Simplify the following text for a Grade 9 native English-speaking person.
Original: The Group of Eight ( G8 , and formerly the G6 or Group of Six ) is a forum , created by France in 1975 , for the governments of six major economies : France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the United Kingdom , and the United States .
Simplified: The Group of Eight ( G8 ) is a group made up of Canada , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Russia the United Kingdom and the United States .