About Ontario ... First Nations

First Nations 

Artifacts and archaeological excavations that show human habitation of what is today Ontario dates back at least 7,000 years. Many distinct native cultures and languages flourished.

In the north, Algonquin, Cree and Ojibwa people fished and hunted.

The first farmers in the south were the Huron, Tobacco (Petun), Neutrals (Attiwandaron), and Iroquois.

The Iroquois Five Nations included the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk.

The Tuscarora joined the Five Nations in 1722 and henceforth they were known as the Six Nations.

The Iroquois lived mostly in northern New York State until after the American Revolution of 1776, when many of them moved to Ontario as United Empire Loyalists.

Distinct native cultures and languages have continued and evolve to this day.

© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2006

Reprinted from the Government of Ontario, Canada website, for non-commercial purposes only.