Essay On Canadian Identity

Unique traditions, language, beliefs and values all comprise Indigenous culture. It is critical that a meaningful appreciation of their culture

In the essay itself, Miyagawa goes on to humorously point out some of the stereotypical

One of the most contentious issues in Canada's history is that of the Metis. Some people feel this unique group of people does not deserve any sort of recognition, whereas others believe their unique history and culture is something to be recognized and cherished. The history of the Metis people is filled with struggle; not only struggles against other powers, but also a struggle for self-identification. Despite strong opposition, the Metis people of Canada have matured as a political force and have taken great strides towards being recognized as a unique people.

The impact of colonization on First Nations peoples in Canada is unsurpassable, regarding every aspect of Aboriginal life and well-being. Throughout Canadian history, the government has been aiming to assimilate and annihilate Aboriginal people by way of racist policies, ethnocentric institutions, discriminatory laws and destructive capitalist behaviours. Because of this, Aboriginal people have suffered many losses, both physically and culturally. One of the main perpetrators of enacting this loss is the education system. The education system in Canada has and continues to threaten the relationship First Nations peoples have with the land. The connection First Nations peoples have with the land is crucial to their cultures, traditions, ceremonies and beliefs. Colonization and colonialism jeopardize this relationship and that is what this essay will address.

Chelsea Vowel's book "The Myth of Progress" (2016), explains that Canada has a long way to go to overcome the harmful and prevalent stereotypes about Indigenous people. The author supports this argument by discussing how the portrayal of Indigenous peoples in Canadian media has hardly changed over the last 200 years. Based on the language and subject matter, it's clear that the intended audience of this piece is Canadians both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Identity is a complex topic for Canadians. How can we define ourselves as a nation if individually we are all different? The country of Canada became united under one flag and one anthem in 1867. Today, separatists like Douglas Christie and Tom Best have a hard time connected with the anthem, our countries means of unity. In the documentary ‘Disunited Sates of Canada’ Douglas Christie speaks to the comparison of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ to ‘O Canada.’ He says that when he hears American’s sing there anthem he feels passion behind it and it leaves goosebumps under his skin. Yet, when he sings or hears the Canadian anthem he does not feel confident in his nation. This statement touches on an emotion felt by many Canadian citizens today, including myself.

Canada is a nation built on immigration, and as the world becomes an ever increasingly hostile place more and more have chosen to try and make Canada their home. This melting pot of different cultures has created an overall atmosphere of acceptance, and is teaching younger generations a sense of community, empathy, and togetherness. Sharing our space and learning to grow with different ethnicities has perpetuated our status as a friendly, caring, and loyal nation, that many are willing to risk everything for in exchange for becoming a part of it.

Prior to the celebrations of Canada’s 150th birthday, and the protests against it, called Resistance 150, there was not much media coverage on the cultural genocide of the indigenous people in Canada. Resistance 150 opened up a conversation and increased media coverage about the issues of Canada’s dark past.

In this research paper, I will be explaining how western colonialism and racism destroyed the reputation of aboriginal peoples in Canada. The reason why I chose this topic because it shows the strong relationship to anthropology and after taking aboriginal studies 30, it also shows that I have a clear understanding about the history of aboriginal peoples in Canada, the struggles they have been through over the past decade and the challenges they still face today in modern day society. I’ll be addressing these issues in a couple of paragraphs on the discrimination and the inequalities of these “minorities” and how they had to assimilate into European culture, leaving their way of life behind them.

Jocelyn Letourneau’s is a history professor that wrote the essay “Reconstructing the Canadian Identity”. The author argues that if one compares the Harper government's idea of conservatism against Trudeau’s idea of multiculturalism, the reader can infer that multiculturalism is failing and Canada should go back to its monarch roots. By bringing back symbols of monarchy, a new Canadian perspective would form. Letourneau’s essay is structured in a very well and composed matter. His arguments and connections are structured in proper format where his whole essay can be linked and understood easily by the average individual. Although Letourneau’s essay is structured in a proper format, it is without its faults. The essay contains many fallacies that give his arguments a weak perspective on the topic. Also throughout his essay, the author appears to be taking a side within his argument. His bias viewpoint makes himself, and his work uncredible to the reader.

Nationalism is an important aspect of national pride and identity for countries around the world. For example, Canada takes pride in its cultural identity, one that is claimed to be different from other ‘Western’ more ‘industrialized’ nations, such as countries in Europe, and the United States. Even though Canada currently has a national identity that differs greatly from that of other more established countries, history has dictated the way in which a particular national identity exists today. In Canada, Samuel De Champlain and the French established colonies that created a cultural clash between the French Europeans, and First-Nations Canadians within the country. However, this notion of French Canadian Nationalism isn’t necessarily embraced by all of the Canadian Population. This paper seeks to analyze important pieces of Canadian History that have contributed to a broken concept of what constitutes Canadian nationalism, with an emphasis on how historic events prevent and affect coherent Canadian Nationalism in modern society. Through the analysis of the notions and histories associated with ‘First-Nations Nationalism’, ‘Quebecois Nationalism’, and a broader ‘Anti-American’ identity embraced by many Canadians, this paper seeks to locate common ground within the culturally diverse Canadian population in order to progress toward a singular coherent

One of the most contentious issues in Canada’s history is that of the Metis. Some people feel this unique group of people does not deserve any sort of recognition, whereas others believe their unique history and culture is something to be recognized and cherished. The history of the Metis people is filled with struggle; not only struggles against other powers, but also a struggle for self-identification. Despite strong opposition, the Metis people of Canada have matured as a political force and have taken great strides towards being recognized as a unique people.

Becoming a Canadian citizen could be a vast change for refugees or just immigrants as well. It could be a positive change or a negative change or, it could effect them in both ways. For people that may have been escaping from a country that is intervening in war or on the brink of war, it may be a very positive change because they aren't on their feet all the time and aren't concerned wether a bomb is going to be dropped or if soldiers will burst through their doors at any given moment. For evacuees becoming a Canadian citizen might mean insuring their safety especially for those whom have kids. It’s exactly like a paradox for them that in one part of the world it could be this safe and in another its completely the contrary. Becoming a citizen of a peace keeping country instead of a country in war could impact your collective identity very much. Your collective identity as a Canadian citizen means you would be known for things different of what you would've been known for before.

During the interwar years, various events contributed a more unified Canadian identity. No matter it is politically, socially or economically. In the King- Byng crisis, people drew attention to the governor general’s role in Canada politics. During the Winnipeg General Strike, the union fight for their own right is a key part of our shared Canadian Identity. The Great Depression helped solidify different regional identities.

The adventure to University of British Columbia, Museum of Anthropology was a memorable trip in my life since I immigrated to Canada five years ago. Since my arrival I had never known that they were aboriginal people residing in Canada. The aboriginal will feel a sense of identity when their land and artifacts are recognized since the time of colonization