Who are we?

[Machjo]

I was wondering: who are we as Canadians?

I can see at least two perspectives on this:

1. The territorial 'we' ()looking at Canada through the eyes of the events that occured on this land over millenia.

'We' likely crossed the Bearing Strait 30 to 50 thousand years ago. 'We' worked our way down the landmass of the Americas and founded great civilizations among the Aztecs and Mya, with some of the knowledge, be it mathematical, astronomical, or architectural, having spread as far North as the Canadian shield. I seem to remember a book I'd read a few years ago mentioning something about the astronomical alignment of the Inukchuk or something of the sort, but I'd have to look further into it. I remember that the Aztec calendar was more precisely solar than the European at the time, off by only a few seconds. And they had a few other technologies.

Later, 'we' discovered the white man who later settled on this land, and grew in population and diversity, and the new 'we' gradually became aware of a wider world while at the same time being confronted with rapid cultural changes at home...

The Eurocultural 'we'

'Our' history begins in Europe, and later 'we' discovered the America's and its inhabitants, who togerther formed the two founding nations of 'our' country.

Of course there's also the universal 'we'.

'Our' history is the common history fo man's development of an ever advancing world civilization.

I'm sure there are other conceptions of 'we'.

But really, I'm starting to wonder, who are 'we' really?

[Smallc]

'We' likely crossed the Bearing Strait 30 to 50 thousand years ago.

Actually there is evidence that there was Europeans here before that and that the Ojibway are descendants of those people and the people that came over the bearing strait. Also, there is a thought that the Inuit might be descendants of ancient Irish people...there is a great deal of confusion now over who was here when.

Also, it's not certain when aboriginal people came here...it may have been as recent as 10 000 years. They aren't really sure.

Edited June 2, 2009 by Smallc

[Smallc]

http://ctvmedia.ca/discovery/releases/rele...3&yyyy=2005

[Machjo]

Actually there is evidence that there was Europeans here before that and that the Ojibway are descendants of those people and the people that came over the bearing strait. Also, there is a thought that the Inuit might be descendants of ancient Irish people...there is a great deal of confusion now over who was here when.

Also, it's not certain when aboriginal people came here...it may have been as recent as 10 000 years. They aren't really sure.

I realise this. But the main point is, in Canadian history books, who is 'we'. Would it be appropriate to say that we, as Canadians, have a log history possibly dating back 10 thousand years or more, and that later we discovered the white man? Or would it be more accurate to say that 'our' Canadian history begins in Europe and that we eventually discovered the Americas and its inhabitants?

Or is 'our' history something different?

'We' often talk of 'our' history and culture as if 'we' know what 'we' are talking about. But really, if 'our' history is European, then these two founding nations just got off the boat this morning. Not much history there, at least not on this land.

If it's an endocentric history, then 'we' have lost most of our cuture and adopted a foreign one along with an exocentric view of 'ourselves'.

So who are 'we' exactly, and what is 'Canada'?

[Machjo]

http://ctvmedia.ca/discovery/releases/rele...3&yyyy=2005

Interesting. I remember a book years ago pointing to some cultural similariteis between the Aztecs and Inuits, as I'd mentioned above. It's a shame I don't have the book now since I can't remember the details, but it was fascinating. The Aztecs had a more accurate calendar than the Europeans!

[Smallc]

I think...that we are...Canadian. Canada was built by many people from many places. This includes English - Canadians, French - Canadians, Aboriginal - Canadians, etc, etc, etc.

Canada, I would say, is quite unique in the world. We have so many groups that live together here in relative peace and harmony, and each of them has helped to shape this great country. I have heard Canada described as a nation of nations, and I don't think there is any better description.

Yes, we have our problems here with separatist sentiments in a couple provinces and fights over money, but overall we have created something that ais almost unmatched throughout the world. We are truly blessed.

Canada is a place where anyone who is willing to follow the rules can move to. They can keep being who they are, and they can keep celebrating their culture, and at the same time, they can live with a simple satisfaction...a quiet patriotism, if you will (and that's what Canadians have)...because they live in this great country, with so many great people.

I could go into talking about national symbols, and landmarks, and traditions, but overall I think that the above (at least in my view) is the essence of Canada.

[Machjo]

I think...that we are...Canadian. Canada was built by many people from many places. This includes English - Canadians, French - Canadians, Aboriginal - Canadians, etc, etc, etc.

Canada, I would say, is quite unique in the world. We have so many groups that live together here in relative peace and harmony, and each of them has helped to shape this great country. I have heard Canada described as a nation of nations, and I don't think there is any better description.

Yes, we have our problems here with separatist sentiments in a couple provinces and fights over money, but overall we have created something that ais almost unmatched throughout the world. We are truly blessed.

Canada is a place where anyone who is willing to follow the rules can move to. They can keep being who they are, and they can keep celebrating their culture, and at the same time, they can live with a simple satisfaction...a quiet patriotism, if you will (and that's what Canadians have)...because they live in this great country, with so many great people.

I could go into talking about national symbols, and landmarks, and traditions, but overall I think that the above (at least in my view) is the essence of Canada.

I can agree with you overall, but it's still a fascinating subject. For instance, 1 July in Montreal is a common moving day. In La Malbaie, a Canadian flag is a sure symbol of federalism, and only one who wants to get noticed as such would be waving it. Overwise, all we see is white and blue flittering in the wind.

My mother is a typical Franco Ontarian Catholic, my father a fairly typical British Anglican. I have fond memories of my childhood while de la tire Sainte Catherine, something totally foreign to English Canada.

Even our national anthem is different, the French version dripping of Roman Catholicism.

I can only imagine what the anthem is like in Inuktitut. What is their daily life like. What are their childhood memories. And for those who don't know our language, what information about us does get filtered to them?

I've foud in French too that only a part of English Canadian culture really filters through. Same in reverse.

Not saying anything bad, but a fscinating subject to know about. How much do we really know about one another.

[Smallc]

I can agree with you overall, but it's still a fascinating subject. For instance, 1 July in Montreal is a common moving day. In La Malbaie, a Canadian flag is a sure symbol of federalism, and only one who wants to get noticed as such would be waving it. Overwise, all we see is white and blue flittering in the wind.

There are a number of Canadian flags in both cities though, are there not? I know all of the pictures show many....often crossed with a Quebec flag in the streets. There are also many in the tourist areas, from what I've seen.

[Machjo]

There are a number of Canadian flags in both cities though, are there not? I know all of the pictures show many....often crossed with a Quebec flag in the streets. There are also many in the tourist areas, from what I've seen.

In Montreal, many. In La Malbaie, I'd seen one or two. One was in a shop owned by a known federalist. And I can't remember if I'd seen any other, but if so, it would certainly have been in a federal government office. It was just part of the local culture. The federal flag represented open support for federalism in La Malbaie, one of the basions of sovereigntism. In fact, the only teachers at the highschool I worked at at the time who knew English were the English-teachers.

[charter.rights]

Actually there is evidence that there was Europeans here before that and that the Ojibway are descendants of those people and the people that came over the bearing strait. Also, there is a thought that the Inuit might be descendants of ancient Irish people...there is a great deal of confusion now over who was here when.

Also, it's not certain when aboriginal people came here...it may have been as recent as 10 000 years. They aren't really sure.

The most recent find in the Topper site in South Carolina, evidence of human occupation dates back 50,000 years ago. A highly disouted site in Mexico has determined that the artifacts found there sit below a geological layer carbon dated to 150,000 years ago.

In any case your statement is absurd and the Bering Strait ice bridge has been disproven as the only source of American population. Goven the dating of artifacts from South America northward archeologist have suggest that there is an indication of south to north migration, meaning that many native people originated in South America. This would have occurred if South America was populated out of Africa at the same time as the aborigines began migrating to Australia. An Antarctica migration is plausible.

[charter.rights]

I think...that we are...Canadian. Canada was built by many people from many places. This includes English - Canadians, French - Canadians, Aboriginal - Canadians, etc, etc, etc.

Canada, I would say, is quite unique in the world. We have so many groups that live together here in relative peace and harmony, and each of them has helped to shape this great country. I have heard Canada described as a nation of nations, and I don't think there is any better description.

Yes, we have our problems here with separatist sentiments in a couple provinces and fights over money, but overall we have created something that ais almost unmatched throughout the world. We are truly blessed.

Canada is a place where anyone who is willing to follow the rules can move to. They can keep being who they are, and they can keep celebrating their culture, and at the same time, they can live with a simple satisfaction...a quiet patriotism, if you will (and that's what Canadians have)...because they live in this great country, with so many great people.

I could go into talking about national symbols, and landmarks, and traditions, but overall I think that the above (at least in my view) is the essence of Canada.

Where do you think the concept of Peace, Welfare and Good Government came from?

[Smallc]

Where do you think the concept of Peace, Welfare and Good Government came from?

Peace Order and Good government...that came from the United Kingdom.

[Smallc]

In any case your statement is absurd and the Bering Strait ice bridge has been disproven as the only source of American population.

And again, no proof. I don't believe a thing that you type.

[Machjo]

The most recent find in the Topper site in South Carolina, evidence of human occupation dates back 50,000 years ago. A highly disouted site in Mexico has determined that the artifacts found there sit below a geological layer carbon dated to 150,000 years ago.

In any case your statement is absurd and the Bering Strait ice bridge has been disproven as the only source of American population. Goven the dating of artifacts from South America northward archeologist have suggest that there is an indication of south to north migration, meaning that many native people originated in South America. This would have occurred if South America was populated out of Africa at the same time as the aborigines began migrating to Australia. An Antarctica migration is plausible.

Interestng, this could then also eplain what I'd read a few years ago about certain similarities between Aztec and Inuit cultures and many others.

[Machjo]

Peace Order and Good government...that came from the United Kingdom.

Though the US federal system of government bears similarities with the Mohawk Federation.

Add to that that the cucrent non-partisan democracies in Nunavut and the North West Territories also have indigenous roots. Of course Britain's Parliament was once non-partisan too, but the non-partisan system in Canada's north does not stem from that but from their own culture of consensus covernment.

[Borg]

I was wondering: who are we as Canadians?

Navel gazing are we?

Canadians have been so diluted with other cultures which have either invaded or been invited here by the libs in their effort to take away our identity that we now are a tasteless soup that usually stands for nothing but tolerance - to the point they will tolerate literally anything - or at least look for an excuse to tolerate it.

Cross breeding and in breeding does not always provide a superior offspring.

Canada as a whole is not easily defined because the people - the vast majority of whom are weak and insip - are not willing to stand for much of anything.

Over all a once strong and proud group of people that have become weak and maudling - they have really accomplished little except mediocrity

Borg

Edited June 2, 2009 by Borg

[Smallc]

but the non-partisan system in Canada's north does not stem from that but from their own culture of consensus covernment.

I'm sure that's true of Nunavut, but I'm not sure it's true of NWT.

[Machjo]

Navel gazing are we?

Canadians have been so diluted with other cultures which have either invaded or been invited here by the libs in their effort to take away our identity that we now are a tasteless soup that usually stands for nothing but tolerance - to the point they will tolerate literally anything - or at least look for an excuse to tolerate it.

Cross breeding and in breeding does not always provide a superior offspring.

Canada as a whole is not easily defined because the people - the vast majority of whom are weak and insip - are not willing to stand for much of anything.

Over all a once strong and proud group of people that have become weak and maudling - they have really accomplished little except mediocrity

Borg

Nice rhetoric. Could you elaborate on that? Give an example? And instance? Anything?

[Machjo]

It's hard to counter ambiguity.

[charter.rights]

Peace Order and Good government...that came from the United Kingdom.

No it didn't. The concept of Peace, Welfare and Good Government came from the model of the Iroquois Confederacy. The term "welfare" was co-opted for "Order" by the Victorians since they were not concern with the welfare of the people, but only in their obedience so they could be exploited.

[Smallc]

Oh my goodness...I'm done arguing with you about....things.

[Leafless]

I think...that we are...Canadian. Canada was built by many people from many places. This includes English - Canadians, French - Canadians, Aboriginal - Canadians, etc, etc, etc.

Ha-ha-ha-ha.

The Dominion of Canada was created by the British North American Act of 1867 through the initial confederation confederation of Upper and lower Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Canada purchased Ruperts Land from Hudson's Bay company from which the provinces of Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan were later formed.

Newfoundland became the last province to join. Canada also includes three territories.

Canada's majority culture is the English culture that was built utilizing the civil liberties that was available to all other Canadian cultures.

[Smallc]

Yes...that's Canada's entire history...from 10K years ago until today.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Yes...that's Canada's entire history...from 10K years ago until today.

Since 1867 anyway, that was the first time there really was a Canada, before that it was just a colony or a group of first nations peoples.

[Smallc]

Since 1867 anyway, that was the first time there really was a Canada, before that it was just a colony or a group of first nations peoples.

There was no 'country' of Canada, but Oru history begins in many places throughout the Earth...even since 1867, that's not even a peek at what our history is. Yes, our government is Westminster, but we are a country of many peoples, many voices, and many contributions.