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Prior to European settlers, their may have been up to 20 million indigenous people. It started with settlers being friendly, sharing food, and fighting in wars together. This changed when thousands of immigrants came into the colonies, the government wanted to segregate the indigenous pushing and starving them into reserves. The indigenous were manipulated by the French and British settlers into losing their land, which is now Canada.

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Columbus, his crew, and their greed reached the island of Guanahini where they were welcomed with love and gifts. Columbus only came for the goal which did not satisfy him so he took the Indians as prisoners. Chrispoter Columbus also came to Canada and did the same, this was one of his prior trips in 1492 and a display of his lack of humanity.

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In 1608, Samuel de Champlain marked a historic milestone by founding Quebec City, thereby establishing the inaugural permanent European settlement in New France. Under Champlain's leadership, this strategic outpost on the banks of the St. Lawrence River would evolve into a vital center for fur trading and a hub of French colonial activity. The establishment of Quebec City not only laid the foundation for French influence in the region but also initiated a complex interplay of cultural interactions and alliances between the European settlers and Indigenous peoples. This pivotal event in 1608 marked the beginning of a lasting legacy that would shape the trajectory of Canadian history and the unique blend of French and Indigenous cultures in the region.

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The French were both settlers and colonizers, the migrants settled in unpopulated areas and developed their own society while their contact with Indians led to imposition on Indian society and their way of life. The French even established reservations for Indians with the final goal of trying to assimilate them into French culture. This would remain in place for centuries to come, with big changes and reconciliation only being provided recently.

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The settlement of New France was a slow process, Samuel de Champlain had only brought 100 settlers, and by 1660 there were only 2,000 settlers due to able intendant Jean Talon that migration was undertaken, as the policy maker he can be compared to Clifford Sifton as they can both be credited for establishing viable permanent settlements in new a unpopulated areas during the early days of colonization in Canada.

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In 1759, September 13, The Battle of the Plains of Abraham takes place, marking a decisive moment in the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War between England and France.

The battle unfolds on a plateau just outside the city walls of Quebec City in New France, specifically on the land of Abraham Martin dit L'Écossais.

The combat is relatively short-lived, lasting only 30 minutes.

The battle concludes with a British victory, effectively ending a three-month siege of Quebec City.

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1763 was when the English began making attempts to make treaties with the first Natives. The treaties would usually come with a lump sum of money and a small annual payment, usually about $5 and a reserve, land set aside for the first Nations people to live on. The first Nations were often coerced into poor deals, as they could not read or write and only knew what the translator told them which was usually different from what was on the treaty.

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Throughout the American Revolutionary War (1776-1783), Black individuals, encompassing both those who were free and enslaved, made significant contributions on opposing fronts. Despite the lofty ideals of liberty outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the stark contradiction of slavery endured. In response to Lord Dunmore's Proclamation, numerous individuals sought freedom by affiliating with the British forces, actively participating in formations such as the Ethiopian Regiment. The conclusion of the war in 1783 signaled a nuanced phase for Black Loyalists, representing a pivotal juncture in the persistent quest for freedom and equality.

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During the late 18th century, promises made to Black Loyalists for land in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick after their support during the American Revolutionary War were met with stark disparities. While 1,500 white loyalists received land, a significant number of the 3,500 Black Loyalists were left with meager plots on poor-quality lands, compelling many into tenant farming and labor for low wages. This economic disparity persisted despite assurances. Notably, Boston King, a former slave and Black Loyalist, overcame adversity, securing his freedom with the help of a group of whites in London. Inspired by his journey, King invited fellow Black Loyalists to Sierra Leone, offering an opportunity to establish new lives and find freedom in the face of persistent challenges and inequities.

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In 1788 the first Chinese workers in Canada came to help build the first year-round, non indigenous settlement as a part of John Meares' expedition. The settlement was to be used as a fur trade fort in an are the British called "Nootka Sound."

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Immigration was an important part of the process of establishing migrant superordination over the French, this was all a planned process. Developing the population was of prime necessity if Canada wanted to become the bulwark of the British empire in north America, which was a key principle in Canadian immigration policies for years to come.

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The population of Upper Canada in 1791 was about 14,000 but drastically increased to 90,000 in just 20 years due to immigrants from the United States, with two different types. One was late loyalists which were farmers extracted by Lord Simcoe to build up the population of British Columbia and the other type was loyalist refugees and exiles from the American Revolution which was the first large political immigration to Canada. These established the second structure of migrant superordination in Canada.

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After the creation of Upper Canada, the opposition to slavery began to grow. The first Lieutenant Governor was a person named John Graves Simcoe, and in response to his actions, an anti-slavery act was passed in 1793. This was the first attempt of its kind in the British colonies. Based on this, slavery disappeared after the turn of the 19th century, and it became a refuge for Black refugees coming from the United States.

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At the time, the United States was at war with Britain, and the U.S. government requested support from the government of Upper Canada to defend the Niagara border. The request was accepted, and many Black volunteers participated in the war. They were involved in various battles, including the Battle of Queenston Heights, Fort George, and the Battle of Stoney Creek.

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In 1812, some Scottish folks set up a new home in the Red River Valley, where Winnipeg is today. The problem was, they didn't really pay attention to the Native people and the Métis who were already living there. This caused a lot of issues because the Native and Métis folks felt left out and not taken care of. Things got even worse, and the Métis started two big rebellions, kind of like protests, because they were upset about how they were being treated. A guy named Louis Riel became a leader in these rebellions, fighting for the rights of his people. But sadly, it didn't end well – they hanged Louis Riel. It's a sad story that shows how sometimes, when different groups of people meet, things can get really complicated and unfair.

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Black veterans of the War of 1812 were offered land grants along Wilberforce street and were among the first settlers of Simcoe country; the black population exceeded 125 by 1840. This population grew as Canada was a major haven for the fugitive enslaved, with many being black pioneers in Ontario, with most even choosing to stay in Ontario after the abolishment of slavery in the United states.

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the first school focused on central education was established in Brandfort by the Black Christian Missionary Society. The educational standards of this school were very high and it became extremely popular, eventually attracting even white parents. The purpose of this school was considered a key initiative to overcome the disadvantages of racial discrimination and slavery at the time.

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The Presbyterian minister William King, born in Ireland and educated in Scotland, established the settlements of Buxton and Elgin. Over the next decade, these settlements grew into a village of 1,200 inhabitants, complete with educational and industrial facilities. His actions greatly contributed to the creation of one of the most successful self-reliant Black communities in Canada.

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In the 1850s, Harriet Tubman made nineteen trips into the South to guide hundreds of slaves to freedom across the Canadian border. Canada had the distinction of being the first British possession of legislation against slavery, allowing the enslaved freedom and a fresh start. She even had a $40,000 bounty on her head and was also known as “Black Moses”.

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a newspaper called "The Voice of the Fugitive" was established in Sandwich. The founder was a Black man named Henry Bibb. He was a former slave who had escaped, and he established the newspaper to promote the anti-slavery movement and to provide information to the Black community and its institutions.

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1871 was when BC became a part of Canada. Because of how late it joined Canada, the first Nations people were not approached by the delegations that made treaties with the Ontario and Prairie native people.

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On 7 October 1877, the Canadian federal government called for tenders to construct the railway between Emory's Bar and Savona's ferry in BC. In the following year a Victoria MP, Amor De Cosmos presented a petition from white workers with over 1,500 signatures, asking the federal government to not employ Chinese workers. The federal government did not respond positively to the request. The white workers did not want chinese workers working on this railway, claiming that they would steal their jobs away from them.

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On September 2, the government of British Columbia imposed a poll tax. This was an unfair tax law that required Chinese individuals to pay in order to legally reside in the area. It was levied on all Chinese people over the age of 12 and had to be paid every three months, amounting to 10 dollars. Employers who hired Chinese workers were required to compile and report a list of these employees, and failing to do so resulted in a fine of 100 dollars. This event angered the Chinese community and provided an impetus for them to unite and respond.

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Immigrants of diverse ethnicities arrived in Canada for the first time in history, establishing Canada's ethnic stratification. This was the most unique period of Canadian immigration, as factors such as the completion of the railroad and workers on the prairies created large-scale industrial labour and induced immigration. This also created the character of immigrants in this period as settled farmers or unskilled labourers. These immigrants are a key part of Canadian history.

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In 1881, Canada's population was 59% British origin, 30% French origin, 2.5% Indians and Inuit and 8.6% not stated. From 1812-1880, Canada saw settlers from Denmark, China, Poland, and Germany. In this period, Canada’s basic immigration pattern was established, the following period gave this pattern different sources of immigration and modified it with restrictions on immigration but this pattern was set. The basic pattern of migration helped Canada develop it’s identity as a country.

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In between the years 1881 and 1884 roughly 17,000 Chinese workers were brought from China as indentured labourers to work on the Canadian Pacific railway. As soon as the railway was completed the government started putting anti-Chinese laws in place as a way to restrict and regulate Chinese Immigration.

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In Ottawa, the Canadian federal government had imposed a head tax that was levied only on Chinese immigrants. Initially, the tax was 50 dollars, but it was gradually increased until it reached 500 dollars. This amount was enough to buy two houses at the time. Some people even had to take out loans to pay it. This was a racist and unfair tax policy, and it was an attempt by the government to prevent Chinese immigration

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The Indian Emigration Act was passed by the British Imperial Government in India, prohibiting Indians from leaving their country under contract. This was an early attempt by the British Empire to control the movement of its colonial subjects and had implications for the labor market in other parts of the Empire, including Canada

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The Chinese railway labourers contributed and sacrificed a lot in order to help build the railways and it's not until much later until they were appreciated by Canadians. However other (white) people connected to the construction of the CPR and made significant contributions had mountains, streets, or towns named after them. For example, in 1886 Farewell was renamed after Lord Revelstoke, who was the head of the British banking house of Baring Brother and bought $15 million of a CPR bond issue, which in turn averted the last financial crisis during construction.

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In 1899 an English delegation was sent out to sign treaties with the first Nations people in Alberta, near Lubicon lake in-between the Peace and Athabasca rivers. From the delegation one was sent up each river, however they failed to meet with the first Nations people in-between the rivers, the Lubicon Cree were left out of the treaty signing and thus did not get a reserve or any money, and were only given an "Indian settlement" in little buffalo.

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In 1914, the Komagata Maru incident shed light on Canada's discriminatory immigration policies. The Japanese steamship, carrying primarily Sikh immigrants, faced rejection in Vancouver due to the Continuous Passage Regulation. After enduring two months of difficult conditions, the ship was forcibly sent back to India on July 23. Tragedy unfolded on September 29 when clashes with British authorities resulted in the deaths of 20 passengers. This incident serves as a poignant symbol of Canada's historical struggles with racism and exclusionary immigration practices, especially affecting South Asian immigrants, highlighting the ongoing pursuit of diversity and inclusion in the country's history.

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Chinese workers employed in shelling factories organized the Chinese Labour Association (CLA). They did this in order to receive equal pay and treatment as the white workers at the time. After the organization was established, they held their first strikes in Vancouver and New Westminster. Back then, Chinese workers had to work longer hours than white workers, averaging 10 hours a day. However, their goal was to reduce this to 8 hours.

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At that time, in a flour mill located in British Columbia, not only Chinese workers but also white and East Asian workers all participated in a strike. This was the first incident of its kind in Canada. During the strike, employers attempted to replace them by hiring women, and although the united workers' strike was not successful, it laid the foundation for them to assert their rights through union organization.

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The strike of East Asians at Western Mills began with a demand for reduced working hours. After persistent efforts, it was successfully concluded with an agreement from the employers that the workers would work 9 hours but receive wages for 10 hours. This was a cooperative achievement among Chinese, Japanese, and South Asian workers at the time, maximizing mutual understanding and shared interests.

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In 1919, around 2,000 Asians in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia gathered to protest against discriminatory wage cuts. This protest lasted for 40 days. It demonstrated the solidarity among Asians and revealed their organizational strength.

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In 1919, Canada revamped its immigration policies with the Immigration Act. This law significantly reduced non-British and U.S. immigrants, halted the arrival of persecuted religious groups, and introduced deportation measures, even for British citizens. A list of prohibited immigrants, targeting the illiterate, sick, and left-wing individuals, was established. These changes, influenced by economic and political factors, left a lasting impact on Canada's immigration landscape and cultural composition.

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This was a period of economic recession in Canada, and at the beginning of the year, many workers faced wage cuts and layoffs. Furthermore, the solidarity among workers also began to crumble, and many job seekers applied to fill positions in factories that had experienced strikes.

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By the end of World War 1, Canadian society had forever changed. Levels of social structure were now created based on ethnicities other than those of the charter groups; they didn't represent isolated communities like the Indians and Inuits at the time but became essential to the country’s growing economy. It also formed a basis for a new principle of potential societal integration which later came to be defined as multiculturalism. World War I was a key factor in this immigration, which allowed Canada to form its identity.

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May 2, a festival event of the Chinese Communist Party took place. It was a march involving Communist Party members, Chinese labor union members, high school students, and even elementary school students. It was estimated that about 14,000 people participated. This march aimed to commemorate 145 workers who had died on the job, contracted by the Anglican Church. Eventually, this event provided an opportunity for white workers to recognize and respect Chinese workers. Furthermore, the organization and union activities of Chinese workers became a stepping stone for uniting Asian countries.

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Instituted on June 4, 1940, the Defense of Canada Regulations (DCR) during World War II empowered the Canadian government to restrict civil rights. This included outlawing certain political organizations, leading to the internment of members, closure of offices, and the banning of publications. The DCR also targeted "enemy aliens," imposing stringent measures on German, Italian, and Japanese individuals. This resulted in the internment of those deemed security risks, particularly in the Italian, German, and Japanese communities. Post-war, Canada showed little compassion for refugees, suspecting immigrants of being potential Nazi agents until the Allied victory in 1945, reflecting the challenging dynamics of the wartime period.

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In March 1942, led by Ian Mackenzie, the British Columbia Security Commission initiated the removal of Japanese-Canadians, with adult males ordered to report to the RCMP for relocation to road camps. Families were temporarily held in deplorable conditions at Hastings Park in Vancouver before being sent to internment camps in the interior of British Columbia. Men were separated and sent to labor camps, while families had to work together on sugar beet farms. Resistance led to some being sent to prisoner-of-war camps in Ontario. The Custodian of Enemy Alien Property took control of all their belongings. This marks a distressing chapter in Canada's history, showcasing the unjust internment and mistreatment of Japanese-Canadians during World War II.

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In 1944 the Racial Discrimination Act was enacted, this was act was meant to combat racial and religious discrimination, especially in stores where they (predominantly white people) would put up signs such as "Whites Only." The act essentially prohibited the publication or representation of racial and religious discrimination. This was the first time a provincial government had essentially declared that they would not tolerate racial and religious discrimination.

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In 1945 after world war two had ended, following the Repatriatism policy (which required Japanese Canadians to leave BC and those who refuses would be stripped of their citizenship and deported back to Japan) that had been decided on by Prime Minister Mackenzie King and his cabinet one year prior, Japanese Canadian who were over the age of 16 were given two choices, either leave Canada and be deported back to Japan, or move east of the Rocky mountains. 43% of the Japanese Canadian population chose to move east of the Rocky mountains, 86% of the potential repatriaites remained in BC. One year later 66% changed their decision and decided to remain in Canada. The Japanese Canadians who decided to move we're not permitted to purchase land and needed a special license to grow crops. As a result of this in combination with the cabinet largely ignoring pleas for moderation and the Supreme Court deciding the government could deport the people who signed up for repatriation but not their dependants, by 1947 less than 1/3 of the Japanese Canadian in 1942 remains.

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The United Nations passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that all human beings regardless of race, sex, religion, colour, language, national or social origin, opinion, birth or status, are entitled to certain rights and freedoms stated in the Declaration.

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In 1951 the Fair Employment Practices Act was put in place, this was meant to combat racial and religious or any kind of targeted discrimination in the workplace. This act was put in place by Premier Leslie Frost, with no small amount of convincing by Hugh Burnett and the National Unity Assembly as well as other activist and activism. While it was a huge step for Canada, the Act did not cover non-profit organizations, servants or other workers in private homes, businesses with less than 5 people. This Act did however become a model for future human rights codes.

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1953 - In 1953 the Federal Government implemented its own Fair Employment Practices Act, called the Canada Fair Employment Practices Act. This Act was meant to combat targeted discrimination within the civil service and it applies to the Federal government itself as well as everything in its jurisdiction. It attempted to eliminate discrimination by implementing fines and a complaints system.

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Soon after the end of World War two, Canadian immigration evolved, a movement developed to create a racism-free immigration policy with Canada aligning its immigration policies to meet economic needs and a great ethnic diversity. This also led to them creating a new approach to immigrant admission as they started using a merit point system of immigration eligibility, this was done to reduce the formal racial discrimination in the immigration process.

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In 1967, Canada initiated a groundbreaking shift in immigration policy with the introduction of the Immigration Regulations. Under this transformative framework, a merit-based points system was implemented, evaluating candidates based on education, personal qualities, occupational demand and skill, age, arranged employment, language proficiency, and the presence of relatives in Canada. A minimum of 50 points was required for immigration eligibility, marking a departure from racially biased assessments. This deliberate move aimed to ensure fairness and objectivity in the evaluation process. Notably, the regulations underscored a significant emphasis on employment and employability factors, aligning with Canada's objective to attract individuals who could actively contribute to the workforce. The 1967 Immigration Regulations represented a pivotal moment in Canada's immigration history, emphasizing meritocracy and promoting a more inclusive and equitable approach to selecting newcomers.

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In 1972, Canada instituted the Immigration Adjustment of Status Program, a groundbreaking initiative enabling non-status (illegal) immigrants to rectify their status. Under this program, individuals were given a 60-day window to voluntarily come forward and apply for permanent residency, a departure from previous exclusionary practices. The response was substantial, with 31,947 people seizing the opportunity during the specified period. The majority of applicants were successfully granted permanent residency, showcasing the program's effectiveness. This initiative marks a pivotal moment in Canada's immigration history, representing a more compassionate and inclusive approach toward individuals seeking regularization of their status.

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In 1982, the Constitutional Act of Canada acknowledged for the first time that Aboriginal people have certain rights, this recognition was after numerous efforts to crush and eliminate the native people. For example, the Beothuk people in Newfoundland were killed and had their land and culture taken away from them alongside many First Nations people. They fought against this with protests, petitions, and letters alongside court cases to finally achieve this and start Canada’s journey into reconciliation which we now have a holiday for on September 30th.

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The government of B.C. agreed, for the first time, to participate in the negotiation of native land claims. The then-prime minister announced to have it resolved by the year 2000. This was after years of the First Nations fighting for their land, starting in the 1900s when Joseph Trutch tried to reduce the size of reserves leading to a lot of land claim activity against their wishes, but they contested it and followed near 100 years of fighting in court, there was finally hope for the first nations to get their rightful land.

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In 1993, the Immigration Act of 1976 was newly revised and implemented. Bill C-86 was a law that gave the government the authority to limit the number of immigrants and also provided measures to prevent refugees and immigrants from illegally entering Canada. This newly amended immigration law could be improved through various immigration programs, and it allowed for a system where groups or individuals could directly sponsor permanent residency, in consultation with the federal and provincial governments. Additionally, it became an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to protect refugees according to the UN Convention