Final answer:
American settlers were one of the first non-Canadian groups to take up homesteads on the prairies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first non-Canadian groups to take up homesteads on the prairies were American settlers. These settlers, both white Americans and African Americans, migrated west in search of opportunities, whether it be for farming, mining, or spreading Protestant ideals. They traveled in wagon trains along routes such as the Oregon Trail. European immigrants, particularly those from Northern Europe, also joined in this movement, settling in close-knit ethnic communities. Therefore, option 2) American settlers were one of the first non-Canadian groups to take up homesteads on the prairies.