Which term describes a Francophone descendant of the settlers of New France living anywhere in North America, including in the West?

• A. Cree
• B. Canadiens
• C. Metis
• D. Roman Catholic Missionaries

Answer: (B)

This term names people who are French-speaking descendants of the settlers from New France, and who lived across North America, not just in one region. The word Canadiens historically referred to those French-speaking inhabitants who carried the culture and language of New France wherever they settled, including later movement into the Western parts of the continent. That makes it the best fit for describing Francophone descendants of the settlers living anywhere in North America.

Cree is an Indigenous group with its own language and culture, not defined by descent from New France settlers. Metis refers to people of mixed Indigenous and European (often French) ancestry with a distinct cultural identity, especially in the Prairie region, so while many Métis are French-speaking, the term emphasizes mixed heritage rather than being a direct descendant of New France settlers across all of North America. Roman Catholic Missionaries are religious figures, not a demographic group related to ancestry or language.