
  • Land used for community buildings like schools, libraries, and government offices.
  • Includes emergency services and religious buildings.
  • Strategically located for community accessibility.
• Agricultural:
  • Used for growing crops and raising livestock (ranching, farming).
  • Requires significant space for livestock and crops.
  • Includes pastures and farmland.
  • Often found in rural areas.
• Transportation:
  • Used for roads, railways, and parking lots.
  • Vital for the movement of people and goods (agriculture, commerce, and industry).
  • Approximately one-third of a typical North American city is dedicated to transportation.
• Parks and Green Space:
  • Primarily located around cities and towns.
  • Used for recreation and are intentionally planned.
  • Separated from industrial areas to reduce noise and traffic.
  • Important for creating a buffer between residential areas and industrial zones.

Types of Land Use

• There are seven primary types of land use:
  • Residential: For people's homes.
  • Commercial: For businesses.
  • Industrial: For manufacturing, processing, or storing raw materials.
  • Institutional: Includes schools, hospitals, and government buildings.
  • Agricultural: Land for farming and growing crops.
  • Transportation: Roads, railways, and airports.
  • Parks and Green Space: Areas for recreation and leisure.

What is Land Use?

• Land use refers to how humans utilize land for various purposes.
• Land use involves using land for specific purposes to meet people's wants and needs.
• Land use can involve using land in its natural state, such as a forest used for hiking, or altering it for development, such as cutting down a forest to build a shopping mall.
• The patterns of land use vary within a community and from one settlement to another.
• Most communities include all seven primary land use types.

Land Use in a Canadian City

• The chart above shows the percentage of various land use types in a Canadian city.
• Question: Based on the chart, what is the most common land use in this Canadian city?
• Answer: Residential land use is the most prevalent.
• Question: Which types of land use are most important to you?
• Answer: For example, agricultural land use is vital because people rely on food for survival.