Canadian Identity

Chapter 1 Expressions of Canadian Identity

Because Canada is so large and its people so diverse, it is difficult to define Canada’s identity.

Factors which influence the concept of national identity include : A.Place (landscapes & climate) B.Community, province or region C.Language, culture, ethnic background D.Personal & Collective histories E.Friends, leaders, heroes F.Government G.Opportunities and challenges

A Hypothesis is an idea to be tested or a question to be answered.

A. Artists Reflect Canadian Unity

To interpret visuals, we must consider several questions : 1.What do you see? Describe details. 2.Who is in the visual? What are the people doing? What’s happening ? 3.Where and when was the visual made? How can you tell? 4.Who made the visual? Why was the visual taken or done? 5.What emotions might the artist have been trying to create? 6.How are people dressed? 7.What feelings are being experienced (facial expressions)? 8.How are people or characters relating or interacting with each other? 9.Describe the buildings. (old vs. new etc…) 10.What technology is present? (what does it tell us about life at this time) 11.How does the geographic features affect human activity? Handout

View Picture “ A Meeting of the School Trustees” on page 4 and analyze it using handout questions. Discuss analysis of pic. Watch heritage minute clip

Media is a form of communication

First Nations use a variety of media to represent their culture and identity. Inuksuk is an Inuit stone structure built to resemble a human.

Petroglyphs are Ojibwa rock carvings that teach about spiritual beliefs.

Early French Canadian art was painted by priests though local artists created “folk art” or scenes of everyday life.

Early British military officers drew topographic maps which are maps which show surface areas of a region as well as documentary paintings which provide a record of the times

Canada’s beautiful and varied landscapes have always been a popular focus or theme for Canadian artists as helping to shape our Canadian identity.

In the early 1900’s a strong sense of nationalism or pride in one’s country was prevalent in Canada. Artists such as the “Group of Seven” painted bright vibrant paintings of Canada’s landscape.

Ultimately, the nature of a country is shaped by the people who live in it, explore it, map it and exploit it. Art provides modern-day Canadians with an opportunity to be the unseen observers of the people who have made Canada what it is today.

Landscapes It has been said that Canada is defined by its geography. Certainly its history has been heavily shaped and formed by the landscape and the waters that Europeans encountered upon their arrival here. As explorers, naturalists, mariners, merchants and settlers arrived on the shores of Atlantic Canada, they were confronted by what they saw as a hostile and dangerous environment and an unforgiving sea. As they voyaged further north, they were met by both icebergs and an extremely cold climate. The Atlantic coast, while offering an abundance of fish, whales, seals, and fowl, was not highly conducive to settlement, having little arable land. As Europeans moved further into the continent, especially through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and up the river, they learned of numerous waterways, including the Ottawa, Saguenay, St. Francis and Richelieu rivers, and the Great Lakes, which provided easy access to an entire continent of wonders. However, the barrier formed by the Canadian Shield discouraged settlement further north and limited the establishment of communities to the narrow strips of arable land along the shores of rivers and lakes. Handout :

B. Music Reflects Canadian Identity Genres means different types of music ( country, rock etc…) Like art, music can reflect a sense of Canadian identity

Stereotypes is the belief that an entire group of people have certain characteristics because of their religion, nationality, race, etc… Are stereotypes about Canadian identity reflected in some genres ?

In 1929, gov’t wanted Canadian content on Canadian airwaves – the Broadcasting Act ensured that the Canadian system was “Canadian in content and character” 1968 – the CRTC was established

1979 – the name was changed to Canadian Radio- television and Telecommunications Commission It was designed to : - protect & promote Canadian culture - offer info & entertainment from Canadian point- of-view - ensure radio and TV devote a specific % of time each day to Canadian content

Music ‘s Reflection of Canada : -Landscape (description, references, animals etc…) -People (How they act, their values, beliefs etc…) -Climate (Weather, seasons, temp, how it affects people & activities) -History (things that happened in the past, why, how they happened) -Challenges (how people faced and overcame/failed at challenges they faced, disasters, hardships, etc…) -Opportunities (what people did to survive, get ahead, make life better for themselves)

Listen to the song River Driver by Great Big Sea Students are to do the following on a sheet of loose- leaf and submit to the teacher: How do you feel the song has shown features of Canada through its lyrics?

"The River Driver" I was just the age of sixteen when I first went on the drive, After six months hard labor, at home I did arrive. I courted with a pretty girl, t'was her caused me to roam, Now I'm just a river driver and I'm far away from home. I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry, Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by, And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam, For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home.

I'll build a lonesome castle upon some mountain high, Where she can sit and view me as I go passing by Where she can sit and view me as I go marching on, For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home. I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry, Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by, And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam, For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home.

When I am old and feeble and in my sickness lie, Just wrap me up in a blanket and lay me down to die Just get a little bluebird to sing for me alone, For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home. I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry, Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by, And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam, For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home. I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry, Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by, And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam, For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home. For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home.

Listen to the 7 songs listed on page 11 and answer the following question s: 1. What types of Canadian identity do the songs reflect? 2. Is this sense of identity more provincial or national?

C. Writers Reflect Canadian Identity Canadian writers tell stories, recount events, persuade, report and describe many elements of Canadian identity through their works.

Ballads are a popular poetic form of narrative writing used to tell a story. They are usually sensational stories that grow out of real events and therefore provides an insight into our identity.

Watch the video clips : The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers

Narrative Writing begins by establishing a - setting (time and place) - main characters ( and sometimes minor characters) - plot ( event or series of events) - conflict - suspense - climax (where conflict is resolved)

Recount is another style of narrative which retells events in the order in which they occurred. Ex. : journals, histories

Assignment #2 Select a work of art from this chapter and write a narrative to tell a story that the piece suggests to you. or Find the complete text for one of the ballads found in chapter 1 and rewrite it in a narrative form. Ballads include : Cremation of Sam McGee, Chanson des Bois Brules, Peter Emberley, Northwest Passage, Cloud of Bone. Reach Out and Touch, and New Under the Sun. Narrative should be longer than 1 page.

Canadiana Exhibition Portfolio For each chapter, choose at least one person, group, item or event for an exhibition to showcase Canada. The person, group, item or event should make a significant contribution related to the focus of each chapter. Research your selection in more detail. You can present your portfolio on a display board or in digital form such as a slideshow or other presentation software etc…