Before the coming of the first European settlers, Canada's aboriginal peoples had discovered the food properties of maple sap, which they gathered every spring. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700. In 1957, the colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red, one of Canada's official colours. On February 15, 1965, the red maple leaf flag was inaugurated as the National Flag of Canada.