Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada in terms of size and population. In 1864, Prince Edward Island hosted the Charlottetown Conference, which led to Canada's Confederation in 1867. Nevertheless, it did not become a Canadian province until 1873. The Mi'kmaq named Epekwitk Island, which means "cradle on the waves" in their language. It was renamed Isle Saint-Jean around the 17th century, when it was part of New France. Surrendered to the United Kingdom in 1759, it was renamed Prince Edward Island in 1798 to distinguish it from other places of the same name on the Atlantic coast. Its inhabitants simply call it "the island" but it is also known as the "Gulf Garden", the "million hectare farm", the "cradle of Confederation" or the "potato island". The island was first inhabited about 10,000 years ago.