CANADIAN IDENTITY

Canadian

Nationalism

Quebecois Nationalism

First Nations Nationalism

Metis Nationalism

Canadian Identity and Nationalism

Canadian identity has historically, been very hard to define.

If you ask “Us” what makes us Canadian, most Canadians will say because I am Canadian… or say, I am not America.

We are good at telling people what Canadians “are not”, but we are not good at defining our identity.

“I am Canadian”

The Railway and Canadian National Identity

Many people died to make the CPR. Most were immigrants and there

were no labor laws back then, so you can imagine the working conditions.

How is the CPR a Canadian symbol? Is it a “Canadian” symbol if it was

built on the backs of immigrants? “The Canadian Railroad Trilogy” p. 76 Canadian Heritage Moment

Canadian Nationalism

Much of Canada’s history has been framed by being one of Britain’s colonies.

Beyond the CPR, Vimy Ridge, the Conscription crises and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are also pivotal events in the minds of Canadians as defining “our” coming of age.

Vimy Ridge Pierre Trudeau- The Greatest

Canadian

How has Canadian nationalism changed?

“Our” nationalism used to be framed by our the country’s British history.

However, it is now recognized that there are many other groups of people that helped create this country, both before and since confederation.

Metis and First Nations Nationalism

The White Paper This was a proposal by PM Trudeau

and his Minister Jean Chretien to create a “just society”. It called for the end of treaty rights, reserves, and resource rights.

This would make aboriginal peoples have the same status and rights as other people.

How do you think the First Nations peoples reacted to this?

Métis and First Nations Nationalism

They were outraged. The First Nations peoples wanted to

maintain their equal, but different status, and wanted to be able to seek self-determination and self-governance.

As a result, changes were made and ultimately resulted in First Nations and Métis peoples being recognized as a distinct collective of people in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Quebecois Nationalism After years of wars between the

French and English, the English ultimately won the “rights” to British North America, or Canada.

Up to that point, the dominant culture in Quebec had been French.

Since then, Quebec has fought to maintain their Francophone culture in a dominantly Anglophone nation.

As a group, Francophones are another collective in Canadian society that are recognized as distinct in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

What are competing (contending) nationalist

loyalties? How do you decide where your loyalties lie?

There are often different celebrations for different cultures. How do those celebrations work within the ideas of nationalism?

National Aboriginal Day parade Fete National parade Chinese New Year parade Edmonton Caribbean Arts Festival

parade All of these are celebrated in

Canada, but are they Canadian?

Cultural Pluralism

Cultural pluralism- people from many nations living together. Respect for cultural differences Ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups live

together in harmony

Canada is a multicultural nation and sometimes this combination of cultures leads to conflict of loyalty.

American Nationalism Unlike Canada, the USA seems to

have little trouble defining its nationalism

The USA was born out of a revolution against British control

Unlike Canada, the United States was born with a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution

As well, unlike the multicultural nature of Canada, the United States is understood to be a Melting Pot

American Nationalism Although the United States is a

Melting Pot and expects a certain amount of assimilation to sustain their nationalism, it does not mean that there are not conflicting ideas.

Civil War: 1861-1865 Slavery divided the North and South and

resulted in years of war and death There are still lingering tensions today

America Dream The idea that if you come to America,

anyone can make it

Competing Nationalist Loyalties

When immigrants come to this country they are have a right to maintain their culture and beliefs.

Canada makes this work through ACCOMMODATION

Canadian public institutions adapt to the religious and cultural practices of minorities. Ex. Sikhs wearing turbans in the RCMP Ex. Wearing a hijab in sports July 1 in Newfoundland- bloodiest day in

Newfoundland history (WWI)

Quebecois loyalties There has long been conflict between

French and English in Canada In 1995 there was a referendum for

Quebec to decide whether or not they should separate from the country

50.52% decided they should stay In 2006 that number rose to 58% CBC News in Review- The Referendum

Of course there are two sides to every story Sovereigntists support separation because

they want Quebec to be an independent nation (sovereign)

Federalists want Quebec to remain a part of the Canadian confederation.

First Nations Contending Loyalties

Although the Canadian government currently has a policy of accommodation, it has not always been that way

Previously, the government tried to ASSIMILATE cultures, especially the First Nations peoples.

They used various methods; most notably residential schools. They also used the reserve system to SEGREGATE the First Nations population.

First Nations Contending Loyalties

In 1990, there was a land dispute between a group of Mohawks and a group who wanted to expand a golf course onto Mohawk land.

This is known as the OKA CRISIS because of its location near Oka, Quebec.

At first, the Mohawk group set up a road block, but as the Quebec provincial police were sent in it turned violent.

Eventually more than 2500 Canadian soldiers were brought in.

The protest started on July 11, and ended on September 26.

CBC news report

First Nations Contending Loyalties

After the Oka Crisis, the Canadian government set out to avoid a similar situation from happening again.

At the heart of this commission was the idea that the relationship between First Nations peoples and the people of Canada should be based on mutual recognition, respect, sharing, and responsibility.

The government formally apologized for the wrongdoings of the past.

First Nations peoples reacted differently to this statement- some say it as empty words, others felt it was a positive step.

First Nations and the Meech Lake Accord

Non-Nationalist Loyalties

Nationalist loyalties might be when two nationalities with which you identify come into conflict

Non-nationalist loyalties are those feelings you have about different issues that are not tied to your nationality .

Ex. religion, culture, class, ethnic, region

Non-Nationalist Loyalties Your non-nationalist loyalties may

come into play when the idea of your nation, goes against an issue of personal interest. Ex. Winnipeg General Strike

Unions are groups that bargain on the part of workers.

They have not always been legal or favored in Canada

In 1919, workers in Winnipeg that wanted to unionize went on strike

Unfortunately it did not end peacefully and did not further the cause of unions

However, this is an example of non-nationalist loyalties because even though the strike was illegal, the people fought for what they believed in.

Religion and Region Ireland- Catholics and Protestants

In Ireland Catholics and Protestants fought for their respective religious freedom for years.

It was often bloody and brutal This is a non-nationalist loyalty because

government policies conflicted with people’s religious beliefs

The National Energy Program In 1980, PM Pierre Trudeau introduced a program

to protect Canadians from rising world oil priced Albertans were concerned that this would harm

their economy and many lost their jobs Eventually a truce was made between the Alberta

and Canadian governments to give more power over royalties to Alberta.

This is a non-nationalist loyalty because one part of the country was in conflict with the federal government.

Case Study: Oil Sands Many people are needed to process the

oil This caused a huge influx (growth) in

population to the Fort McMurray area This caused a huge increase in housing

costs which left many people unable to afford housing

How might this be an issue of contending loyalties?

Developing the oil sands causes huge devastation to the environment

How might THIS be an issue of contending loyalties?

Dealing with loyalties

Over the years, various governments have had different policies to deal with contending loyalties.

Accommodation and assimilation have already been discussed.

Segregation is one way a government deals with people they don’t agree with

African Americans in USA

Other contending loyalties War

Conscientious Objectors in WWI/WWII Hutterites, Mennonites and Doukhobors have pacifist

beliefs and although the government of Canada did not force them to fight, they faced questions from the population as to their loyalty to Canada

Conscientious objectors in Vietnam Draft dodgers moved to Canada to avoid going to war Illegal Can’t go back to the US

Post- 9/11 racial profiling People with similar names may be arrested or detained Wrongfully put in jail