Contending Loyalties Non-Nationalist Loyalties Global Loyalties EXPLORING LOYALTIES Contending Loyalties Non-Nationalist Loyalties Global Loyalties

Contending Loyalties What are they? How do we define what is a “nation” Ethnic background/ancestry Cultural values/beliefs History Languages/Communication Religious/Spiritual Beliefs Geography Politics and Citizenship

Contending Loyalties Same as COMPETING LOYALTIES For example… what happens when Polygamy is raised as a constitutional issue (freedom of religion), but it distinctly goes against your personal religious beliefs? What element of “nation” do you follow? Your commitment to your country and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or your religion?

Another Example Its 1917, and the Canadian government is imposing forced Conscription. You are Francophone, and very much against fighting in a “British” war. BUT, you are a Canadian citizen, and so the law declares that you are required to serve…What do you do?

And ANOTHER Example… You are a member of a northern community, where your culture’s attachment to the land is serious and devoted and not to be used for profit. However, a large oil company is seeking to put wells on the land, and your community needs the money for infrastructure public services development… What do you do?

Our Loyalties… … to a specific nation are not isolated. They often over-lap with each other, causing confusion and competition in terms of which loyalty you will follow. Each and every situation in which you find contending loyalties are unique and distinct, and you will often find that opinions are varied and there is no clear answer.

Nationalism and Loyalty Nationalism requires that people feel a sense of loyalty to commitment to, and identification with a particular nation. How deep does one’s loyalty to a nation have to be? Does this depend on the nation? Does it depend on the circumstance? Are there times when your loyalty to a nation might be challenged?

Canadian Perspectives Canada is a NATION of NATIONS. This can create many opportunities, but also several challenges. If you are a recent immigrant, given Canadian citizenship, should you be expected to forget your heritage and adopt a new Canadian identity?

Contending Loyalties of French Canadians French Canadians may feel a variety of loyalties… to other Francophones, to their province, to their culture, to their historical background, and to the country of Canada. Historically, Quebecois has been divided in terms of where their loyalties lie.

Language Loyalties and Bill 101 We know that without guidelines in place to preserve languages, they can be easily lost. In 1969, Quebec passed Bill 63 which guaranteed that parents in Quebec had the right to choose what language their children would be education with.

Language Loyalty and Bill 101 Bill 27 took this a step further in 1974, as it stated that all contracts issued in Quebec were to be written in French. This greatly impacted the once Anglophone-dominated business sector.

Language Loyalty and Bill 101 In 1977, Parti Quebecois leader, Rene Levesque established Bill 101 in which it was “resolved therefore to make of French the language of Government and the Law, as well as the normal and everyday language of work, instruction, communication, commerce and business.”

Contending Loyalties of Aboriginal Canadians Many Aboriginal people have feelings of loyalty to their band, First Nation community, and other Aboriginal people in Canada and the United States, as well as around the world. Can Aboriginal people feel a loyalty both to Canada and to their Aboriginal nations?

@ Meech Lake What was the Meech Lake Accord? Its goals??? How do you think this affected First Nations people?

Historically Speaking… Canada had been known as a country founded by the British and the French. By giving (or in this case, offering to give) Quebec a distinct society status, First Nations people were (generally speaking) once again feeling marginalized. Why were they not offered the same status?

WHAT CONTENDING LOYALTIES ARE PRESENT IN THIS SITUATION? Francophones vs. Anglophones Separatists vs. Federalists First Nations vs. Francophones and Anglophones Any others? (remember, the contending loyalties AMONGST each cultural group as well)