Which term describes children of First Nations women and European men who came to North America to explore and trade furs?

• A. York boats
• B. Metis
• C. Cree
• D. Canadiens

Answer: (B)

This question is about a group that emerged from mixed Indigenous and European descent during the fur trade era in North America. When European traders and explorers came to the land, many formed families with women from First Nations communities. Their children grew up with influences from both cultures, creating a distinct community known as the Métis. The Métis were important in the fur trade as intermediaries who understood both Indigenous ways of life and European trading practices. They developed their own communities, traditions, and even a blended language called Michif, reflecting this mixed heritage.

Other terms refer to different things: York boats are a type of trade boat, not a people; Cree is a First Nations nation; Canadiens refers to French Canadians.