What was a major demographic consequence of contact with Europeans for First Nations communities?

• A. High mortality rates due to lack of immunity, and loss of culture due to the death of many elders and knowledge keepers
• B. Rapid population growth
• C. Immediate improvements in health
• D. No significant change

Answer: (B)

When Europeans arrived, the most significant demographic effect on First Nations communities was a dramatic population decline caused by new diseases to which Indigenous peoples had no immunity. This sharp mortality, especially among children and elders, drastically reduced community sizes and disrupted social structures. As many elders—keepers of language, stories, and ceremonial knowledge—died, cultural transmission weakened, compounding the demographic impact. Rapid population growth, immediate health improvements, or no change don’t fit the historical pattern, which centers on decline and disruption rather than growth.