{"id":20,"date":"2015-03-27T12:49:59","date_gmt":"2015-03-27T19:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/?page_id=20"},"modified":"2015-04-18T15:24:19","modified_gmt":"2015-04-18T22:24:19","slug":"annotated-bibliography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/annotated-bibliography\/","title":{"rendered":"Annotated Bibliography"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Orenda<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Boyden, Joseph. The Orenda. Toronto: Penguin Group, 2013.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Orenda<\/em> was listed by CBC Books<\/a> as the best selling book in March 2014. The novel was written by Joseph Boyden, a Canadian author of Irish, Scottish, and Anishinaabe<\/a> descent. The Orenda<\/em> is a historical novel, set in 17th century Canada (or rather, what was to become Canada), and is narrated by a Huron<\/a> warrior named Bird, a young Iroquois<\/a> girl named Snow Falls, and a French Jesuit missionary named Christophe.<\/p>\n

In a review of the novel, Quill and Quire<\/a> commended the tales “juxtaposition of belief systems at the birth of the nation we now call Canada”. Through its narration The Orenda<\/em> represents both sides of the struggle between the First Nations and the colonizers, and the lack of understanding between cultures that lead to violence and genocide. However, there have been some criticism for the novel as well. First Nations scholar, and of Anishinaabe descent himself, Hayden King<\/a> claims that Boyden’s novel “reinforces who and what Canadian’s believe they are”, calling\u00a0The Orenda<\/em>\u00a0a “comforting narrative for Canadians about the emergence of Canada: Indian savages, do-good Jesuits and the inevitability (even desirability) of colonization.”<\/p>\n

The novel also won a number of notable awards, including the 2013 Governor General’s Award<\/a> for English fiction and won the 2014 Canada Reads<\/a> competition. While this was a novel buried in the midst of a long list of dystopian teen fiction, I was happily surprised to find it at the top of the best seller list, and having won several awards. Through authors such as Joseph Boyden, the topic of the origin of Canada, and the people who lived here before the Anglo-Franco colonization, has entered the realm of contemporary literature. The fact that it has gained both positive and negative reviews only helps strengthen the effect of the long overdue dialogue regarding the silent voices the make up Canada.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by: Charlotte Hodgson<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/p>\n

“Anishinaabe”.\u00a0Anishinaabe<\/em>. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Web. 29 March 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.anishinaabemdaa.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

“Canada Reads 2014: The Final.\u00a0CBC Radio-Canada<\/em>. Web. 29 March 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/books\/canadareads\/2014\/03\/watch-canada-reads-2014-the-final.html<\/a><\/p>\n

“CBC Books”. CBC Radio-Canada<\/em>. Web. 29 March 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/books\/bestsellers\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Dunn, William and West, Linda. “Huron”.\u00a0Canada: A Country by Consent<\/span>. Ottawa: Artistic Productions Limited. 2011. Web. 29 March 2015. http:\/\/canadahistoryproject.ca\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n

“Iroquois”.\u00a0Canada History<\/em>. Access HT, 2013. Web. 29 March 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.canadahistory.com\/sections\/eras\/newfrance\/theiroquois.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

“Joseph Boyden, Austin Clarke up for Governor General’s lit awards”.\u00a0CBC Radio-Canada<\/em>. Web. 29 March 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/arts\/joseph-boyden-austin-clarke-up-for-governor-general-s-lit-awards-1.1875928<\/a><\/p>\n

King, Hayden. “The Orenda faces tough criticism from First Nations scholar”.\u00a0CBC Radio-Canada<\/em>. Web. 29 March 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/aboriginal\/the-orenda-faces-tough-criticism-from-first-nations-scholar-1.2562786<\/a><\/p>\n

“The Orenda”.\u00a0Quill and Quire<\/em>. Web. March 29, 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.quillandquire.com\/review\/the-orenda\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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Three Day Road<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Boyden, Joseph. Three Day Road<\/em>. Penguin Canada, 2006.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Three Day Road<\/em><\/a>\u00a0was the first novel written by Canadian novelist and short story writer Joseph Boyden<\/a>. \u00a0The novel is set at the end of the First World War, in 1919. \u00a0Three Day Road<\/em>\u00a0is separated into two perspectives: the first is that of Xavier, a young Cree man who is returning home from his tour of duty over seas; and the second is that of Niska, an Oji-Cree<\/a> medicine woman. \u00a0Niska is the only surviving member of her family that had refused to assimilate, and lives her life in the busy in Northern Ontario – where she lives off the land as her traditions had taught her. \u00a0When she gets word that Xavier will be arriving back in Canada from his duties in the war, she makes the three day journey of paddling to retrieve him. \u00a0Once she has retrieved him, they embark on their three day journey back to the bush where Niska lives. \u00a0It is on this journey that the two perspectives go back and fourth with dialogue. \u00a0It becomes quickly apparent that Xavier has been through a horrible experience at war, as the three day journey forces him to confront the morphine addiction he has acquired due to physical and mental hardships. \u00a0Their dialogue goes back and forth over the three day road with Niska telling stories of their past and heritage in an attempt to revive Xavier’s soul; as well as Xavier telling stories of war in an attempt to begin to confront the demon’s he has faced.<\/p>\n

As our group is clearly diving into the ‘Us vs. Them’ theme, I found this book to be very much entrenched in this theme. \u00a0It is the life of Niska, and her refusal to assimilate to the European colonizers ways, that brings to life the ‘Them’ side of the dichotomy. \u00a0Xavier was initially completely entrenched in the ‘Them’ side of the dichotomy, as he had learned everything he knew about hunting from his aunt (Niska); but, due to the war, Xavier was forcefully thrown across the border of the dichotomy, which clearly had soul-sucking side effects. \u00a0In this story, I do not feel that the two sides of the ‘Us vs. Them’ theme ever had much contact, rather they stayed indefinitely separated, and this is what caused Xavier to be pulled from his roots – but also what ultimately helped Xavier’s cause through curing him of his physical and mental wounds.<\/p>\n

As a side note to this story referring directly to our ‘Us vs. Them’ theme, I just wanted to point out a quote I saw in a review<\/a> of the book that relates very well to our course. \u00a0At one point in the book, on their three day journey back to Northern Ontario, Niska says there is ‘medicine in the tale’, and this is what will ultimately cure Xavier. \u00a0I just wanted to share this quote with everyone simply due to the fact that it directly relates to our class. \u00a0To me this quote means that in order to fix the mess we ultimately created for ourselves, we must refer to past and current Canadian literature to cure what we may not be able to otherwise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by: Devon Smith<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited:<\/p>\n

Boyden, Joseph. Three Day Road<\/em>. Penguin Canada, 2006.<\/p>\n

Gerk, Carolyn. ‘Book Review: Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. The VAULT Magazine,\u00a0<\/i>n.d. Web. April 2, 2015. <http:\/\/www.thevaultmag.com\/archives\/701><\/p>\n

Harvey, Alban. ‘Joseph Boyden’.\u00a0Historica Canada, 2009<\/em>. Web. April 2, 2015. <http:\/\/www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca\/en\/article\/joseph-boyden\/><\/p>\n

‘Oji-Cree’.\u00a0Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.\u00a0<\/em>Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. March 20, 2015. Web. April 2, 2015. <http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oji-Cree><\/p>\n

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Representing the Inuit in Contemporary British and Canadian Juvenile Non-Fiction<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

David, Robert G. “Representing the Inuit in Contemporary British and Canadian Juvenile Non-Fiction.” Children’s Literature in Education 32.2 (2001): 139-54.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In his article “Representing the Inuit in Contemporary British and Canadian Juvenile Non-Fiction”, Robert G. David tackles the problem of propagating old stereotypes of the Inuit in children’s non-fiction literature. Robert G. David has published a number of articles on the people of the Arctic as well as a book titled The Arctic in the British Imagination 1818-1914<\/em><\/a>. In ”Representing the Inuit” David notes that “The Canadian Inuit are regularly represented in both British and Canadian books as if they are hardly a part of the Canadian nation”, referring to the stereotypes that place the Inuit in seal skin clothing, living in igloos, and isolated from the rest of the nation by a vast barren wasteland. He also addresses the notion that interest in the Arctic is primarily focused on the “exploration” of the land by Europeans; the “focus on non-native expeditions suggests that the indigenous people are not seen as having any contribution to make to either the exploration or the development of the north”.<\/p>\n

David refers to many children’s books that perpetuate misrepresentations of those who make their lives up North. My<\/em> First Picture Dictionary<\/em> (1995), My First World Atlas<\/em> (1995), and Kingfisher First Picture Atlas<\/em> (1994) are among those who either depict images of igloos and traditional fur clothing, or omit images of the people of the Arctic altogether. David goes on to explain that the Inuit only make up o.14% of the total population in Canada, with 10% of Inuit people living in major cities, and that most Canadian Arctic communities contain between 5-10% non-Inuit population. These facts are largely ignored, especially in children’s literature when a cartoon image of an Inuit man eating ice cream is used in place of modern-day representations of the Canadian Arctic.<\/p>\n

What is great about this article is that it concludes by offering suggestions and examples of how these stereotypes can be corrected. It argues that ideally through a collaboration between native and non-native authors books need to address the perspective of the native population, not the Southern Canadian view of the North. It demands that native people should not be excluded from their history, and publishers need to rethink their priorities, including into their picture books modern images of native and non-native people in non-traditional jobs to represent the Arctic. A representation of the North, balancing the traditional<\/a> with the new<\/a>, is necessary in order for these stereotypes to becomes a thing of the past.<\/p>\n

One quote I love from this article expresses beautifully the fear that many people carry with them, making these changes all the more difficult; “Representing native people, with all the balances enumerated above, may make uncomfortable reading as the divide between reality and imagination has grown so vast”. However, an uncomfortable read might be exactly what is needed before we become comfortable with a change in literature that breaks down the divide between “Us” and “Them”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by: Charlotte Hodgson<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/p>\n

David, Robert G. “Representing the Inuit in Contemporary British and Canadian Juvenile Non-Fiction.” Children’s Literature in Education 32.2 (2001): 139-54.<\/p>\n

“Inuit and the Europeans”. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.<\/em>\u00a0Web. 1 April 2015.\u00a0https:\/\/www.itk.ca\/about-inuit\/inuit-and-europeans<\/a><\/p>\n

“Inuit Today”.\u00a0Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.<\/em>\u00a0Web. 1 April 2015.\u00a0https:\/\/www.itk.ca\/about-inuit\/inuit-today<\/a><\/p>\n

Potter, Russell A. “The Arctic in the British Imagination, 1818-1914”. Rhode Island College. Web. 1 April 2015.\u00a0http:\/\/www.ric.edu\/faculty\/rpotter\/robdavid.html<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Role of Multiculturalism Policy in Addressing Social Inclusion Processes in Canada<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hyman, I., Meinhard, A., and Shields, J. The Role of Multiculturalism Policy in Addressing Social Inclusion Processes in Canada. Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario. 2011.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This paper was written in 2011, just prior to the 40 year anniversary of the Canadian Multiculturalism Policy of 1971<\/a>. \u00a0The papers focus is to look into the ‘role multiculturalism policy plays in creating a more inclusionary society in the twenty-first century in Canada’ (Hyman\u00a0et al.,<\/em> 2011<\/a>). \u00a0Before they dig into the focus of the paper, they outline several terms we have become familiar with throughout the term, such as: multiculturalism, integration, social exclusion, \u00a0and social inclusion. \u00a0It is terms such as these that bring to mind the ‘Us vs. Them’ dichotomy, and our hope that the social exclusion of the past will hopefully become social inclusion in contemporary times. \u00a0Although the Canadian Multiculturalism Policy of 1971 was not solely directed towards Aboriginal people, but rather to multiculturalism in general, it did confirm their rights. \u00a0One term that came up in the paper several times was ‘mutual identification’ – I rather liked this term due to the fact that I believe we can keep our heritage and traditions strong, while still growing together as a nation. \u00a0I know some feel that they must identify as solely Aboriginal, but I feel that it is important to realize that there can be this ‘mutual identification’ they talk about (i.e. identifying as BOTH an Aboriginal AND a Canadian). \u00a0This does not mean you assimilate to a more contemporary lifestyle and leave your heritage and traditions in the past, rather you keep the heritage and traditions growing with you.<\/p>\n

Although this paper was directed more towards general multiculturalism within Canada, rather than directly at Aboriginal inclusion\/exclusion, I believe it makes strong points towards the ‘Us vs. Them’ dichotomy by examining the nuances of contemporary multiculturalism policy. \u00a0I strongly believe that in having a country such as Canada (which some may call a melting pot<\/a>), the term ‘mutual identification’ can go a very long way in allowing the ‘Us vs Them’ debate to become a much more homogenous and inclusionary condition (while still allowing individuals to connect and associate with the heterogenous past of everyone). I believe that the term ‘mutual identification’ could potentially be the direction Canada needs to go in order to create a sound environment for patching the past and paving the future.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by: Devon Smith<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/p>\n

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. ‘Canadian Multiculturalism Policy, 1971. 2015. Web. April 3, 2015. <http:\/\/www.pier21.ca\/research\/immigration-history\/canadian-multiculturalism-policy-1971><\/p>\n

Hyman, I., Meinhard, A., and Shields, J. The Role of Multiculturalism Policy in Addressing Social Inclusion Processes in Canada. Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario. 2011.<\/p>\n

‘Melting Pot’.\u00a0Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.\u00a0<\/em>Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. March 20, 2015. Web. April 3, 2015. <http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Melting_pot><\/p>\n

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Expect Expectations: Reading “Ethnic” Literature Through a Multicultural Lens<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jiwa, Fazeela. “Expect Expectations: Reading \u201cEthnic\u201d Literature Through a Multicultural Lens.” Plenitude: Your Queer Arts and Literature Magazine<\/i>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fazeela Jiwa, an educator, researcher and writer living in Canada wrote a piece for an online publication called Plenitude Magazine. Jiwa\u2019s article \u201cExpect Expectations: Reading \u201cEthnic\u201d Literature Through a Multicultural Lens\u201d provides some interesting insights into the current state of Canadian multiculturalism and its manifestations in Canadian literature. As many of us have discussed time and time again, Canada has gained an international multicultural image and much admiration for this image as a result of the institutionalized, \u201cTrudeau-era\u201d multicultural policies. Our group\u2019s research interests hinge largely on exploring the notion of the \u201cus versus them\u201d dichotomy in Canadian literature and history, as well as the notion of Canada as a \u201cmosaic\u201d. Jiwa, too, seems interested in discussing (and contesting) this idea of Canada as a \u201cmosaic\u201d as opposed to a \u201cmelting pot\u201d<\/a>. Jiwa elaborates on the idea of the melting pot, stating that countries such as the USA \u201cseek to assimilate the distinct cultures of immigrants into a homogenous national identity\u201d and Canada, in contrast, has been famously depicted as more \u201cprogressive\u201d, especially since the implementation of the Multiculturalism Act of 1988<\/a> and such state-sponsored attempts to be more inclusive and accommodating of its diversity.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, our research focuses, in large part, on the narratives in Canadian literature and we are interested in uncovering whose voices are not being heard. Jiwa suggests that, despite being seemingly inclusive, Canadian literature and Canadian \u201cmulticulturalism\u201d is situated within a framework that limits the subjectivities of the non-white\/non-dominant Canadian identity; in other words, the Other. The primary concern being put forth by Fazeela Jiwa is that literature written by racialized peoples within Canada is essentialized as \u201cethnic writing\u201d that underscores ethnic difference, constricts entire communities to static conceptions and stereotypes, fails to account for the complex experiences of individual racialized peoples, and furthermore maintains dominant white ideologies as the norm.Jiwa worries that \u201cheterogeneous, dynamic groups are reduced to fixed stereotypes, while essentialist constructions of what it means to be \u201cethnic\u201d (read: exotic Other) are reinforced\u201d. The author\u2019s argues that despite the institutionalized multiculturalism within Canada, ethnic identities remain the \u201cOther<\/a>\u201d in mainstream Canadian literature.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by Shamina Kallu<\/em><\/p>\n

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Works Cited<\/p>\n

“Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.” Canadian Multiculturalism Act, 1988<\/i>. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <http:\/\/www.pier21.ca\/research\/immigration-history\/canadian-multiculturalism-act-1988>.<\/div>\n
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“\u201cCWILA and the Challenge of Counting for Race.\u201d Panel…” CWILA Canadian Women In The Literary Arts<\/i>. 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <http:\/\/cwila.com\/cwila-and-the-challenge-of-counting-for-race-panel-discussion-at-the-institute-for-gender-race-sexuality-and-social-justice-grsj-university-of-british-columbia-vancouver-bc-march-19-2\/>.<\/div>\n

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Jiwa, Fazeela. “Expect Expectations: Reading \u201cEthnic\u201d Literature Through a Multicultural Lens.” Plenitude: Your Queer Arts and Literature Magazine<\/i>. 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <http:\/\/plenitudemagazine.ca\/expect-expectations-reading-ethnic-literature-through-a-multicultural-lens\/>.<\/p>\n

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“Roundtable.” Borderlands Transnationalism and Migration in North America<\/i>. 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <https:\/\/borderlandsworkshop.wordpress.com\/roundtable-discussion\/>.<\/div>\n

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Is Canada Post-Colonial?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Moss, Laura, ed. Is Canada postcolonial?: unsettling Canadian literature<\/i>. \u00a0Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 2003.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In an edited anthology of 23 essays from varying authors, Laura Moss<\/a> explores the ongoing struggle of culture and identity within Canadian literature. Moss, a professor here at our very own university, has brought together twenty-three excellent essays in an attempt to display the ways in which Canadian writers and critics theorize the recurrent issue of postcolonialism in Canadian literature.<\/p>\n

Throughout this course, we have explored the concept of the \u201cOther\u201d or the \u201cus versus them\u201d mentality that colonialism has entrenched, historically, within Canadian society. Today, Canada has gained a national image that emphasizes its \u201cmulticulturalism<\/a>\u201d and its diverse population has earned it a \u201ccultural mosaic\u201d title that is proudly embraced and emphasized on a national and international level. Moss\u2019 edited collection asks, however, an important question that contests this picture of Canada; where exactly is present-day Canadian literature situated in the debate surrounding culture, identity and the dichotomous \u201cus versus them\u201d foundation that has come to the fore of Canadian literature and history time and time again? Moss\u2019 edited collection includes essays that both suggest Canadian literature has made strides in challenging the colonial centrality that has permeated Canadian literature, while others challenge this notion and suggest, instead, that the diversity in Canada\u2019s population is not adequately represented and, furthermore, that a core and periphery relationship between the Us and Them remains heavily in-tact.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, a theme is evidently prevalent among many of the essays and articulated well by Diana Brydon in her piece \u201cCanada and Postcolonialism: Questions, Interventions, Futures\u201d. How can we decolonize the narratives in Canadian literature? Brydon suggests that we need to move \u201cbeyond a politics of representation towards a politics of accountability\u201d if we wish to do so (51). Stephan Slemon suggests that the strength of the edited anthology is in its representation of a multiplicity of ethnic and cultural voices<\/a> within a Canadian context and represents, in large part, the critical notion underlying the rejection of the question posed by Moss. Interestingly, however, Indigenous voices are glaringly absent from the edited collection of essays (except when being discussed from another\u2019s viewpoint) and, furthermore, despite the diversity of voices in Canadian society and the platforms that are available to bring these voices to the fore, Moss\u2019 collection of essays brings up the need for critical self-reflection, especially in western academic discourses. To what extent has Canadian literature been decolonized? While the collection does not provide a specific \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d answer, it gives us much to consider. Is representation enough to decolonize Canadian literature? What might scholars like Brydon mean by the necessity of \u201caccountability\u201d in the process of decolonizing narratives?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by Shamina Kallu<\/em><\/p>\n

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Works Cited<\/p>\n

Brydon, Diana. \u201cCanada and Postcolonialism: Questions, Inventories, and Futures.\u201d Is Canada Postcolonial? Unsettling Canadian Literature. Ed. Laura Moss. Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2003. 49-77. Print.<\/p>\n

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“Canadian Multiculturalism: An Inclusive Citizenship.” Government of Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Communications Branch<\/i>. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <http:\/\/www.cic.gc.ca\/english\/multiculturalism\/citizenship.asp>.<\/div>\n
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Evans, Lisa. “Diversity in Canada: An Overview.” Canadian Immigrant<\/i>. 4 June 2013. Web. 3 Apr. 2015. <http:\/\/canadianimmigrant.ca\/guides\/moving-to-canada\/diversity-in-canada-an-overview>.<\/div>\n
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Social Theory – A Historical Analysis of Canadian Socio-Cultural Policies<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Small, Charles Asher. Social Theory – A Historical Analysis of Canadian Socio-Cultural Policies. Netherlands: Eleven International Publishing, 2013.<\/p>\n

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Social Identity Theory<\/a> is a psychological theory that consist of the \u2018Us vs. Them\u2019 theme that we are delving into. By splitting populations and communities into \u2018in\u2019 and \u2018out\u2019 groups it allows for one group to move themselves forward at the expense of the other. Evidence of this theory can be found within many groups of people, large or small. High schools jump immediately to mind, as do work places, or even family’s. Wherever you find a group of people you will often find them banding together around similarities, however contrived they may be, and distancing themselves from those who do not fit the same pattern. Unfortunately this tactic is very much at work in Canadian society, as is discussed within Charles Asher Small<\/a>\u2019s book, Social Theory \u2013 A Historical Analysis of Canadian Socio-Economic Cultural Policies.<\/p>\n

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Small does not pull punches and instead tears into Canada\u2019s policy of multiculturalism. Small labels it as a policy that \u201creflects the dominant perception of national identity\u201d at the expense of those who do not fit into that identity. What, therefore, would make up this dominant national identity? Taking a glance at the Canadian Heritage<\/a> government website shows us that Canada is a country of sports, maple leaves, and two languages. In regards to the dual official languages Small makes mention of the Meech Lake Accord<\/a>, and the \u201cdistinct society\u201d status of Quebec, which has somehow managed to keep its place as a part of the dominant national identity.<\/p>\n

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Other groups are left outside of this identity, today and throughout our history, furthering the tradition of accepted Canadians, and outsiders. The Canadian portion of Small\u2019s book ends with the conclusion that Canada\u2019s multiculturalism is merely a step along a longer journey, one which needs to continue sooner rather than later. The more people that are left outside of the definition of Canadian leads only to a negative impact on Canadian culture, and those who are ‘outsiders’.<\/p>\n

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Written By: Christie Smith<\/em><\/p>\n

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Works Cited:<\/p>\n

\u201cCanadian Heritage.\u201d Canadian Heritage. Federal Government of Canada, n.d. Web. March 28 2015. http:\/\/www.pch.gc.ca\/eng\/1266037002102 <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cCharles Asher Small.\u201d ISGAP. Institute for the Study of Global Anti Semitism and Policy, n.d. Web. March 28 2015. http:\/\/isgap.org\/charles-asher-small-d-phil\/ <\/a><\/p>\n

McLeod, Saul. \u201cSocial Identity Theory.\u201d Simply Psychology.\u00a0<\/em>n.p, 2008. Web. March 28 2015. http:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/social-identity-theory.html <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMeech Lake Accord.\u201d Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, n.d. Web. March 28 2015. http:\/\/www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca\/en\/article\/meech-lake-accord\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Small, Charles Asher. Social Theory \u2013 A Historical Analysis of Canadian Socio-Cultural Policies. Netherlands: Eleven International Publishing, 2013.<\/p>\n

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Is Canada a Blank Slate, With No Culture?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Todd, Douglas. \u201cIs Canada a Blank Slate, With No Culture?\u201d Vancouver Sun <\/em>14 March 2015. Print.<\/p>\n

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One of the most common comments I hear regarding Canadian history and culture, especially from other Canadians, is that it doesn\u2019t exist, or it\u2019s boring, or it doesn\u2019t matter. Douglas Todd of the Vancouver Sun delved into this topic in his article, which turned into a mini-series, on \u201cIs Canada a blank state, with no culture<\/a>?\u201d. In the article he interviews a series of public figures in order to ask their opinion the past and current state of culture in Canada. The public figures are not incredibly diverse, consisting of a politician and University professors, but they still provide valuable insight.<\/p>\n

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Ujjal Dosanjh<\/a>, a former Premier of British Columbia, was one of the individuals interviewed for the article. Dosanjh brought up how \u201cCanada has always had a culture of its own. It was not a blank slate when the Europeans came\u201d, which is something that seems to be overlooked, even when it comes to cultivating Canada\u2019s so-called \u2018cultural mosaic\u2019.Cities such as Vancouver promote their diverse communities<\/a>, yet often do no pay enough attention to what preceded them, what came before what we have now. The existence of multiple cultures within Canada did not come along with the Europeans, they existed prior to them, in the form of separate and distinct First Nations groups. By disregarding this initial existence of multiple cultures co-existing it seems like a case of favoring European influence when other connections can be made instead.<\/p>\n

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Now what drew my interest in this article was the idea within it that multiculturalism can be supported and championed to such an extent that the culture of the country as a whole will disappear, being swallowed until it is merely a \u201ccollection of divergent cultures\u201d. In regards to our research direction this seems like a very really danger. If each group were to view another group as different, alien, unrelatable, what would that mean for the country as a whole? If Canadian society cannot overcome differences and see similarities instead, how are pieces of Canadian culture, such as Canadian literature, expected to overcome them?\u00a0 This Us vs Them problem is not confined to literature alone, and we cannot treat it as such.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by: Christie Smith<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/p>\n

\u201cDiverse Communities and Multiculturalism<\/a>.\u201d City of Vancouver. <\/em>n.p, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.<\/p>\n

Dosanjh, Ujjal. UjjalDosanjh.org<\/em><\/a>. Web. 2 April 2015.<\/p>\n

Todd, Douglas. \u201cIs Canada a Blank Slate, With No Culture?\u201d Vancouver Sun <\/em>14 March 2015. Print.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Orenda Boyden, Joseph. The Orenda. Toronto: Penguin Group, 2013.   The Orenda was listed by CBC Books as the best selling book in March 2014. The novel was written by Joseph Boyden, a Canadian author of Irish, Scottish, and Anishinaabe descent. The Orenda is a historical novel, set in 17th century Canada (or rather, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13672,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-20","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13672"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions\/88"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/engl470aconference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}