To say that Canada is a multicultural nation is completely correct. In present day, it is seen as a melting pot, representing cultures that stretch worldwide. Multiculturalism is present at a grassroots level, including multicultural neighborhoods in cities across the country; It can even be seen within the multicultural Federal Cabinet, as well as the Supreme Court. However, it is wrong for one to be under the impression that multiculturalism is relatively new in the grand scheme of Canadian history. Even before European contact, First Nations tribes of different cultures interacted in aspects of politics, trade, agriculture, etc.. Upon arrival of European ships, there was a massive clash of cultures. Nomadic First Nations weaponry, farming techniques, and in the case of the Iroquois, matriarchal societies, would have differed from the fairly advanced culture that the Europeans would have been accustomed to. However, since these groups of people coexisted in a relatively confined area (St. Lawrence Lowlands), it can only be described as multicultural interaction.
Canada’s abundance of resources, including fish and fur, drew European attention. They began settling the area in hopes of maximizing profits. To gain capital, it was necessary to interact with the indigenous people whose culture was so fundamentally different from their own. Therefore, early signs of multicultural relations allow one to understand that within the confines of recorded Canadian history, multiculturalism has always been prevalent.
The answer to that question depends on how you define the word multicultural. If you would say that the mere existence of different cultures within a countries borders I believe that Canada is, and after today’s lecture, have been a multicultural country for a long time. However, another definition could be that there have to be a functional and friendly co-existing between different cultures to be able to call it multicultural. According to me, the latter definition is more accurate. The lecture ended with the destructions of the Huroians – a war. To call that multicultural would be the same thing to call Iraq multicultural because of the presence of the Americans (I don’t exclude that it couldn’t be a multicultural country in other aspects though).
A multicultural country is a positive thing for me because it means that different cultures could live in harmony, and as I have understood it, Canada has become a multicultural country today. But it would be incorrect use of the word to call this place multicultural during that time.
By the way, was the country even known as “Canada” during that time?
It is a pressure to write about a great nation, and multicultural country. Multiculturalism in Canada is the sense of an equal celebration of racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. The government of Canada officially adopted the history of multiculturalism policy during the 1970s and 1980s. Based on the lectures and readings this week, it illustrates that Canada has never been occupied by just one culture since the initial occupation of North America. The multiple nations of indigenous were in itself an example of multi-culture in Canada.
An example from history of First Nation suggests that over the past five hundred years of history, and in more modern history colonization has impacted Indigenous people in British Columbia, Canada. The Musqueam, for instance, Indian Band argues, that they declare and affirm that they hold aboriginal title to their land, and aboriginal rights to practice use of their land, sea, fresh water and all their natural resources within those territories where aboriginal ancestors used them since before written history or contact with Europeans. In addition to that an important part of history of Canada is the fur trade. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued. Historically the trade had a large impact on the exploration and colonization of First Nation. Canada’s Aboriginal peoples exchanged furs for guns, gunpowder, liquor, tobacco, pots and pans, wool blankets and tools. They were also keen consumers of various European products such as clothes, and sewing needles. The most highly prized fur was that of the beaver, used to make felt for hats, but the range of animal skins traded was wide. Each skin had a clearly established value measured in plues or made beaver. They almost got the beaver species into instinct.
Furthermore what we have learned from our latest lecture are; New France, politics, law, and judiciary system in 1600s. The territory of New France changed over time, but the colony was initially established in the St. Lawrence River valley. New France was at its largest in the early eighteenth century when it also included Hudson Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Acadia, the Great Lakes region and Louisiana. A case of an African maid (in that period) shows the judiciary system in the Estates of the Realm. For instance, when there was a fire in the city of Montreal. The fire destroyed about forty houses/buildings. The rulers thought that African maid/slave sat the fire to create chaotic event in order to escape with the man whom she loved. But there was no evidence against her, still she was charged and later, was executed publicly. There was no police, no detective. The best way to prove was by confession. She later confessed after being tortured. Her confession represented the king’s power on individuals. This brutal law was practices because Louis the XIV (1638-1715) had the divine right. The idea was that the king derived his rules direct from God. Thus, the New France’s political power increased. Not only in New France but also in other provinces including over sea colonies. The king appointed the governor general in St. Lawrence in order to set a law. There was no democracy. People were not considered to govern. Only the higher state ruled, and had the power meaning: hierarchies had the responsibly to rule only.
Canada can be considered a multicultural nation depending on what the definition of the word is to each individual. To me, multicultural can mean one of two definitions: 1) it can be a city or place mixed with a diverse group of people from different parts of the world, possessing different cultural characteristics or 2) it can be a city or place occupied by those other than those native to that city or place. If were speaking about multiculturalism in terms of the second definition, no, I do not believe Canada is a relatively new in multiculturalism given that the French and Dutch began occupancy in Canada dating back to 1541. However, I do believe that the word multiculturalism has evolved much from what it meant then. In my eyes, the word has changed from having a negative connotation (back then) to a positive connotation (modern day). What I mean by this is that multiculturalism had a stigma attached to it, in that with multiculturalism came war (ie. Huron and France at war). Meanwhile, in today’s day and age, multiculturalism is embraced and supported throughout our nation (for the most part). When I think of the word metropolis, I think of multiculturalism because I have known of no other way. I have grown up encouraged to try new foods, attend different religious ceremonies and to befriend anyone regardless of their race. History however, tells us that a lot of the time, different races and cultures were frowned upon. In my grandmother’s eyes, I should marry an Italian and only an Italian. In my parents’ eyes, I should marry anyone I want! This is an example of how the word has evolved over time.
The answer to that question depends on how you define the word multicultural. If you would say that the mere existence of different cultures within a countries borders I believe that Canada is, and after today’s lecture, have been a multicultural country for a long time. However, another definition could be that there have to be a functional and friendly co-existing between different cultures to be able to call it multicultural. According to me, the latter definition is more accurate. The lecture ended with the destructions of the Huroians – a war. To call that multicultural would be the same thing to call Iraq multicultural because of the presence of the Americans (I don’t exclude that it couldn’t be a multicultural country in other aspects though).
A multicultural country is a positive thing for me because it means that different cultures could live in harmony, and as I have understood it, Canada has become a multicultural country today. But it would be incorrect use of the word to call this place multicultural during that time.
By the way, was the country even known as “Canada” during that time?
Multiculturalism is one of the first things that comes up when describing Canada, and it is very clear by last week’s blog posts that it is something that a lot of people appreciate. I feel that multiculturalism is the acceptance of mixing cultures in a way that allows for people to become Canadian, while still being able to hold on to their heritage. This idea was shown in this week’s lecture with the Aboriginal tribes before colonization. The different cultures were able to co-exist successfully before the Europeans arrived and this seems to be the first example of multiculturalism in Canada. Once the French arrived and started colonization, then multiculturalism was not being practised, or at least not in the way that I have defined it. There were multiple cultures in the same place, but the French were attempting assimilation, not acceptance. Now in modern times, when traveling to other countries, you do get a sense of multiculturalism, but not with as much diversity as in Canada. Most of the diversity is seen in bigger cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, etc. The smaller centres of Canada may not have as many cultures, but they do have tight knit groups that originally migrated from other places. For example, there is a large Ukrainian culture throughout the prairie provinces and a prominent French culture as you move east. As we learned this week, multiculturalism did start out very early in Canadian history, but it has continually grown in diversity and appears that it will continue to do so.
I think there are two parts to a nation truly being multicultural; not only do several different culture groups have to reside in the same area, but there must also be an acceptance, understanding and practice of these cultures. For example, just because the French and the Indigenous people were occupying the same area at the start of Canadian history, does not make Canada a multicultural nation. The French quickly started to try to assimilate Natives by converting them to Christianity, and later in Canadian history, tried to implement European culture by using residential schools. Furthermore, the French were really just using their Indigenous allies to supply their home country with furs. When the French broke their promise to their Indigenous allies, giving the Huron hunting rights in certain areas, it makes one wonder if the French really cared about their allies. Perhaps the French were actually concerned about lives of their Native allies, but they did not take into consideration what would happen with the complex ties between the other Indigenous groups.
Today, we like to think that Canada is a multicultural nation. Compared to some other countries, I would definitely say that Canada is in fact, multicultural. Several laws, as well as the 1988 Multiculturalism Act, try to ensure to recognize all Canadians are full and equal partners in our society. However, something that I found interesting in my sociology class last year is that 85% of Canadians believe immigrants have an obligation to learn Canadian ways and the language. I understand that having a common language makes things easier for everyone living here, but at the same time, as a country priding ourselves on being multicultural, we are not acting very understanding towards other cultures. There is also the fact that Canada still has people practicing racism.
I believe the idea of Canada as a multicultural nation runs back to time of the settling of New France. As was covered in lecture, when the French arrived in North America they came in contact with many different native groups. These natives were familiar with the land that would become Canada. They knew how and where to get the best furs plus they understood how to best to travel the land, thus it was in the best interest of the French to make alliances with the indigenous people of the areas they lodged in. In terms of trade the French set up strong relationships with certain native groups, in particular the Huronia. These relationships were the beginnings of what we now call multiculturalism. This mingling between French and native people resulted in the trading of cultures in some ways. For example, the “coureur de bois adopted the native style of clothing as well as began to eat the same foods as the native people. The natives had lived in North America much longer than the French thus it was important for the French to learn the way natives survived in this new land.
However, the sense of multiculturalism seen in these early days of French exploration is different than what we today call multiculturalism. During the period of New France it was essential for the French to adopt some of the ways of the natives in order to survive. Furthermore to build good relationships with the indigenous peoples was important for trade, in particular the fur trade. Therefore, multiculturalism was more or less forced upon the French newcomers. It is clear, especially seen in the conflicts that were to come between the English and French, that the French were not particularly keen to share this newfound land with anyone but their own people. I would not doubt, therefore, that if there was the possibility for the French to put the natives under their control, they would have.
Multiculturalism today is defined in terms of acceptance and openness. Allowing different people to come make home in Canada without the pressure of having to give up their culture is not something forced upon us. Thus multiculturalism from the time of New France has much evolved to become the multiculturalism that thrives in Canada today.
The simple definition of multiculturalism refers to a region or community containing multiple cultures. To say that Canada is a multicultural nation rings true, and taking into account the basic definition above, it can be established that the idea of multiculturalism in Canada is not a new concept, but one that has been engrained within Canadian history from the very beginning.
Connections between the First Nations tribes and the Scandinavian Vikings on the Canadian East Coast symbolize the early beginnings of the multicultural concept on Canadian soil, as both groups occupied the same area for a relative period of time. The same can be said when looking forward to the European explorers who came in contact with the First Nations peoples during their exploration of what would become Canada. These explorers, followed by the fur traders and colonizers after them, lived off of the territorial regions of the First Nations, thus creating a multicultural community during the time of European settlement. As well, the late 18th century saw the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants in Canada and, later in the 19th century, an even larger population of immigrants from China entered Canadian borders under a contract to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. This made Canada an even more culturally diverse region than before.
As per my initial definition of multiculturalism, Canada has always been and is to this day a multicultural nation. What can be debated is the degree to which multiculturalism was accepted among differing ethnic groups in Canada in the past, and compare that to Canada’s embracing of cultural diversity today. Throughout Canadian history, as much as there has been peaceful coexistence among multiple cultures in Canada, there has also been a fair share of cultural clashes between opposing ethnical groups that have resulted in racism, segregation, assimilation, and variations of ethnic cleansing. This is where the definition of multiculturalism is called into question. Does multiculturalism refer explicitly to the area of which many cultures form a community, or does the definition account for the types of relationships and interactions the cultural groups have with each other, whether good or bad? With a specific definition, we can truly establish whether Canada has always been a multicultural nation, or if the harmony of today’s multicultural Canada is something new, thus disproving that multiculturalism has always been present in Canada.
Canada as a multicultural nation is completely true. I wander down the streets of any town in Canada and you can see the vast majority of people from all differing walks of life. More than that as an aboriginal person I have come across people that desire to learn as much as they can about their own culture and then learn of others cultures and try to relate it back to their own knowledge and what they have learned about themselves .
There is also the vast demand that we put on ourselves as a society to put forth our distinct cultures and to showcase them whether its a pow wow or a religious celebration that is put forefront for everyone to witness and to share in. I have been to many aboriginal celebrations where everyone in attendance has participated in some form or other right from sitting and smiling to outright dancing and laughing with other irregardless of background. So our desire to share our very own distinct cultures makes us not only tolerant, curious but also a understanding nation.
So to look at the question is multiculturalism a relatively new idea? I would say no, i would say that its always been here but what is new is our hopes of understanding, our dreams of being a complete nation while protecting and celebrating the rich and vast cultures of others. This hasn’t always been the case with “cultural genocide” committed at the hands of those in power but in full turn those now in power are seeking ways to make some amends and that is a far cry from the atrocities we committed against each other in the past.
Kenthen, In the future, please draw more directly on the material you learn in the lectures to write your posts. The blog is meant to get you to reflect on what you learn in class.
Canada is the most multicultural nation in the world. For how long? Well it dates back to what we covered in lecture within New France. As of now, people in the world see Canada as the most multicultural place to live in on the earth. Take a walk around UBC campus, you will see individuals of all ethnic backgrounds creating a very diverse lifestyle. These individuals spread multiculturalism throughout one another creating a country filled of different cultures.
The Empires of the St. Lawrence consisted of the Indigenous and European people mixing. There was an intertwining of history between the French and Aboriginals ( sparking multiculturalism here through languages and cultures). Jaques Cartier essentially was the catalyst in starting multiculturalism by attempting his voyages to establish North America. The Fur Trade began consisted of the Aboriginal peoples doing business with the French. The French had to learn the way the Aboriginals lived in order to barter with them. The French solidified fur trade by claiming territory and colonizing it.
Samuel D’Champlaine knew he needed alliances, so he made relationships with the Huron, Innu, and Annoshanabe. All which proved multiculturalism in Canada.
Multiculturalism isn’t necessarily a new idea as it has been around since the fur trade began. There has been situations of assimilation, racism and segregation however that has not depleted the multiculturalism idea in Canada.
The Native North American Tribes had not formal land borders and walls that defines nations in Europe in the 17th century, however, they were still a diverse population of people that had varying cultures and languages. As the Europeans came to North America, they saw a land that was not claimed despite the fact that there were already inhabitants. What we call Canada today is simply an imposed border established by conflicts between the British and french empires. If the First Nations population were not oppressed by the invading foreigners, North American would have been considered as many nations and countries. Within the modern borders of Canada, yes it can be said that Canada is a multicultural place even before the colonization of North America. However, to the indigenous people, we simply forcefully united an area of land that they were perfectly happy in as separate entities and nations.
Canada is seen as the most multicultural nation in the world. It has been diverse since the origins dating back to when it was called New France. Now, Canada is still culturally diverse with many different people with many different backgrounds immigrating here. Canada’s multicultural history dates back to when Jaques Cartier arrived here on his voyages and established the fur trade and established contact with the indigenous people. With this contact began the making of more diverse people, these being the french and aboriginal people which are wildly known as Metis. This people were evidence of Canada becoming a multicultural nation with the collection of the two cultures and languages. The mating of the two cultures provides evidence of the type of multiculturalism in Canada and is proof that it has been like this for a long time despite multiple acts of assimilation.
The first question that comes to my mind in response is this: how do we decide what counts as being multicultural and what does not? Multiculturalism – a diverse collection of cultures within a certain area or place – itself is a fairly simple idea to understand, but the specifics of all of this are not actually very clear. How many “different cultures” must be evident within a given place? How big or small must this place be? And so forth.
Today, if I were to travel across the country, I can safely guess that just about everyone I meet would differ in some cultural aspect (such as religion, choice of dress, ethnicity, country of origin, political values, etc.) Thinking about it this way, I would certainly say that Canada is a multicultural nation. After all, there are so many people here and they are all so diverse! Thinking about it this way, I would look back on earlier times at the few groups of Native Canadians who inhabited this vast land in secluded (by today’s standards) groups and think that Canada was not very multicultural at all at that point. However, when I put myself in the shoes of one person in one of those groups and think about how culturally different any other Natives that I stumbled upon might have seemed, and how VERY culturally different the Norse and/or the French must have seemed when they first landed on my shores, it makes sense to say that Canada actually was a multicultural nation during that time period.
It seems that the idea of multiculturalism is all highly relative to what we are used to. While historians have the important job of providing us with information upon which to base new ideas, they cannot answer tough questions – such as whether or not Canada has only recently become multicultural – for us, because ideas like this require much more detailed and personal thought.
Canada’s existence is founded on the immigration of multiple cultures. French, British and Dutch in immediacy, then further exploration and immigration from other European countries and their enslaved populations. Taking into account the already present population of Indigenous peoples of separate beliefs and languages and those stated above it could be argued that Canada was a place of many cultures from its inception.
However most likely those colonial settlers did not think of their identity as multicultural. Therefore the idea itself is new, in the respect that it post-dates the colonial settlements of Canada. At this point Canada was not the nation we see day, rather no nation at all. Further it can be argued that to be ‘multicultural’ necessitates those mixed cultures must recognise, or be recognised by the state, as having an equal right to the place they live. Although the European colonial populations may have lived in close proximity to one another, e.g Tadousac, traded and allied with them and the indigenous peoples, e.g French alliance with the Huronian confederacy, that relationship did not resemble a multicultural nation as we think of it today.
To be sure, Canadians pride themselves on being a multicultural nation and it has seemed that the concept of this extends to only recent decades, but as history appears to show us, we have always been a country of multiple cultures — if we are to to take the term multiculturalism literally. Given what we have learned in lecture, it seems true that multiculturalism has existed for hundreds of years. With the co-existence of Aboriginal peoples, the French, the English, as well those from the US, we can almost tell ourselves that yes, Canada has always been a multicultural nation.
But that’s not really true, is it? The term multiculturalism would imply that these cultures lived in peaceful co-existence, and not in violence and bloodshed in order to ruthlessly conquer as much land as they could to prove their superiority. In reality, while it may be technically true to say that Canada has always been a nation of multiple cultures, I would very much hesitate to say it was always a multicultural nation.
Nevertheless, I always enjoy knowing that so many people from many different countries and parts of the world can come to Canada for a new life and still be able to retain their own culture and traditions today. Many people claim that Canada is a melting pot and I vehemently disagree with that. I believe that, for sure, the US is a melting pot, but never Canada. This is because, as I mentioned, people from different cultures are still able to continue celebrating their own holidays and traditions without fear of reprisal. Sometimes I think it is almost at the cost of being Canadian. For instance, there are so many people I know that do not celebrate being Canadian on Canada Day, but then there are many that do. I think it may in fact because we are a modest bunch of Canadians who quietly wear the pride of being a Canadian, though we definitely may not have been previously in history.
The idea of Canada being multicultural is not a novel concept however, it might seem that way since as a nation we have embraced that quality as part of our identity only recently. We have learned so far that in large settlements for trading, people from diverse areas of the world ranging from Africa and Portugal, arrived to what we predominantly see as a homogenous French settlement united by a desire for new opportunities and a better life (The idea of an American dream is far from unique). It has to be pointed out that while many different cultures were living together, tolerance and acceptance were not ideas that developed with the situation. Slavery was common, and society functioned in the same heirarchal fashion Europe did. Therefore even though Canada was technically multicultural, the romanticized harmony we associate with the concept was absent until relatively recently.
The idea we pride ourselves for personifying is still slightly misleading nonetheless as Canada has one of the worst records in theworldfor treatment of the aboriginal peoples, and countless Canadians are still suffering the ramifications of that. Furthermore, Quebec recently has been challenging one of the tenets of Canada by cutting down rights to religious self expression to “preserve their identity”–whatever that means.
Most importantly, I want to address that even though multiculturalism can exist in a place of immigrants like it has in the past and now, the “culture” every individual brings with them from their respective background will slowly evolve to suit the surroundings and assimilate until they cannot fully identify with their roots anymore. This is what happened to the French settlers and African slaves over generation so in a way it’s safe to say we kind of…lose our identity in a multicultural community that is a homogenous mixture of all cultures
The view that Canada’s multiculturalism is new to our society that can be argued either yes or no, based on many different factors. Already in this course, we have discussed or touched on Dutch, French, English and First Nations cultures being present in Canada in early times. These cultures mixed together, either by choice or force (i.e. marriages vs conversions) and those mixed cultures can still be seen today.
However… “Multicultural” is defined as being made up of many cultures, so in that case, Canada always has been and will be multicultural. Even within the First Nations communities before European contact, there were different views, values and cultures. But the term “society,” although it has many definitions, can be seen as a group of people who come together, a community, coming together for religious, cultural, & political reasons. It is clear that with the French settlers and colonies in New France there was no sense of this “society” although the two groups lived in the same regions. In this line, it can be argued that Canada is still not a completely “multicultural” society, as in present day we still see prejudice both socially and politically between cultural groups.
That said, I enjoy how we as Canadians do not take this term so literally, but rather as a representation of our “cultural mosaic,” implying that we are a country in which we are accepting and integrating of many different cultures.
Canada has one of the largest varieties of different cultures living within its country. We open our arms to diversity and multiculturalism. Today, we see many people of different races and ethnicities working together, going to school together and attending various events together. However, though we may be a harmonious multicultural nation now, does not mean that we were always this way. In a sense, Canada was multicultural since the beginning because we had the First Nations, the British, the French and the Americans living in one country. However, they were most definitely not living harmoniously. For example, during the 16th century, France voyaged over the Atlantic to Canada seeing a profitable business opportunity in fur trades. By the 1590s, the fur trade was booming and the French felt the need to claim the fur trade for their own and monopolize the business. In order to do so they needed to establish connections with the First Nations around the area of their settlement, Port Royal, otherwise known as Acadia or Annapolis Royal. Samuel de Champlain alliance with the Innu, the Huron and the Algonkin. Alliances with these aboriginals groups helped the French in raiding “The Five Nations”. While the Huron and the French were gaining strength the French felt that they did not have enough settlers, therefore the company of a hundred associates was called for by the French government. However, with the introduction of this company to the British North Americas, also came the introduction of disease which killed nearly half of the entire Huron nation and it also increased warfare due to the politics involving Dutch muskets and the Mohawk raids. Tension and disagreement was stirring between the French and Huron. Eventually due to the raids, the Huron spread out in all directions for Huronia causing the colony itself to disappear.
Canada’s multiculturalism does not seem like a new idea to me, as I have been taught this in schools since I can remember. From what we have learned in lectures, I would say that this is quite true. Canada was found by European travelers, who brought their people and their cultures across the Atlantic.
We would have met the requirements of multiculturalism in the simplest definition, that is to say having many cultures in one state, right from the beginning. The French were the first Europeans to create a permanent settlement on what would be Canada. Before them, the land was already filled with the aboriginals, and they had many different cultures of their own. These different groups would already meet the requirements for being multicultural, as we cannot just lump all natives together. Before the Europeans came over, there were just the natives, who interacted with each other, while still occupying their own territories and had their own traditions.
But from what we’ve learned in lectures, it seems that being accepting of the different cultures was not always the norm. The most important aspect of being a multicultural society is accepting people who are different from your own. This may be the aspect of multiculturalism that is relatively new. Before the Europeans arrived, the different groups of natives did not consider themselves part of one ‘country,’ and therefore not a multicultural nation. The Europeans brought the notion of a bordered territory, and created their colony. The respect for different cultures was not necessarily found with the French for the natives either, who only saw the natives as necessary for trade, and simply tolerated them. Today the idea of multicultural acceptance is much more widespread.
Canada’s been multicultural since before it was discovered by the Europeans. Each landscape of Canada had first nations people adapted to that specific area. The west coast itself had 17 or so different languages. There was no one language or group that controlled all of west coast. It was divided between all the groups living in BC. Each group had their own land to work off of and they also worked with their neighbors in barter and trade.
What made it more multicultural was the Europeans when they wanted to expand their empires after accidentally discovering Canada. Once they seen all the resources at their disposal, they dug in their feet and set up camp permanently making Canada their new home. They worked hard to set up farms, trading posts, ports, and a reputation with the First Nations to keep their trade routes. Then there was the integration of the french with the natives to create their own people. They were outcast ed by both the french and the natives so they became their own nation.
Canada as a Multicultural Nation is not new. Canada’s been always multicultural. The idea is something that was coined to describe the demographics of Canada as it couldn’t designate one nation as it’s symbol. There are way too many people that helped create Canada that we cannot just point out to one type of people to take the credit.
Luke, In the future, please draw more directly on the information you learn in lectures to write your posts. The blog is meant to get you to reflect on the lectures on a regular basis.
From what we have so far, Canada has a long history of being a multicultural nation. Even if we only consider the first peoples there, the aboriginal people, as the “people who turned right”, they went all the way from Africa, though Asia, Siberia, to North Canada. Once there, we know they separated into deferent tribes and communities, each having its own culture and language. It was, in a sense, already a multicultural country (though not yet a country…). But then again, this could be said about a lot of places in the world, and different communities almost never mixing together hardly makes for a multicultural country.
What is different, however, is the meeting of two entities as early as the tenth century. It is probable that the first encounter between indigeneous peoples in Canada and other peoples dates back from before Columbus ever set foot there, with the Norse people coming from Greenland, and it is suspected that many travels and some permanent settlements were made. Later came Columbus, the English people, the French, the Portuguese and so on.
On one hand, the large variety of cultures and peoples who met early on the now Canadian territories makes up for a long history of a multicultural nation, but on the other hand, much of that history is marked by wars and blood.
Today Canada is very multicultural nation. This is evident in our everyday lives for example just walking down the street you can see the diversity of Canadians. Also this may seem like a recent shift as a more globalized world, our country has always been a multicultural nation. It began with the different Indigenous groups who lived in Canada, such as the Huron, Innu, and Iroquois. While there were occasion conflicts between the Aboriginal groups, for the most part they were able to live beside one another cooperatively. This idea of multicultural became to change when the French created permanent settlements along Saint Lawrence River. Now a days idea of multiculturalism is more in tune with that the Aboriginal thought, with different culture living in harmony. Perhaps this transition from hostilely between different cultural groups to a more accepted view today because although there has always been multiculturalism in Canada it seems more accepted today because of globalization and how we are more aware of different cultures.
Comments on your posts for Week 2:
Just so you know, I will offer general comments on the blog entries most weeks. Some weeks I will comment on each student’s blog (I can’t do that every week so I am rotating among the 5 tutorial sections).
In general, you all did quite well. I would remind you that the blogs are meant to get you to reflect on the lectures, so I expect you to draw on them directly in writing your entry.
Most of you appreciated that the place that became Canada was multicultural from the start in that it was home to many different nations and cultures; in other words, as many of you noted last week, what distinguished the place that became Canada was its diversity, which was there even before Canada existed!
However, some of you went on to make some important observations which I think all of us need to keep in mind: (1) that the place that would become Canada is more accurately described as multi-national; i.e. home to many different nations (Indigenous and European); in other words (2) the place that became Canada was diverse, but it wasn’t a single nation. In addition, and (3) there wasn’t the acceptance or even the tolerance of differences and the idea of equality that lies behind the modern notion of multiculturalism.
So…where does that leave us? In the 17th and 18th centuries, the place that would become Canada was a diverse, multi-national place. It was home to many cultures, but it wasn’t a single nation. Perhaps the story of Canada is how this multi-national place became a multicultural nation-state….
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tyler5 5:55 pm on September 9, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
To say that Canada is a multicultural nation is completely correct. In present day, it is seen as a melting pot, representing cultures that stretch worldwide. Multiculturalism is present at a grassroots level, including multicultural neighborhoods in cities across the country; It can even be seen within the multicultural Federal Cabinet, as well as the Supreme Court. However, it is wrong for one to be under the impression that multiculturalism is relatively new in the grand scheme of Canadian history. Even before European contact, First Nations tribes of different cultures interacted in aspects of politics, trade, agriculture, etc.. Upon arrival of European ships, there was a massive clash of cultures. Nomadic First Nations weaponry, farming techniques, and in the case of the Iroquois, matriarchal societies, would have differed from the fairly advanced culture that the Europeans would have been accustomed to. However, since these groups of people coexisted in a relatively confined area (St. Lawrence Lowlands), it can only be described as multicultural interaction.
Canada’s abundance of resources, including fish and fur, drew European attention. They began settling the area in hopes of maximizing profits. To gain capital, it was necessary to interact with the indigenous people whose culture was so fundamentally different from their own. Therefore, early signs of multicultural relations allow one to understand that within the confines of recorded Canadian history, multiculturalism has always been prevalent.
karinbjorkdahl 3:03 pm on September 10, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The answer to that question depends on how you define the word multicultural. If you would say that the mere existence of different cultures within a countries borders I believe that Canada is, and after today’s lecture, have been a multicultural country for a long time. However, another definition could be that there have to be a functional and friendly co-existing between different cultures to be able to call it multicultural. According to me, the latter definition is more accurate. The lecture ended with the destructions of the Huroians – a war. To call that multicultural would be the same thing to call Iraq multicultural because of the presence of the Americans (I don’t exclude that it couldn’t be a multicultural country in other aspects though).
A multicultural country is a positive thing for me because it means that different cultures could live in harmony, and as I have understood it, Canada has become a multicultural country today. But it would be incorrect use of the word to call this place multicultural during that time.
By the way, was the country even known as “Canada” during that time?
Tina Loo 3:47 pm on September 14, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Terrific answer Karin!
FribaRezayee235 6:52 pm on September 14, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
It is a pressure to write about a great nation, and multicultural country. Multiculturalism in Canada is the sense of an equal celebration of racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. The government of Canada officially adopted the history of multiculturalism policy during the 1970s and 1980s. Based on the lectures and readings this week, it illustrates that Canada has never been occupied by just one culture since the initial occupation of North America. The multiple nations of indigenous were in itself an example of multi-culture in Canada.
An example from history of First Nation suggests that over the past five hundred years of history, and in more modern history colonization has impacted Indigenous people in British Columbia, Canada. The Musqueam, for instance, Indian Band argues, that they declare and affirm that they hold aboriginal title to their land, and aboriginal rights to practice use of their land, sea, fresh water and all their natural resources within those territories where aboriginal ancestors used them since before written history or contact with Europeans. In addition to that an important part of history of Canada is the fur trade. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued. Historically the trade had a large impact on the exploration and colonization of First Nation. Canada’s Aboriginal peoples exchanged furs for guns, gunpowder, liquor, tobacco, pots and pans, wool blankets and tools. They were also keen consumers of various European products such as clothes, and sewing needles. The most highly prized fur was that of the beaver, used to make felt for hats, but the range of animal skins traded was wide. Each skin had a clearly established value measured in plues or made beaver. They almost got the beaver species into instinct.
Furthermore what we have learned from our latest lecture are; New France, politics, law, and judiciary system in 1600s. The territory of New France changed over time, but the colony was initially established in the St. Lawrence River valley. New France was at its largest in the early eighteenth century when it also included Hudson Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Acadia, the Great Lakes region and Louisiana. A case of an African maid (in that period) shows the judiciary system in the Estates of the Realm. For instance, when there was a fire in the city of Montreal. The fire destroyed about forty houses/buildings. The rulers thought that African maid/slave sat the fire to create chaotic event in order to escape with the man whom she loved. But there was no evidence against her, still she was charged and later, was executed publicly. There was no police, no detective. The best way to prove was by confession. She later confessed after being tortured. Her confession represented the king’s power on individuals. This brutal law was practices because Louis the XIV (1638-1715) had the divine right. The idea was that the king derived his rules direct from God. Thus, the New France’s political power increased. Not only in New France but also in other provinces including over sea colonies. The king appointed the governor general in St. Lawrence in order to set a law. There was no democracy. People were not considered to govern. Only the higher state ruled, and had the power meaning: hierarchies had the responsibly to rule only.
jpellegrino 11:56 pm on September 9, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada can be considered a multicultural nation depending on what the definition of the word is to each individual. To me, multicultural can mean one of two definitions: 1) it can be a city or place mixed with a diverse group of people from different parts of the world, possessing different cultural characteristics or 2) it can be a city or place occupied by those other than those native to that city or place. If were speaking about multiculturalism in terms of the second definition, no, I do not believe Canada is a relatively new in multiculturalism given that the French and Dutch began occupancy in Canada dating back to 1541. However, I do believe that the word multiculturalism has evolved much from what it meant then. In my eyes, the word has changed from having a negative connotation (back then) to a positive connotation (modern day). What I mean by this is that multiculturalism had a stigma attached to it, in that with multiculturalism came war (ie. Huron and France at war). Meanwhile, in today’s day and age, multiculturalism is embraced and supported throughout our nation (for the most part). When I think of the word metropolis, I think of multiculturalism because I have known of no other way. I have grown up encouraged to try new foods, attend different religious ceremonies and to befriend anyone regardless of their race. History however, tells us that a lot of the time, different races and cultures were frowned upon. In my grandmother’s eyes, I should marry an Italian and only an Italian. In my parents’ eyes, I should marry anyone I want! This is an example of how the word has evolved over time.
karinbjorkdahl 3:20 pm on September 10, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The answer to that question depends on how you define the word multicultural. If you would say that the mere existence of different cultures within a countries borders I believe that Canada is, and after today’s lecture, have been a multicultural country for a long time. However, another definition could be that there have to be a functional and friendly co-existing between different cultures to be able to call it multicultural. According to me, the latter definition is more accurate. The lecture ended with the destructions of the Huroians – a war. To call that multicultural would be the same thing to call Iraq multicultural because of the presence of the Americans (I don’t exclude that it couldn’t be a multicultural country in other aspects though).
A multicultural country is a positive thing for me because it means that different cultures could live in harmony, and as I have understood it, Canada has become a multicultural country today. But it would be incorrect use of the word to call this place multicultural during that time.
By the way, was the country even known as “Canada” during that time?
jbachynski 9:31 pm on September 10, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Multiculturalism is one of the first things that comes up when describing Canada, and it is very clear by last week’s blog posts that it is something that a lot of people appreciate. I feel that multiculturalism is the acceptance of mixing cultures in a way that allows for people to become Canadian, while still being able to hold on to their heritage. This idea was shown in this week’s lecture with the Aboriginal tribes before colonization. The different cultures were able to co-exist successfully before the Europeans arrived and this seems to be the first example of multiculturalism in Canada. Once the French arrived and started colonization, then multiculturalism was not being practised, or at least not in the way that I have defined it. There were multiple cultures in the same place, but the French were attempting assimilation, not acceptance. Now in modern times, when traveling to other countries, you do get a sense of multiculturalism, but not with as much diversity as in Canada. Most of the diversity is seen in bigger cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, etc. The smaller centres of Canada may not have as many cultures, but they do have tight knit groups that originally migrated from other places. For example, there is a large Ukrainian culture throughout the prairie provinces and a prominent French culture as you move east. As we learned this week, multiculturalism did start out very early in Canadian history, but it has continually grown in diversity and appears that it will continue to do so.
jbachynski 11:55 am on September 11, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Opps! Wrote that on the wrong wall…
tazizi 2:44 pm on September 11, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think there are two parts to a nation truly being multicultural; not only do several different culture groups have to reside in the same area, but there must also be an acceptance, understanding and practice of these cultures. For example, just because the French and the Indigenous people were occupying the same area at the start of Canadian history, does not make Canada a multicultural nation. The French quickly started to try to assimilate Natives by converting them to Christianity, and later in Canadian history, tried to implement European culture by using residential schools. Furthermore, the French were really just using their Indigenous allies to supply their home country with furs. When the French broke their promise to their Indigenous allies, giving the Huron hunting rights in certain areas, it makes one wonder if the French really cared about their allies. Perhaps the French were actually concerned about lives of their Native allies, but they did not take into consideration what would happen with the complex ties between the other Indigenous groups.
Today, we like to think that Canada is a multicultural nation. Compared to some other countries, I would definitely say that Canada is in fact, multicultural. Several laws, as well as the 1988 Multiculturalism Act, try to ensure to recognize all Canadians are full and equal partners in our society. However, something that I found interesting in my sociology class last year is that 85% of Canadians believe immigrants have an obligation to learn Canadian ways and the language. I understand that having a common language makes things easier for everyone living here, but at the same time, as a country priding ourselves on being multicultural, we are not acting very understanding towards other cultures. There is also the fact that Canada still has people practicing racism.
lindswong 10:39 pm on September 11, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I believe the idea of Canada as a multicultural nation runs back to time of the settling of New France. As was covered in lecture, when the French arrived in North America they came in contact with many different native groups. These natives were familiar with the land that would become Canada. They knew how and where to get the best furs plus they understood how to best to travel the land, thus it was in the best interest of the French to make alliances with the indigenous people of the areas they lodged in. In terms of trade the French set up strong relationships with certain native groups, in particular the Huronia. These relationships were the beginnings of what we now call multiculturalism. This mingling between French and native people resulted in the trading of cultures in some ways. For example, the “coureur de bois adopted the native style of clothing as well as began to eat the same foods as the native people. The natives had lived in North America much longer than the French thus it was important for the French to learn the way natives survived in this new land.
However, the sense of multiculturalism seen in these early days of French exploration is different than what we today call multiculturalism. During the period of New France it was essential for the French to adopt some of the ways of the natives in order to survive. Furthermore to build good relationships with the indigenous peoples was important for trade, in particular the fur trade. Therefore, multiculturalism was more or less forced upon the French newcomers. It is clear, especially seen in the conflicts that were to come between the English and French, that the French were not particularly keen to share this newfound land with anyone but their own people. I would not doubt, therefore, that if there was the possibility for the French to put the natives under their control, they would have.
Multiculturalism today is defined in terms of acceptance and openness. Allowing different people to come make home in Canada without the pressure of having to give up their culture is not something forced upon us. Thus multiculturalism from the time of New France has much evolved to become the multiculturalism that thrives in Canada today.
Lindsay (Ruth) Wong
aviaah 10:53 pm on September 11, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The simple definition of multiculturalism refers to a region or community containing multiple cultures. To say that Canada is a multicultural nation rings true, and taking into account the basic definition above, it can be established that the idea of multiculturalism in Canada is not a new concept, but one that has been engrained within Canadian history from the very beginning.
Connections between the First Nations tribes and the Scandinavian Vikings on the Canadian East Coast symbolize the early beginnings of the multicultural concept on Canadian soil, as both groups occupied the same area for a relative period of time. The same can be said when looking forward to the European explorers who came in contact with the First Nations peoples during their exploration of what would become Canada. These explorers, followed by the fur traders and colonizers after them, lived off of the territorial regions of the First Nations, thus creating a multicultural community during the time of European settlement. As well, the late 18th century saw the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants in Canada and, later in the 19th century, an even larger population of immigrants from China entered Canadian borders under a contract to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. This made Canada an even more culturally diverse region than before.
As per my initial definition of multiculturalism, Canada has always been and is to this day a multicultural nation. What can be debated is the degree to which multiculturalism was accepted among differing ethnic groups in Canada in the past, and compare that to Canada’s embracing of cultural diversity today. Throughout Canadian history, as much as there has been peaceful coexistence among multiple cultures in Canada, there has also been a fair share of cultural clashes between opposing ethnical groups that have resulted in racism, segregation, assimilation, and variations of ethnic cleansing. This is where the definition of multiculturalism is called into question. Does multiculturalism refer explicitly to the area of which many cultures form a community, or does the definition account for the types of relationships and interactions the cultural groups have with each other, whether good or bad? With a specific definition, we can truly establish whether Canada has always been a multicultural nation, or if the harmony of today’s multicultural Canada is something new, thus disproving that multiculturalism has always been present in Canada.
Aviaah Randhawa
kenthen 12:45 pm on September 12, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada as a multicultural nation is completely true. I wander down the streets of any town in Canada and you can see the vast majority of people from all differing walks of life. More than that as an aboriginal person I have come across people that desire to learn as much as they can about their own culture and then learn of others cultures and try to relate it back to their own knowledge and what they have learned about themselves .
There is also the vast demand that we put on ourselves as a society to put forth our distinct cultures and to showcase them whether its a pow wow or a religious celebration that is put forefront for everyone to witness and to share in. I have been to many aboriginal celebrations where everyone in attendance has participated in some form or other right from sitting and smiling to outright dancing and laughing with other irregardless of background. So our desire to share our very own distinct cultures makes us not only tolerant, curious but also a understanding nation.
So to look at the question is multiculturalism a relatively new idea? I would say no, i would say that its always been here but what is new is our hopes of understanding, our dreams of being a complete nation while protecting and celebrating the rich and vast cultures of others. This hasn’t always been the case with “cultural genocide” committed at the hands of those in power but in full turn those now in power are seeking ways to make some amends and that is a far cry from the atrocities we committed against each other in the past.
Tina Loo 3:52 pm on September 14, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Kenthen, In the future, please draw more directly on the material you learn in the lectures to write your posts. The blog is meant to get you to reflect on what you learn in class.
madden34 3:16 pm on September 12, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada is the most multicultural nation in the world. For how long? Well it dates back to what we covered in lecture within New France. As of now, people in the world see Canada as the most multicultural place to live in on the earth. Take a walk around UBC campus, you will see individuals of all ethnic backgrounds creating a very diverse lifestyle. These individuals spread multiculturalism throughout one another creating a country filled of different cultures.
The Empires of the St. Lawrence consisted of the Indigenous and European people mixing. There was an intertwining of history between the French and Aboriginals ( sparking multiculturalism here through languages and cultures). Jaques Cartier essentially was the catalyst in starting multiculturalism by attempting his voyages to establish North America. The Fur Trade began consisted of the Aboriginal peoples doing business with the French. The French had to learn the way the Aboriginals lived in order to barter with them. The French solidified fur trade by claiming territory and colonizing it.
Samuel D’Champlaine knew he needed alliances, so he made relationships with the Huron, Innu, and Annoshanabe. All which proved multiculturalism in Canada.
Multiculturalism isn’t necessarily a new idea as it has been around since the fur trade began. There has been situations of assimilation, racism and segregation however that has not depleted the multiculturalism idea in Canada.
oftheawkwards 8:42 pm on September 12, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The Native North American Tribes had not formal land borders and walls that defines nations in Europe in the 17th century, however, they were still a diverse population of people that had varying cultures and languages. As the Europeans came to North America, they saw a land that was not claimed despite the fact that there were already inhabitants. What we call Canada today is simply an imposed border established by conflicts between the British and french empires. If the First Nations population were not oppressed by the invading foreigners, North American would have been considered as many nations and countries. Within the modern borders of Canada, yes it can be said that Canada is a multicultural place even before the colonization of North America. However, to the indigenous people, we simply forcefully united an area of land that they were perfectly happy in as separate entities and nations.
-Harry Ze Zhong He
dallasyassinsky 9:00 pm on September 12, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada is seen as the most multicultural nation in the world. It has been diverse since the origins dating back to when it was called New France. Now, Canada is still culturally diverse with many different people with many different backgrounds immigrating here. Canada’s multicultural history dates back to when Jaques Cartier arrived here on his voyages and established the fur trade and established contact with the indigenous people. With this contact began the making of more diverse people, these being the french and aboriginal people which are wildly known as Metis. This people were evidence of Canada becoming a multicultural nation with the collection of the two cultures and languages. The mating of the two cultures provides evidence of the type of multiculturalism in Canada and is proof that it has been like this for a long time despite multiple acts of assimilation.
amandawoodland 10:10 pm on September 12, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The first question that comes to my mind in response is this: how do we decide what counts as being multicultural and what does not? Multiculturalism – a diverse collection of cultures within a certain area or place – itself is a fairly simple idea to understand, but the specifics of all of this are not actually very clear. How many “different cultures” must be evident within a given place? How big or small must this place be? And so forth.
Today, if I were to travel across the country, I can safely guess that just about everyone I meet would differ in some cultural aspect (such as religion, choice of dress, ethnicity, country of origin, political values, etc.) Thinking about it this way, I would certainly say that Canada is a multicultural nation. After all, there are so many people here and they are all so diverse! Thinking about it this way, I would look back on earlier times at the few groups of Native Canadians who inhabited this vast land in secluded (by today’s standards) groups and think that Canada was not very multicultural at all at that point. However, when I put myself in the shoes of one person in one of those groups and think about how culturally different any other Natives that I stumbled upon might have seemed, and how VERY culturally different the Norse and/or the French must have seemed when they first landed on my shores, it makes sense to say that Canada actually was a multicultural nation during that time period.
It seems that the idea of multiculturalism is all highly relative to what we are used to. While historians have the important job of providing us with information upon which to base new ideas, they cannot answer tough questions – such as whether or not Canada has only recently become multicultural – for us, because ideas like this require much more detailed and personal thought.
ecopeland 11:06 pm on September 12, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada’s existence is founded on the immigration of multiple cultures. French, British and Dutch in immediacy, then further exploration and immigration from other European countries and their enslaved populations. Taking into account the already present population of Indigenous peoples of separate beliefs and languages and those stated above it could be argued that Canada was a place of many cultures from its inception.
However most likely those colonial settlers did not think of their identity as multicultural. Therefore the idea itself is new, in the respect that it post-dates the colonial settlements of Canada. At this point Canada was not the nation we see day, rather no nation at all. Further it can be argued that to be ‘multicultural’ necessitates those mixed cultures must recognise, or be recognised by the state, as having an equal right to the place they live. Although the European colonial populations may have lived in close proximity to one another, e.g Tadousac, traded and allied with them and the indigenous peoples, e.g French alliance with the Huronian confederacy, that relationship did not resemble a multicultural nation as we think of it today.
amrita 7:51 am on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
To be sure, Canadians pride themselves on being a multicultural nation and it has seemed that the concept of this extends to only recent decades, but as history appears to show us, we have always been a country of multiple cultures — if we are to to take the term multiculturalism literally. Given what we have learned in lecture, it seems true that multiculturalism has existed for hundreds of years. With the co-existence of Aboriginal peoples, the French, the English, as well those from the US, we can almost tell ourselves that yes, Canada has always been a multicultural nation.
But that’s not really true, is it? The term multiculturalism would imply that these cultures lived in peaceful co-existence, and not in violence and bloodshed in order to ruthlessly conquer as much land as they could to prove their superiority. In reality, while it may be technically true to say that Canada has always been a nation of multiple cultures, I would very much hesitate to say it was always a multicultural nation.
Nevertheless, I always enjoy knowing that so many people from many different countries and parts of the world can come to Canada for a new life and still be able to retain their own culture and traditions today. Many people claim that Canada is a melting pot and I vehemently disagree with that. I believe that, for sure, the US is a melting pot, but never Canada. This is because, as I mentioned, people from different cultures are still able to continue celebrating their own holidays and traditions without fear of reprisal. Sometimes I think it is almost at the cost of being Canadian. For instance, there are so many people I know that do not celebrate being Canadian on Canada Day, but then there are many that do. I think it may in fact because we are a modest bunch of Canadians who quietly wear the pride of being a Canadian, though we definitely may not have been previously in history.
rysaz11 9:34 am on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The idea of Canada being multicultural is not a novel concept however, it might seem that way since as a nation we have embraced that quality as part of our identity only recently. We have learned so far that in large settlements for trading, people from diverse areas of the world ranging from Africa and Portugal, arrived to what we predominantly see as a homogenous French settlement united by a desire for new opportunities and a better life (The idea of an American dream is far from unique). It has to be pointed out that while many different cultures were living together, tolerance and acceptance were not ideas that developed with the situation. Slavery was common, and society functioned in the same heirarchal fashion Europe did. Therefore even though Canada was technically multicultural, the romanticized harmony we associate with the concept was absent until relatively recently.
The idea we pride ourselves for personifying is still slightly misleading nonetheless as Canada has one of the worst records in theworldfor treatment of the aboriginal peoples, and countless Canadians are still suffering the ramifications of that. Furthermore, Quebec recently has been challenging one of the tenets of Canada by cutting down rights to religious self expression to “preserve their identity”–whatever that means.
Most importantly, I want to address that even though multiculturalism can exist in a place of immigrants like it has in the past and now, the “culture” every individual brings with them from their respective background will slowly evolve to suit the surroundings and assimilate until they cannot fully identify with their roots anymore. This is what happened to the French settlers and African slaves over generation so in a way it’s safe to say we kind of…lose our identity in a multicultural community that is a homogenous mixture of all cultures
mwaldron 1:53 pm on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The view that Canada’s multiculturalism is new to our society that can be argued either yes or no, based on many different factors. Already in this course, we have discussed or touched on Dutch, French, English and First Nations cultures being present in Canada in early times. These cultures mixed together, either by choice or force (i.e. marriages vs conversions) and those mixed cultures can still be seen today.
However… “Multicultural” is defined as being made up of many cultures, so in that case, Canada always has been and will be multicultural. Even within the First Nations communities before European contact, there were different views, values and cultures. But the term “society,” although it has many definitions, can be seen as a group of people who come together, a community, coming together for religious, cultural, & political reasons. It is clear that with the French settlers and colonies in New France there was no sense of this “society” although the two groups lived in the same regions. In this line, it can be argued that Canada is still not a completely “multicultural” society, as in present day we still see prejudice both socially and politically between cultural groups.
That said, I enjoy how we as Canadians do not take this term so literally, but rather as a representation of our “cultural mosaic,” implying that we are a country in which we are accepting and integrating of many different cultures.
doraleung 2:24 pm on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada has one of the largest varieties of different cultures living within its country. We open our arms to diversity and multiculturalism. Today, we see many people of different races and ethnicities working together, going to school together and attending various events together. However, though we may be a harmonious multicultural nation now, does not mean that we were always this way. In a sense, Canada was multicultural since the beginning because we had the First Nations, the British, the French and the Americans living in one country. However, they were most definitely not living harmoniously. For example, during the 16th century, France voyaged over the Atlantic to Canada seeing a profitable business opportunity in fur trades. By the 1590s, the fur trade was booming and the French felt the need to claim the fur trade for their own and monopolize the business. In order to do so they needed to establish connections with the First Nations around the area of their settlement, Port Royal, otherwise known as Acadia or Annapolis Royal. Samuel de Champlain alliance with the Innu, the Huron and the Algonkin. Alliances with these aboriginals groups helped the French in raiding “The Five Nations”. While the Huron and the French were gaining strength the French felt that they did not have enough settlers, therefore the company of a hundred associates was called for by the French government. However, with the introduction of this company to the British North Americas, also came the introduction of disease which killed nearly half of the entire Huron nation and it also increased warfare due to the politics involving Dutch muskets and the Mohawk raids. Tension and disagreement was stirring between the French and Huron. Eventually due to the raids, the Huron spread out in all directions for Huronia causing the colony itself to disappear.
chliane 4:08 pm on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada’s multiculturalism does not seem like a new idea to me, as I have been taught this in schools since I can remember. From what we have learned in lectures, I would say that this is quite true. Canada was found by European travelers, who brought their people and their cultures across the Atlantic.
We would have met the requirements of multiculturalism in the simplest definition, that is to say having many cultures in one state, right from the beginning. The French were the first Europeans to create a permanent settlement on what would be Canada. Before them, the land was already filled with the aboriginals, and they had many different cultures of their own. These different groups would already meet the requirements for being multicultural, as we cannot just lump all natives together. Before the Europeans came over, there were just the natives, who interacted with each other, while still occupying their own territories and had their own traditions.
But from what we’ve learned in lectures, it seems that being accepting of the different cultures was not always the norm. The most important aspect of being a multicultural society is accepting people who are different from your own. This may be the aspect of multiculturalism that is relatively new. Before the Europeans arrived, the different groups of natives did not consider themselves part of one ‘country,’ and therefore not a multicultural nation. The Europeans brought the notion of a bordered territory, and created their colony. The respect for different cultures was not necessarily found with the French for the natives either, who only saw the natives as necessary for trade, and simply tolerated them. Today the idea of multicultural acceptance is much more widespread.
lsmack 4:28 pm on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada’s been multicultural since before it was discovered by the Europeans. Each landscape of Canada had first nations people adapted to that specific area. The west coast itself had 17 or so different languages. There was no one language or group that controlled all of west coast. It was divided between all the groups living in BC. Each group had their own land to work off of and they also worked with their neighbors in barter and trade.
What made it more multicultural was the Europeans when they wanted to expand their empires after accidentally discovering Canada. Once they seen all the resources at their disposal, they dug in their feet and set up camp permanently making Canada their new home. They worked hard to set up farms, trading posts, ports, and a reputation with the First Nations to keep their trade routes. Then there was the integration of the french with the natives to create their own people. They were outcast ed by both the french and the natives so they became their own nation.
Canada as a Multicultural Nation is not new. Canada’s been always multicultural. The idea is something that was coined to describe the demographics of Canada as it couldn’t designate one nation as it’s symbol. There are way too many people that helped create Canada that we cannot just point out to one type of people to take the credit.
Tina Loo 3:56 pm on September 14, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Luke, In the future, please draw more directly on the information you learn in lectures to write your posts. The blog is meant to get you to reflect on the lectures on a regular basis.
vinciane 4:51 pm on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
From what we have so far, Canada has a long history of being a multicultural nation. Even if we only consider the first peoples there, the aboriginal people, as the “people who turned right”, they went all the way from Africa, though Asia, Siberia, to North Canada. Once there, we know they separated into deferent tribes and communities, each having its own culture and language. It was, in a sense, already a multicultural country (though not yet a country…). But then again, this could be said about a lot of places in the world, and different communities almost never mixing together hardly makes for a multicultural country.
What is different, however, is the meeting of two entities as early as the tenth century. It is probable that the first encounter between indigeneous peoples in Canada and other peoples dates back from before Columbus ever set foot there, with the Norse people coming from Greenland, and it is suspected that many travels and some permanent settlements were made. Later came Columbus, the English people, the French, the Portuguese and so on.
On one hand, the large variety of cultures and peoples who met early on the now Canadian territories makes up for a long history of a multicultural nation, but on the other hand, much of that history is marked by wars and blood.
jenniferbishop 4:57 pm on September 13, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Today Canada is very multicultural nation. This is evident in our everyday lives for example just walking down the street you can see the diversity of Canadians. Also this may seem like a recent shift as a more globalized world, our country has always been a multicultural nation. It began with the different Indigenous groups who lived in Canada, such as the Huron, Innu, and Iroquois. While there were occasion conflicts between the Aboriginal groups, for the most part they were able to live beside one another cooperatively. This idea of multicultural became to change when the French created permanent settlements along Saint Lawrence River. Now a days idea of multiculturalism is more in tune with that the Aboriginal thought, with different culture living in harmony. Perhaps this transition from hostilely between different cultural groups to a more accepted view today because although there has always been multiculturalism in Canada it seems more accepted today because of globalization and how we are more aware of different cultures.
Tina Loo 4:00 pm on September 14, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Comments on your posts for Week 2:
Just so you know, I will offer general comments on the blog entries most weeks. Some weeks I will comment on each student’s blog (I can’t do that every week so I am rotating among the 5 tutorial sections).
In general, you all did quite well. I would remind you that the blogs are meant to get you to reflect on the lectures, so I expect you to draw on them directly in writing your entry.
Most of you appreciated that the place that became Canada was multicultural from the start in that it was home to many different nations and cultures; in other words, as many of you noted last week, what distinguished the place that became Canada was its diversity, which was there even before Canada existed!
However, some of you went on to make some important observations which I think all of us need to keep in mind: (1) that the place that would become Canada is more accurately described as multi-national; i.e. home to many different nations (Indigenous and European); in other words (2) the place that became Canada was diverse, but it wasn’t a single nation. In addition, and (3) there wasn’t the acceptance or even the tolerance of differences and the idea of equality that lies behind the modern notion of multiculturalism.
So…where does that leave us? In the 17th and 18th centuries, the place that would become Canada was a diverse, multi-national place. It was home to many cultures, but it wasn’t a single nation. Perhaps the story of Canada is how this multi-national place became a multicultural nation-state….