By 1867 the Canadian Government dreamed of stretching the borders of Canada from sea to sea that included thousands of Prarie farmers and ranchers. In 1870 the population of the praries was only 50,000; in fact, the population of the natives had declined and few settlers lived outside of Red River (Winnipeg). In the early 1870's the Canadian government began to encourage settlement further west into the praries. The new laws passed provided generous land grants in helping newcomers. Men 18 years old could acquire 1 square km of land for only $10!
Among the earliest immigrants were the Mennonites and about 500 familes first moved to Manitoba. The Mennonites were forced out of Russia and invited to move west into Manitoba by the Canadian government. Canada wanted to bring in settlers that were expierenced farmers. The Mennonites wanted to leave Russia because of the persecution towards their way of life. Canadian government promised the Mennonites religious freedoms, language rights and their own schools. In 1874 7000 Mennonites arrived. As skillful farmers they brought money, resources and skills with them to the Praries. Other groups began to settle in the praires. About 2000 Icelanders moved to Manitoba. They were escaping poverty and a place with extreme environment with active volcanoes. Many other cultural groups follwed the Mennonites to the praries.
People who settled Western Canada often tended to live in distinct cultural communities. People in a cultural group share a common language, religion and way of life. Large areas of the west were settled by the following cultural groups: Ukranians, Germans, Finnish, Irish and etc. Many families settled in areas closer to those from the same cultural group. These people longed for fimilar faces, languages and communities.
Ukranin Canadians:Ukranians settled in the large numbers of Manitoba. The first Ukranian settlement began in 1896. Over the nex then years more than 31,000 Ukraninan settled on the praries. Most Ukraninans had been famrers in Europe and were comfortable working the soil. Canadian government recrutied Ukranains because they were expierenced farmers.
African Americans:
African-American families moved to the praries hoping to escape slavery. After slavery was made illegal in the United States many African Americans moved to the praries for a fresh start. The official policy of the Canadian government was to promote settlement and give land to white european settlers. A small number of families did become farmers in ranchers in communities in Alberta. The Canadian government limited the number of African Americans coming to Canada. 