Life in Early 1600s New France

The first settlements of New France began in the early 1600s, with French explorers and colonists seeking to establish a foothold in North America, primarily for trade, evangelization, and imperial expansion.

1605 Acadia

Port Royal in present day Nova Scotia was founded by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons and Samuel de Champlain.

The Acadians are known for their deeply rooted communal lifestyle. This way of life was built on cooperation, family ties, and mutual support—values that allowed them to thrive in often harsh and isolated conditions.

Families were large, with multiple generations often living under one roof or in close proximity. This setup fostered a strong sense of identity, security, and shared responsibility. Grandparents helped raise children, and older siblings took on caretaking roles for younger ones. Family lands and farms were passed down and worked collectively, ensuring continuity and survival from one generation to the next.

The French often sought out settlement in the early 1600s for fur trading and missionary work among the Mi’kmaq.

The Acadian lifestyle was also shaped by their Catholic faith, which served as both a spiritual foundation and a community anchor. The parish church was more than a religious site—it was a gathering place, school, and center of communication. Priests often acted as leaders and intermediaries, guiding not only religious observance but also moral and practical decisions.

1608 Quebec City

In the 1600s, life in Quebec was marked by hardship, resilience, and a strong sense of faith and community. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec was the heart of New France and quickly became a strategic and cultural center along the St. Lawrence River. Settlers faced a rugged climate, dense forests, and the constant challenge of survival in a new and untamed land.

17th-century Quebec revolved around agriculture, trade, religion, and family. The majority of settlers were farmers, known as habitants, who cultivated land granted to them by the seigneurs under the seigneurial system. These plots of land ran perpendicular to the river, allowing each family access to water. Farmers raised wheat, corn, peas, and livestock. The work was physically demanding—plowing fields by hand, chopping wood, and surviving the long winters.

Much like the Acadian communities homes were simple and utilitarian, built from logs or stone, with steep roofs to shed snow. Interiors were sparse, often consisting of a central hearth, rough wooden furniture, and icons of Catholic saints. Despite the modest conditions, homes were warm, filled with large families, and often shared with extended relatives or neighbors during the harsh months.

Quebec was a small, close-knit society, where neighbors relied on each other for help with planting, building, and defense. New arrivals, including soldiers, laborers, and eventually women sent by the King (known as the Filles du Roi), helped populate and stabilize the colony. Over time, as families grew, a unique French-Canadian identity began to take root.

The French relied heavily on alliances with First Nations such as the Algonquin, Huron-Wendat, and Innu. These relationships were centered on the fur trade, which was the backbone of the New France economy. Indigenous knowledge of the land, weather, and hunting made survival and exploration possible for the French. While these alliances brought mutual benefits, they were also complex and sometimes strained by warfare, especially with the Iroquois Confederacy.