Chapter 2 Expressing Canadian Culture and Identity Social

Chapter 2 Expressing Canadian Culture and Identity Social 10 -2

Group Task – 5 -10 min. Read p. 22 in text Using paper provided, divide the page in half and on one side draw your stereotypical Canadian in the year 1867. On the other side, draw your stereotypical Canadian in the year 2014. Incorporate clothes, symbols, images and attitudes to help reflect your stereotype.

Individual vs. Collective Identity Who we are can be defined by the characteristics we have that are individual or collective in nature. Individual Identity- the group of personal characteristics and values people use to define themselves as individuals. Your habits, likes, dislikes, views, personality etc. Ex. I like basketball, baggy pants, people with a sense of humor… Collective Identity- the common characteristics and values that come from the groups people belong to. Ex. I am Ukrainian, Canadian, and Edmontonion, a member of the church….

Influences on Collective Identity Language – Culture – Ethnicity – Religion – Country -

So what is your identity? With a partner, interview each other to get to know one another better. Take turns asking questions about one another’s interests, likes/dislikes, family, values etc. and record information about your partner’s identity. Once you have interviewed one another, add to your own lists and start organizing the parts of your identity into a T – chart: Individual identity Collective Identity

Is there such a thing as a one size fits all Canadian Identity? Think back to the image you drew. Did you draw images of individual or collective identities? What characteristics on your image truly define us as Canadians? What characteristics were not represented and should be?

Globalization and Identity In what ways could globalization shape our identity? One way to understand the impact of globalization is to explore its effects on people over time. Your grandparents probably defined themselves as something else other then Canadian (for example my grandmother is First Nations first, Canadian second). What else has changed in the past 50 years that may have changed how Canadians define themselves?

How does increased global interaction affect our individual and collective identities? Read p. 26 -27 In what ways has globalization has affected your lives positively? In what ways has globalization affected your lives negatively? What about other people across Canada? Can you think

The Métis Identity There is no better example as to how globalization can affect identity than the history and experiences of the Métis. The First Métis were children of First Nations women and French explorers who began to arrive in the 1500 s and 1600 s. While at first they would simply adopt the traditions and lifestyles of their mothers, eventually they began to see themselves as a distinct people. Because the Métis could speak both English and French they became valuable guides and translators for many European explorers.

Métis Identity continued Eventually the Métis began to settle together, first around the great lakes and eventually moving further west. They developed their own language (Michif – mee-SHEEF) and culture. As more and more settlers arrived in the west, the Métis identity began to become affected. The Métis had to fight to assert their rights on their traditional lands,

The Métis Identity p. 27 -28 Read p. 28 and answer the following questions: 1. How did the government of Canada make room in Métis lands for European settlers? 2. Was this fair? Why or Why not? 3. How did this affect the Métis Identity? 4. How are the Métis People responding to globalization today?