🏛️ Chapter 3: Canada's History
Where does the name "Canada" come from?
Correct answer: The Iroquoian word kanata, meaning "village"
A A French word meaning "new land"
✓ The Iroquoian word kanata, meaning "village"
C The name of an Aboriginal chief
D A Viking word for "cold coast"
💡 Explanation
Jacques Cartier heard two captured guides use the Iroquoian word kanata, meaning "village". The name Canada began appearing on maps by the 1550s.
Key facts to remember
- Jacques Cartier made three Atlantic voyages, 1534–1542
- He claimed the land for King Francis I of France
- Kanata is an Iroquoian word meaning "village"
- The name Canada appeared on maps by the 1550s
Why this is the answer
From the official Discover Canada study guide — 3.1.3 Exploring a River, Naming Canada:
Jacques Cartier sailed across the Atlantic three times between 1534 and 1542. He claimed the land for King Francis I of France. Cartier had two captured guides with him. He heard them use the Iroquoian word kanata, which means "village." That word became the name for the whole region. By the 1550s, the name Canada was already being printed on maps of the area.
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