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The Exile of The Acadians
The Acadians were exiled because they wouldn't swear allegiance to Britain and because they were French. They were forced to give up their land, money, and livestock to the British, and to leave the province. 10 000 Acadians were deported, and thousands of those died while traveling. This shows how unwanted Francophones were, and how they were forced to leave because of who they were. Negatively affecting their identity as they were persecuted because of who they were. -
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
This battle during the Seven Years' War, changed the history of Canada. The British defeated the French in Battle, which led to the French surrendering Québec to the British. This event heavily influenced the identity and culture of Canada. This is because the British won, and Canada became a primarily English speaking country. If the French had won, Canada today would most likely be dominated by the French language, and culture. -
The Royal Proclamation and The First Nations of Canada
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 formed the basis of land claims of Aboriginal people in Canada, and established that indigenous people had certain rights to the lands they occupied. Many people believe that this is a fundamental document for First Nations land claims and their right to self government. Although some would disagree on if the proclamation recognizes or undermines Aboriginal peoples right to tribal sovereignty. -
The British Politician, Lord Durham and his Report
Lord Durham was instructed to write a report on what caused the Twin Rebellions in Canada. His report included that the French should be assimilated as they are a people with no literature and no history. He believed that through a legislative union of the Canadas, an English-speaking majority would dominate. This affects the Francophone peoples in Canada as they were excluded from Canada's early history as if they had no part in how the British came into power in Canada. -
Confederation of Canada
The Confederation of Canada on July 1st, 1867 united New Bruswick, Nova Scotia, and the province of Canada (what is now Ontario and Quebec). The Confederation of Canada was the start of building a nation that was to be 'Sea to Sea". Unifying Canada was the start of creating a true Canadian identity for the citizens of Canada. During confederation the Aboriginal people of Canada were not consulted about unifying Canada. Starting their Canadian identity off with being excluded. -
The Riel Rebellion
The government purchased Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay company to expand Canada. Ignoring the Métis people already living there. Led by Louis Riel the Métis rebelled in 1869 and 1870 to force the government to listen to their concerns. The federal government passed the Manitoba Act that insured their rights and gave them land. In the end the Métis dream of self-determination was never reached, and were treated the same way as aboriginal people were treated by the government in the past. -
The Indian Act
This act was introduced as an apology from the colonials attempts at eradicating First Nation culture, and trying to assimilate them into European culture. The Indian Act gives "Indian status", local First Nations governments and the management of reserve land and communal monies. Although the act sounds good it wasn't. The act replaced traditional structures of governance with band council elections, and gave the government power over what a First Nation identity was. -
Chinese Head Tax
The Chinese Head tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants in 1885-1923. Chinese people had to pay $50, and later $500 to move to Canada. This was imposed after the Canadian government no longer needed their labour for the railway. They wanted to restrict the amount of Chinese immigrants in Canada. The Chinese people felt unaccepted and singled out by the government, and the non-Chinese people of Canada. Making them not feel like Canadian citizens like the rest of the population in Canada. -
The Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba government passed laws that eliminated separate Roman Catholic schools, and French as an official language in the province of Manitoba. In 1896 an election was held and Wilfred Laurier became the new PM, and organized meetings with the Premier of Manitoba. They came to a compromise with three main points, these points affected taxes and teaching of French in schools. This affected Francophones by not promoting their language, and culture. -
The Conscription Crisis in World War One
In WWI the huge death toll began to cause reinforcement issues for Canada, and voluntary enlistment was slowing. Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden decided that compulsory service was necessary. Québec opposed conscription while the rest of the Anglophone provinces were in favour of it. This divided Canada once again between the Francophones and the Anglophones of Canada. The Francophones felt betrayed by the Government, as they felt that they shouldn't have to fight for the British Empire. -
Chinese Immigration Act
This act banned the immigration of virtually all Chinese people to Canada. This was Canada's most racist law, excluding them from entering Canada completely after the Chinese head tax did not deter further Chinese immigration. This affects Canadian identity by not supporting multiculturalism which is a big part of the Canadian identity today. Singling out the Chinese people, and excluding them from being part of the collective Canadian identity or creating their own Canadian identity. -
Newfoundland Joins Canada
A referendum was held to decide if Newfoundland should self-govern, join confederation, or be commission ruled. The referendum had split votes between being self-governed or joining Canada. A second referendum was done, and this time joining Canada won the vote. This was because of the close relationship that the Newfoundlanders had created during the war, the Newfoundlanders thought of themselves as being "Canadianized" already before the joining of confederation. -
The Quiet Revolution
This Revolution was called quiet as there were only changes to policies in Quebec. These changes promoted social and economic reforms and to raise the standard of living in Quebec, they also wanted to have special privileges for the province. The federal government and most Canadians didn't understand why Québec should get special privileges. The problems in Québec were thought to be because of bad leadership, and not because they don't have enough control over their affairs. -
The White Paper
The White Paper was a government policy that abolishes all legal documents and laws on Aboriginal rights. This included the Indian Act and treaties. The White Papers goal was to assimilate all Aboriginal people in Canada. The White paper was later revoked in 1970 after receiving backlash. This affects the identity of Aboriginal people as it takes away their recognition as a nation within Canada. It also takes away many of their rights enabling them to practice their culture and traditions. -
The Red Paper
The Red Paper was published in response to the White Paper, and was formally known as the Citizens Plus document. It was published by the Indian Association of Alberta, and Harold Cardinal. This document rejected the White Paper. There response showed the importance of the treaties and their rights to them, as they are a part of their national identity. -
The FLQ
The Front de libération du Québec is best known for the October crisis. The FLQ is an extremist separatist group that started a terrorist campaign by plating bombs in mail boxes. The federal government realized that this was becoming serious and set up the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. They asked about English, and French relations and tried to find ways resolve issues. This shows that people believe that the Canadian identity includes Québec. -
Canada Adopts Official Multiculturalism
The adoption of multiculturalism in Canada, was done by forming a formal policy to protect, and promote diversity, recognize the rights of Aboriginal peoples, and support the use of Canada's two official languages. The adoption of multiculturalism insures that Canadians can express their heritage, and be Canadian at the same time. Leaving no Canadian feeling exempt from having a Canadian identity. What it means to be Canadian is to be diverse together. -
The Calder Case
This was a court case regarding Aboriginal Title's over land claims historically occupied by the Nisga people. The case was lost but this showed that Aboriginal Title has a place in Canadian law. This was the foundation of the treaty that gave the Nisga'a people the right to self-government. What this did for other Aboriginal people was that it showed that self-government could be achieved. This is an issue that has affected Aboriginal people as they have different ways of government & justice. -
Election of the Parti Québécois
The PQ party is nationalist political party in Quebec, after being elected the most notable things they did was hold two referendums regarding Québec sovereignty, and Bill 101. This showed Canada just how nationalistic their beliefs are, and just how important their culture and language is to them as a nation. -
Bill 101
Bill 101 was introduced in Quebec in 1977, this bill made French the official language of the government, the workplace, instruction, communications, commerce and business in Quebec. It also made education in French mandatory for immigrants. Bill 101 promoted Francophone culture and language, by making it almost impossible for an English-speaking person to be able to effectively live there and not have to learn French. -
The National Energy Program
This was enacted for the federal government to have greater control over the Canadian petroleum industry, secure oil supplies, and redistribute Alberta's oil wealth to the rest of the country. Many Westerners from Alberta thought that this as a "money grab" from Ottawa for the West's valuable resources. This left Westerners specifically Albertans feeling outraged, and further alienated by the East. -
The Referendum of 1980
The Referendum of 1980 was held to decide if the people of Quebec wanted to separate from Canada. If the voters said yes to sovereignty, then the government would begin negotiating a deal with the federal government. The result of this referendum was no, 60% of the votes were against separation. This showed the rest of Canada that the people of Québec still identified as Canadian. They still wanted to be apart of Canada, and they wouldn't be "breaking up the nation" as most Anglophones believed. -
Quebec Refuses to Sign the Constitution
Quebec refused to sign the constitution because they would have lost their right to veto any future changes to the constitution, and it would protect the rights of Anglophones in Québec meaning Bill 101 would be gone. This means that the Francophones culture and language wouldn't be as protected as it was before. -
The Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord, was an agreement between the federal and provincial governments to amend the Constitution by increasing provincial powers and declaring Québec a "distinct society." Support for the accord later diminished and the accord was never put into affect. Anglophone's did not understand why the Québécois didn't support the accord as it gave them power and recognized them as a nation. Aboriginal people did not support the accord as it failed to recognize them as a distinct nation. -
Reasonable Accommodation
In 1990, Baltej Dhillon campaigned for change in the RCMP, after he refused to wear the traditional stetson hat, and shaved face. He refused as his religious obligations required him to have a beard and a turban.
This event is important to Canadian identity as Baltej like many other Canadians, is an immigrant. He has two loyalties, one is to Canada and the other to his religion. To be a Canadian to him means to be able to practice his religion freely, while serving his country Canada. -
The Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis was a standoff between the Mohawk indigenous group, the police and army. This protest was over the proposed expansion of a golf course that would expand over a Mohawk burial ground. The matter was resolved after the government bought the land and gave it to the Mohawks. This shows that there are still unaddressed issues dealing with Aboriginal rights. This affects Aboriginal peoples identity as it showcases that they still don't have complete control over their traditional lands. -
The Formation of the Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois was officially formed in 1991 and was registered as an official party in 1993. This party promotes Québec's interests and Québec's sovereignty. In the 1993 election the Bloc Québécois became the official opposition in the house of commons. They played an important role in the 1995 Referendum on sovereignty. The creation of another nationalist party, that became the official opposition shows the increasing amount of nationalism in Québec. -
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
This was established in the wake of the Oka Crisis, and investigated the relations between Aboriginal people, and non-aboriginal peoples in Canada. Their goal was to answer this question: What are the foundations of a fair and honourable relationship between the Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people in Canada? The result was that it condemned the treatment of Aboriginal peoples. This affects Aboriginals by recognizing their mistreatment, in hopes to promote their identity. -
The Charlottetown Accord
This accord followed the failed Meech Lake Accord, and was another attempt to amend the constitution. For this accord proposals from citizens, and First Nation groups were taken, and a referendum was held to vote on if the government should implement the Accord. The outcome of the referendum was no, and it was not put into place. This was because the accord gave everyone something to agree with, but also something to disagree with. This was the result of the government trying to please everyone. -
Referendum of 1995
Québec held another referendum to ask the Québecois if they should separate from Canada. The result this time was much closer compared to the results from the referendum in 1980. The Québecois still voted no to separating, but this time only 50.58% said no. Showing Canada that they were identifying not as Canadian, but instead as Québecois, with their own distinct nation, and culture. Which was becoming more and more important to them as a nation. -
The Québecois Nation
In 2006 the House of Commons officially recognized the Québecois as a nation within Canada. This was enacted in an attempt to stop Québec from trying to separate from Canada. By recognizing that the Québecois are a nation, some believe that this would make them progress their pursuit of sovereignty from Canada. -
Canada apologizes for Residential Schools
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology in the House of Commons to offer an apology, from the Government of Canada. This apology was to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada apologizing for the abuse, suffering, and generational and cultural dislocation that resulted from assimilative, government-sanctioned residential schools. This affected Canadian identity negatively as what was done in the past does not reflect the Canadian values of today. -
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The rate of MMIWG in Canada is higher than that of non-indigenous women. On 12/08/15 the federal government launched a national inquiry on MMIWG. Before the inquiry it was known as a hidden crisis as the police and Natives have discrepancies on the numbers of M&M women. If Aboriginal women continue to be subjected to higher violence rates, and nothing is done about it, and cases continue to be unsolved. Mistrust towards the government will continue to grow within the Aboriginal community. -
The TRC 94 Calls to Action
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released 94 calls to action. Urging the three levels of Canadian government to work together, to change policies and programs in attempt to fix the harm done by residential schools.
This is important as Aboriginal peoples have been left with intergenerational trauma because of their mistreatment. This affects their Canadian identity as they may not want to call themselves Canadian, because Canadians have treated them so poorly in the past.
