I think Canada is hard to define. I don’t think it is really something that is definable, it is a large mosaic of so many stories rooted in colonialism, Aboriginal matters, and political disagreements that made the country what it is now. At first my impression that Canada was a boring country, with not much to really say for itself other than the fact that we’re probably more peaceful on an international scale than most. However, since joining this course I feel like I have taken in so much information from the first settlers, to the French overtaking them, to the British overtaking the French, to the trading companies and political settlers trying to agree on a form of government. This is a country that simply can’t defined by answering what “is” Canada, because what it is an undefinable set of experiences and stories that is kind of like a phantom. It’s always there but only some can see it, and after learning about the different stories about Canada through this course I don’t think it’s possible to define it in a sentence. There simply isn’t a sentence accurate enough to make a statement about so much history, suffering, debates and sadness that happened on these lands. When I think back of what I’ve learned in this course I always think of Angelique and her story. I see how far we’ve come but also how little we’ve come. In relation to the picture, I think that’s a perfect example of false nationalism. How can you be proud of a nation without actually understanding it, understanding what it has truly represented up until this point? All of these stories make Canada an undefinable entity that has lived and seen experiences as we see them, but it has watched all of the bitterness and brutality and also the happy moments of our history. One picture, a thousand pictures simply could not define something that has such a vast history, I personally don’t think this is possible.
Canada today is a country that welcomes multiculturalism and boasts its many successful and internationally known institutions, such as health care and education systems. However, Canada was not always like this as we have learnt from the first half of this course. At first, there were only indigenous population. However, as contact was established with European countries, the demographic slowly changed. Discovering the economic potential that this vast area of land had, Europeans quickly adapted themselves to the environment through colonial settlement and established relationships with various different indigenous groups, which later led to conflicts. After the fur trade economy began slowing down, gold was discovered in British Columbia and this led to an influx of immigrants hoping to strike rich quick. As the European population quickly outnumbered indigenous population, the Europeans began to gain dominance and power, and soon polished their culture, in addition to growing their dominance and power. As the population grew, more conflicts arised and the population called for proper governance, which soon led to them demanding responsible government. Once all the colonies of British North America gained responsible government, they felt threatened by the ever growing tensions between the United States and their motherland, Britain. As the threat and tension grew stronger, the Canadas decided that uniting with the Atlantic colonies would protect the general interests of all the colonies. After many negotiations, much persuasion and help from Britain, and other external factors (ie. Fenian Raids, 1866), the British North Americas were united into one: the Dominion of Canada with the creation of the foundation of our political system today. However, Canada continues to evolve and our “image” changes with the times, hence, despite being able to state what is Canada, or more specifically, what we have, it would be difficult to define Canada in relation to all that it has been through and conjuring up a single word or picture for it.
The first semester of this course has redefined my understanding of Canada. My understanding of the country today has remained the same, but I now know about how it came to be to be the way it is today, at least from it’s history up until the nineteenth century. Although I knew Canada has a long history dating past European exploration of North America, I never considered how interesting and exciting it would be. I did not realize how much conflict was involved, contrary to the peaceful state of the country today. Canada began with population. People crossed the Bering Strait and into North America. It wasn’t until shortly after the end of the first millennium that a new story line developed. Contact between Europeans and aboriginals. European contact would come again when European powers began to reap the rewards of the resource rich territory. This intensified into Colonization. The expansion of British influence through exploration along with modernization connected an enormous area of land into an autonomous zone. Conflict is always a theme in history. Canada has experienced wars and struggles for political control over its history, but while these were important in shaping the country, I think that there is still a broader storyline for its history. Immigration and new beginnings. People have immigrated, intentionally or not, for thousands of years, and the same activity continues today. Canada is so cool (‘swag’ and cold)!
What is Canada? I personally don’t feel as if Canada could really be given a single definition. The dynamics of this country are vast and have been created over the years by the interactions between various groups of people. Europeans first came to Eastern Canada and developed the fur trade which involved dynamic relationships with the natives. Eventually the British gained control of the colony and transformed the relationships that had been brought about by the fur trade by not extending the same sense of cooperation and respect the french did and by becoming more of a dominating force over both groups of people. European control led to colonization expanding to the western frontier. The changing relationships mainly between french and British colonists and the natives as well the changing views towards the government due to economic concerns as well as social concerns eventually led to responsible government within colonies and then to confederation as the colonies began to weigh the economic, social, and military benefits of joining together as one country. Therefore, Canada is basically a product of the changing relationships between various groups who had inhabited the land and between these groups and the government. It is the product of the desires and aspirations of people as a whole who believed in responsible government and representation of the people and democracy. It is a product of the ideas, cultures, and practices, and individual desires of these different groups of people. Therefore, Canada cannot be given a single definition.
nkular93, 
mosachoff, 
millyzhu, and 1 other are discussing.
enorthwood 8:55 pm on November 20, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think Canada is hard to define. I don’t think it is really something that is definable, it is a large mosaic of so many stories rooted in colonialism, Aboriginal matters, and political disagreements that made the country what it is now. At first my impression that Canada was a boring country, with not much to really say for itself other than the fact that we’re probably more peaceful on an international scale than most. However, since joining this course I feel like I have taken in so much information from the first settlers, to the French overtaking them, to the British overtaking the French, to the trading companies and political settlers trying to agree on a form of government. This is a country that simply can’t defined by answering what “is” Canada, because what it is an undefinable set of experiences and stories that is kind of like a phantom. It’s always there but only some can see it, and after learning about the different stories about Canada through this course I don’t think it’s possible to define it in a sentence. There simply isn’t a sentence accurate enough to make a statement about so much history, suffering, debates and sadness that happened on these lands. When I think back of what I’ve learned in this course I always think of Angelique and her story. I see how far we’ve come but also how little we’ve come. In relation to the picture, I think that’s a perfect example of false nationalism. How can you be proud of a nation without actually understanding it, understanding what it has truly represented up until this point? All of these stories make Canada an undefinable entity that has lived and seen experiences as we see them, but it has watched all of the bitterness and brutality and also the happy moments of our history. One picture, a thousand pictures simply could not define something that has such a vast history, I personally don’t think this is possible.
millyzhu 9:26 pm on November 20, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Canada today is a country that welcomes multiculturalism and boasts its many successful and internationally known institutions, such as health care and education systems. However, Canada was not always like this as we have learnt from the first half of this course. At first, there were only indigenous population. However, as contact was established with European countries, the demographic slowly changed. Discovering the economic potential that this vast area of land had, Europeans quickly adapted themselves to the environment through colonial settlement and established relationships with various different indigenous groups, which later led to conflicts. After the fur trade economy began slowing down, gold was discovered in British Columbia and this led to an influx of immigrants hoping to strike rich quick. As the European population quickly outnumbered indigenous population, the Europeans began to gain dominance and power, and soon polished their culture, in addition to growing their dominance and power. As the population grew, more conflicts arised and the population called for proper governance, which soon led to them demanding responsible government. Once all the colonies of British North America gained responsible government, they felt threatened by the ever growing tensions between the United States and their motherland, Britain. As the threat and tension grew stronger, the Canadas decided that uniting with the Atlantic colonies would protect the general interests of all the colonies. After many negotiations, much persuasion and help from Britain, and other external factors (ie. Fenian Raids, 1866), the British North Americas were united into one: the Dominion of Canada with the creation of the foundation of our political system today. However, Canada continues to evolve and our “image” changes with the times, hence, despite being able to state what is Canada, or more specifically, what we have, it would be difficult to define Canada in relation to all that it has been through and conjuring up a single word or picture for it.
mosachoff 3:09 am on November 22, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The first semester of this course has redefined my understanding of Canada. My understanding of the country today has remained the same, but I now know about how it came to be to be the way it is today, at least from it’s history up until the nineteenth century. Although I knew Canada has a long history dating past European exploration of North America, I never considered how interesting and exciting it would be. I did not realize how much conflict was involved, contrary to the peaceful state of the country today. Canada began with population. People crossed the Bering Strait and into North America. It wasn’t until shortly after the end of the first millennium that a new story line developed. Contact between Europeans and aboriginals. European contact would come again when European powers began to reap the rewards of the resource rich territory. This intensified into Colonization. The expansion of British influence through exploration along with modernization connected an enormous area of land into an autonomous zone. Conflict is always a theme in history. Canada has experienced wars and struggles for political control over its history, but while these were important in shaping the country, I think that there is still a broader storyline for its history. Immigration and new beginnings. People have immigrated, intentionally or not, for thousands of years, and the same activity continues today. Canada is so cool (‘swag’ and cold)!
nkular93 1:39 pm on November 22, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
What is Canada? I personally don’t feel as if Canada could really be given a single definition. The dynamics of this country are vast and have been created over the years by the interactions between various groups of people. Europeans first came to Eastern Canada and developed the fur trade which involved dynamic relationships with the natives. Eventually the British gained control of the colony and transformed the relationships that had been brought about by the fur trade by not extending the same sense of cooperation and respect the french did and by becoming more of a dominating force over both groups of people. European control led to colonization expanding to the western frontier. The changing relationships mainly between french and British colonists and the natives as well the changing views towards the government due to economic concerns as well as social concerns eventually led to responsible government within colonies and then to confederation as the colonies began to weigh the economic, social, and military benefits of joining together as one country. Therefore, Canada is basically a product of the changing relationships between various groups who had inhabited the land and between these groups and the government. It is the product of the desires and aspirations of people as a whole who believed in responsible government and representation of the people and democracy. It is a product of the ideas, cultures, and practices, and individual desires of these different groups of people. Therefore, Canada cannot be given a single definition.