Natives came from west to settle,
Without compass, guns or metal.
On bridge of land did cross the Bering,
Glaciers melting, climate warming.
Then much later in the game,
Easterners from Europe came.
French and English crossed the land,
Navigation means in hand.
Hebrideans-natives made
Métis and the beaver trade.
Chinese came to work on tracks,
And mining coal they bent their backs.
Japanese brought fishing fleet,
Never more to west retreat.
Lost their boats in second war,
Forced inland from western shore.
Ukes and Russians, prairie land,
Broke the ground by ox and hand.
Blacks from U.S. north to here,
Greater freedom and no fear.
All came on foot, by boat or train.
Never more to leave again.
From jungles, deserts, island places,
Multi-coloured, smiling faces.
From oppression and from war,
Arriving at our friendly shore.
All are bound by tracks of steel,
John Macdonald made the deal.
Albert Reeve, Gibsons
