Who were the first inhabitants of Canada?

Question: Who were the first inhabitants of Canada?

Answer options:

• French settlers
• British settlers ✅ Aboriginal peoples
• Vikings

Correct answer: Aboriginal peoples

Explanation: Aboriginal peoples are the correct answer because they were the first inhabitants of Canada, having lived on the land for thousands of years prior to European exploration. French and British settlers established permanent colonies much later, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, while Vikings only made brief, temporary landfalls around the year 1000. Under the official Discover Canada study guide, Aboriginal history represents the starting point of Canadian history. On the citizenship test, candidates are frequently tested on this foundational concept to ensure they understand Canada's original population structure prior to European colonization.