Reconciling Nationalist Loyalties

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Chapter 3

• Reconciling Nationalist Loyalties

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Chapter Issue

• To what extent should people reconcile their
  contending nationalist loyalties?
• What is this issue asking?
• Break the issue down ? What are some of the
  different understandings of nationalism again?
  What does contending mean?

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Loyalty

• What is it?
• Commitment, allegiance, faithfulness, devotion,
  fidelity (holds true to its cause), steadfastness
  (not a deserter), attachment.
• These are all synonyms to describe an idea that
  you support something.

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Loyalty and Patriotism

• Like love, patriotism is a feeling.
• Loyalty is a behaviour that can stem from
  patriotism.
• For example, if someone felt that it was their
  patriotic duty to defend the country in a time of
  crisis then joining the military during this time
  would be a way to show their loyalty.

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Contending Loyalties

• Sometimes people have to choose between loyalties
  that compete with/go against each other and this
  can be very difficult.
• Another name for these competing loyalties is
  contending loyalties.
• For example, if I was born in one country and I
  live in another, which one might I cheer for if
  they play each other in the Olympics?

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Affirming Loyalties

• Depending on what choices we make, many of us
  wish to demonstrate our loyalties. This can be
  done through symbols like maple leaf pins or
  through symbolic actions like rising to sing the
  national anthem.
• These affirmations of loyalty to ones country
  can be done individually or as a collective
  (group).

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Affirming First Nations Loyalties

• In 1982 the First Nations reorganized their
  leadership and renamed their governing body ?
  from the National Indian Brotherhood to the
  Assembly of First Nations (AFN).
• This assembly represents leaders from all of the
  first nations individual governments.
• The first nations each retain their nation status
  so that they can each deal with the Canadian
  government on a nation-to-nation basis which is
  important when dealing with Treaty rights and
  agreements.

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Making a Difference

• Read the making a difference section on page 71
  and discuss the exploration questions as a class.

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Pluralism and Multiculturalism

• Many people from around the world are attracted
  to Canada because it allows, and even, encourages
  distinct groups to retain and practice their
  cultural heritage.
• How far should we go with this though?
• Some like George Jonas say we have gone to far at
  the expense of the host country while other, like
  John Ibbitson, argue that this multiculturalism
  is what finally gives us, as Canadians, a sense
  of identity and patriotism. What do you think?

10
Reasonable Accommodation

• A legal and constitutional concept that requires
  Canadian public institutions to adapt to the
  religious and cultural practices of minorities as
  long as these practices do not violate other
  rights and freedoms.
• Page 73 ? 2 examples of reasonable accommodation
  cases/challenges. Discuss as a class.
• Do reasonable accommodations create national
  loyalties or divide us a Canadians?

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Nationalist Loyalties

• Many times we can have multiple loyalties coexist
  such as being proudly Canadian while keeping up
  to date and supporting your country of origin.
• Other times, however, loyalties can conflict. If,
  for example, you were a proud francophone from
  Montreal and a proud Canadian what would you do
  if Quebec became independent?
• Are there loyalties worth fighting for?
• Ties to the land seems to lead to conflict
• treaty rights in Canada
• Jewish Israelis against Palestinians in the
  middle east

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July 1st in Newfoundland

• Read about the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel on page
  75
• How many of you have ever heard of this battle
  before or knew that some Canadians might have
  conflicting feelings on Canada Day?

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Taking Turns

• Three readers for page 76 and discuss.

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Québec Sovereignty Debate

• Sovereignists people who feel that Québec
  should be a nation-state of its own.
• Federalists Québécois who oppose sovereignty.
  (who might these people be?)
• Look at the numbers for the 1995 Referendum on
  page 77.

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The Oka crisis

• In 1990 a group of Mohawks set up a roadblock and
  camp to stop the expansion of a golf course onto
  land that they considered sacred.
• The Quebec government refused to meet with them
  until they disbanded the roadblock and camp and
  they refused to do this until they met with the
  government.

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Oka Continued

• This went on for four months until the Quebec
  provincial police were brought in. As the
  conflict was trying to be resolved a police
  officer was shot and killed.
• Other First Nations set up their own roadblocks
  in support and as the crisis deepened the
  military was brought in (look at the picture on
  page 82)

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Oka continued

• The protest finally ended after almost 7 months
  with many protestors facing criminal charges.
  Almost all were found not guilty.
• The federal government bought the land and
  transferred the rights to the Mohawks but, even
  so, this dispute left a bitter legacy for many
  First Nations.

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Royal Commission on Aboriginal People

• The Oka crisis caused the federal government to
  set up a new commission to review the
  relationship between First Nations people and the
  rest of Canada.
• The key finding of the commission was that the
  First Nations have been mistreated throughout the
  history of Canada and that they need to be
  treated respectfully as nations with the rights
  to govern themselves in partnership with Canada.

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Statement of Reconciliation

• In 1998, Canada issued a statement to aboriginal
  people and nations basically apologizing for how
  First Nations people have been treated throughout
  Canadas past (pg. 83)
• Some were happy and saw this as a step forward
  while others saw this as empty words.
• How do you feel? Is this helpful or hurtful to
  the process?

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Land Claims

• The source of the most intense conflicts between
  aboriginal and non-aboriginal people.
• Over 800 remain unsettled while only a few have
  been successfully settled in Canadian history.
• Many, including the leader of the AFN, agree that
  many aboriginal communities are fed up with the
  slow pace and are reaching their breaking points.

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Chapter Review

• Do the think, participate, research and
  communicate questions on pages 86 and 87.