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Which First Nations peoples lived in the Toronto region before European settlement?
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Toronto
An aerial view of Toronto's skyline with the CN Tower at center.
Prior to European settlement, the region now known as Toronto was inhabited by several First Nations peoples who utilized the area’s strategic waterways, including the Toronto Passage, for trade and travel.1
The following groups are noted in the history of the region:
- Huron (Wendat): By the early 17th century, the Toronto region was under the control of the Huron people. They maintained a significant presence in the area until their confederacy was dispersed following conflicts with the Iroquois in the mid-17th century.12
- Seneca: By the 1660s, the Seneca occupied two specific sites in the area: Teiaiagon, located at the mouth of the Humber River, and Ganatsekwyagon, near the mouth of the Rouge River.1
- Mississauga (Ojibwa): Following the departure of the Seneca, the Mississauga people occupied the Toronto region by the end of the 17th century. They remained in the area into the 18th century, eventually negotiating the sale of land for the future capital of Ontario with British authorities in 1787.1