Chapter 1An Introduction to Canadian Identity

Canadian Identity

• Canadian identity means different things to different people.

• Canada is very large (the 2nd largest country in the world) and its people are very diverse.

• This makes it hard to define Canadian Identity.

• There are several factors that influence the concept of national identity.

Factors of National Identity

1. Landscape – Rocky Mountains, Prairies

2. Climate – snow, cold

3. Community – Botwood

4. Region – Central Newfoundland

5. Province – Newfoundland6. Language – 2 official languages:

French and English7. Personal and collective history –

Canada formed on July 1st, 1867

8. PoliticiansFederal Leader – Stephen Harper – Prime MinisterFederal Representative – Scott Simms – MP (Member of House of Parliament for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor)

Provincial Leader – Kathy Dunderdale – PremierProvincial Representative – Clayton Forsey – MHA (Member of the House of Assembly for Exploits)

9. Heroes – Terry Fox, Wayne Gretzky, Frederick Banting (discovered insulin)

10. Government – Democracy, 5 main parties:

Progressive ConservativeLiberalNew DemocratsBloc QuebecoisGreen Party

11. Challenges – size, global warming12. Culture – Hockey, Maple Leaf flag,

“O Canada”13. Opportunities – You can be

anything you want to be

Activity

Complete the blank map of Canada by filling in the abbreviation for each province and territory and the location of the capital (indicated by a dot).

Terms to ConsiderHypothesis: an idea to be tested or a question to be answered

Ethnicity: cultural background

Petroglyphs: ancient rock carvings

Inuksuk: a stone structure built by the Inuit to resemble a human and mark important areas (ex. good hunting or fishing)Topographic Maps: Maps that show physical features like hills, rivers, etc.

Documentary Painting: provides a record of the times

Nationalism: A sense of pride and devotion to your country

Canadian IdentityCanadian identity can also be seen in the work of an artist. ArtMusicLiterature

Artists1. Aboriginal

(ancient times to present)

West Coast Indians – totem polesInuit – carvings from stone, bone, and antlerInnu – decorative beadworkMi’kmaq – paint and etch on birchbark

2. New France (1500’s) Paintings by priests who came to Canada from

France just to paint and returned to France when the painting was finished.

3. British North America (1600’s)Wealthy citizens paid

to have family portraits done.

Military officers drew the first topographic maps.

4. 1800’s to currentMost paintings of the last 200 years show landscapes. The most famous paintings were done by several artists called the Group of Seven.

There are several well known modern Canadian artists.• Maud Lewis• Alan Syliboy• David Blackwood• Shirley Bear• Alex Colville• Jack Humphrey

MusiciansGenre: type of music (rock, rap, etc.)

Stereotype: the false belief that an entire group of people have a certain characteristic (ex. Newfoundlanders are stupid)

“O Canada" was proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a well-known composer. The English lyrics (words) were written by Robert Stanley Weir.

Another well known Canadian song is “This Land is Your Land”. It was originally an American song. The words were adapted for Canada in 1955 by a group called The Travellers.

In 1979 the government created the Canadian Radio-television Commission (CRTC). The CRTC is designed to protect and promote Canadian culture. It ensures that there is some Canadian content on all local stations of radio and TV.

There have been many Canadian songs written and many successful Canadian musicians. Newfoundland is well known for a particular style of music that has an Irish background. The fiddle is a very common instrument used in this style of music.

Famous Canadian Musicians• Anne Murray• Bryan Adams• Alanis Morissette • Celine Dion• Avril Lavigne• The Guess Who• Great Big Sea• Nickelback• Neil Young• Drake

Music Stereotype

Styles of music are often associated with stereotypes.

• Rap – Crime

• Heavy Metal – Drugs

• Country – redneck

• Soul – Negro

AuthorsAuthors include people who write books and lyrics for songs. Canadian literature covers all literary genres.

Genres

Children’s Literature – stories for young Canadians

Ballads – poetic form of narrative writing

Fiction – stories about people and events that did not actually happen

Non-fiction – stories of real events and people

Biography – the life story of a real person

Famous Canadian Authors

David Booth

Farley Mowat

Margaret Atwood

Pierre Burton

Alice Munro

Cassie Brown

Kevin Major

Earl Pilgrim

Otto Tucker

Lucy Maud MontgomeryThe best known Atlantic Canadian author is Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is famous worldwide for the book Anne of Green Gables, which was first published in 1908. Not one of her novels has ever gone out of print. Her popularity has been helped by film and TV with the two series “The Road to Avonlea” and “Emily of New Moon” which are both based on books by Montgomery.

She was a resident of Prince Edward Island and the current # 2 industry there, in tourism, with Anne related items being the largest tourism draw and biggest moneymaker from tourism on the whole island. Montgomery is considered a cultural icon.

Cultural Icon: a person, object, or symbol that is easily recognized and has great importance to a cultural group.