history canada and alaska s first inhabitants were native americans thought to have ... searching for whale-oil and furs in the 16th and 17th centuries that forced ... change the french colony known as `new france was officially ceded to the british in ... country that is now canada was formed in 1867 by the confederation of four ... british north american colonies in the early days it was canada s natural ... but as the second largest country in the world it is perhaps unsurprising ... headlines with the discovery of gold in the klondike and substantial oil ... found over the years canada has gained independence from the uk but is still a ... and alaska remain pioneer destinations independently minded and forward looking and as any ... first nations canadians today this includes 200,000 métis aboriginal and french ...