Early Canadian HistoryGrade 7

Economic Empowerment & You

Needs & Wants

• In society today, we often confuse our needs with our wants. Too often we declare that we need something when in fact we can survive without it.

Needs Wants

Needs

• A need is necessary for survival. Can you think of 5 needs. Write down 5 examples of needs. Check to see if you were correct.

Wants

• A want is something that is desirable but we can live without it. Sometimes we think that what we want is what we need. What might you want?

Economics? What’s That?

• Throughout history, cultures have worked to get these needs and wants through trade, bartering or payment.

• This process is what we call Economics.

Canada’s First Economy• The first economic system in

Canada was based on the cooperation and survival of First Nations or Aboriginal Peoples.

What does the word Aboriginal Mean?

Aboriginal means “living in a land from the earliest times” – in other words, the First People of a region.

There are three distinct aboriginal groups in Canada today.

The Inuit

First Nations

The first Métis

• The Inuit are the people who settled in the north. They adapted to the climate and as a culture, thrived.

• They lived together in small groups that moved around. This nomadic lifestyle allowed them to find food and materials for shelter.

• They hunted seal and lived on the ice during the winter. In summer, they lived in tents, fished and hunted the wild game of the region.

Hunting with the copper Inuit

First Nations:

First Nations are the first peoples of the rest of the land that is now Canada. There are many First Nations groups in Canada.

The Mi’kmaq people are the First Nations of our area.

First Nations and Mi’kmaq

• Needs and wants: The economy of each nation was based upon the natural resources that were available to them. They traded with each other to get what was needed.

Production

• In the past Native people made everything they needed by hand. They became very skilled at using their resources in an efficient way.

• Interactive Map of First Nations, Economics and Lifestyle

Distribution

Distribution: In native communities everyone helped in production and everyone shared equally in what was produced. Things were distributed to the people.

• Some nations had very clear boundaries for hunting and fishing and others allowed everyone to enter and leave as they wanted to.

3 Questions Every Economic System Must Ask

• What Goods and Services do people want and need?

• How do we Produce these Goods and Services?

• How will we distribute them or spread them around?

Commodities• Something that has value and can be

traded is called a commodity. We may use these to get our needs and wants.

3 Types of EconomiesEconomEconomy Typey Type

What we What we want.want.

What is What is used?used?

ProductionProduction

Who and Who and What is What is involvedinvolved

Pre-Pre-Industrial Industrial economyeconomy

Food and Food and goods to goods to survive.survive.

Handmade goods Handmade goods to farm or hunt. to farm or hunt. Simple tools Simple tools powered by powered by people, animals, people, animals, wind or water.wind or water.

Farmers, Hunters, Farmers, Hunters, Trades People etc. Trades People etc. Food, Wood, Bone, Food, Wood, Bone, Stone, Bark (Raw Stone, Bark (Raw Resources)Resources)

An An industrial industrial economyeconomy

ManufactureManufactured goods and d goods and resourcesresources

Raw Resources Raw Resources used to make used to make products. products.

(Wood, Minerals, (Wood, Minerals, etc.)etc.)

Big Factories. Big Factories. Technology to Technology to make finished make finished goods or services.goods or services.

Post-Post-Industrial Industrial EconomyEconomy

Information Information and servicesand services

Information and Information and Technology is Technology is used.used.

-Big businesses. -Big businesses. Technology and Technology and Communication. Communication. InternetInternet

Commodities: They have changed over time. Spices and Salt were valued in trade Pieces of metal were formed into coins. Fish became valuable because of Religion. Beaver Furs gained value in the making of hats and felt. Natural Resources like lumber became valuable next for ship

building. Minerals have become valuable with the industrial revolution. Water has become valuable for hydro-electricity Technology and special skills are becoming very valuable in the

world.

Europeans Begin to Arrive

About 1500 AD

• Europeans came from a Europeans came from a variety of nations & variety of nations & cultures but many of their cultures but many of their economic ideas were economic ideas were similar.similar.

Columbus Arrives

European Economic System

Needs and wants:

• Europeans left their homes for the promise of land and natural resources. Something only the very wealthy could afford in Europe

Production:

• Until the 1700’s Europeans made most things by hand. Some people specialized in one skill so each village had a blacksmith, cobbler, mason etc.

Workings of European EconomyDistribution:

The European system was based on the idea that if you owned land or a resource, you had the right to make as much profit from it as you could. If you wanted something you paid money for it. If you made extra you could sell it.

• Most of the Europeans came with the idea to recreate their society in North America

Canada’s Economy Changes

• Needs and Wants of the Europeans:– Beaver– Lumber– Fish– Land: land in Europe meant wealth. If you

had land, you were wealthy. They had the same idea in what is now Canada.

Hudson Bay Company

Economic Influence on First Nations

• Trade/Barter Economy changed to a competitive one. Before European contact, First Nations could live off of the land.

• Europeans promoted competition and war. – Intro of disease, guns, alcohol,

Christianity religion, clothing.

The Decline of The Cree and York Factory

Question: How are the First Nations and European systems similar and different?

Needs & Wants

Production

Distribution

First Nations & Inuit European Settlers

Economic Empowerment

• Economic Empowerment in Canada means having enough personal resources or money to get the things that we need along with the basic things that we want.

Control of Wealth

• Economics in Canada are not evenly spread out. A very small % of our population control a very large % of Canada’s wealth. It is this way in many countries. People are speaking out.

• Michael Moore Speaks Out. Wall Street Protests Against Poverty Click Here