What is identity? In the social sciences, the term identity refers to a group’s or individual’s sense of who they are. Psychologists Sigmund Freud and Erik Erickson are among the psychologists who have discussed the concept of self-identity. In sociology the idea of social identity is people’s labelling of themselves as members of particular groups. These groups could be defined by nation, social class, subculture, ethnicity, gender and even employment. Anthropologists refer to cultural identity as the identity of a group or culture, or of an individual as far as that individual is influenced by a group or culture. And finally there is the term national identity which describes a country’s unique values, beliefs and institutions. It is what makes a nation distinct from other nations. Define yourself within these 4 classifications.

Canadian Identity What is the Canadian identity? If you were in another country and saw a Canadian on the street would you recognize him or her? Do Canadians speak a common language? Are there certain cultural norms that are typical of Canadians?

Canadian Identity We Canadians live in a blind spot about our identity. We have very strong feelings about who we aren't but only weak ones about who we are. We're passionate about what we don't want to become but oddly passive about what we should be. Do you agree?

Canadian Identity Canadians have struggled with the concept of a national identity since the arrival of nationhood in Canadians have spent many years struggling for true independence from Great Britain, and then spent many more years struggling to protect Canadian culture from the much more populous and influential United States. How successful were we?

Canadian Identity Watch this clip by the Joe(s).Joe How does is define being Canadian? Read Lester Pearson’s address. How does he define being Canadian? Do you agree with either? Which is better? Why?

Canadian Identity In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity, and mutual respect. - Bill Clinton Do you agree?

Canadian Identity Many cultures are defined by their singularity. The Canadian identity, according to Clinton, is based on something very different. Pluralism and inclusiveness are the prevailing values in modern Canadian society. Explain what the underlined words mean. Do you agree with the conclusion drawn above? Does this create any cognitive dissonance with the term “identity”? Why or why not?

Language in Canada I didn’t know at first there were two languages in Canada. I just thought there was a way to speak to my father and a way to speak to my mother. - PM Louis St. Laurent Canada has an official policy of bilingualism. English and French are our official languages. Unofficially, however, we are a nation of over 100 languages. Read the article “Canadians bilingual?” How do the conclusions of this article affect Canadian identity?

Ethnicity in Canada In any world menu, Canada must be considered the vichyssoise of nations, it's cold, half-French, and difficult to stir. - Stuart Keate Over 200 ethnic groups are represented in Canada according to Statistics Canada. After Canadian (11.7 million), English (6 million) and French (4.7 million), Statistics Canada reported that the most frequent ethnic origins in 2001 were Scottish, with 4.2 million responses, and Irish, with 3.8 million. Next most common ancestries reported were German (2.7 million), Italian (1.3 million), Chinese (1.1 million), Ukrainian (1.1 million) and North American Indian (1 million). The face of the average Canadian is changing. There are far more visible minorities today than there were even ten years ago. Immigrants to Canada are no longer arriving from Western Europe as they did fifty years ago. Instead, they come from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America.

Norms, Values and Institutions Most Canadian institutions (our government structure, laws, even our education system) have their roots in British institutions. But the recognition of other cultures has lead to changes. For instance, aboriginal justice is now an accepted and legal practice in many aboriginal communities. It recognizes such things as mediation and community sentencing circles. Many of our cultural norms and values have also changed to reflect the changing nature of Canadian society.

Challenges - Tribalism In the social sciences, tribalism refers to the strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates the members of one group from the members of another. Tribalism is sometimes seen as at odds with nationalism or an individual’s identification with, and loyalty to, a nation – OUR nationalism vs. YOUR nationalism

Nationalism The term nation, in anthropology, refers to a human organization that is ruled by a centralized form of government. Some see the province of Quebec as a distinct nation within Canada. Although for some the designation of Quebec as nation is largely symbolic, for many Quebecois, the meaning goes much deeper. They see themselves as a separate, distinct nation with all the rights and privileges inherent in that designation. Aboriginal communities also view themselves as a nation and seek official recognition of that reality. This is more than semantics. Two of the defining characteristics of nationhood are territory (or land rights) and government. The concepts of land rights and self- government are central to the cause of Aboriginal nationhood. Another interesting thing has been happening in Canada. Many more Canadians are now identifying their ethnic origin as Canadian according the Statistics Canada.

Transnationalism Can a person have multiple national identities? Transnationalism is another challenge to identity. In economics, the concept of transnationalism implies that organizations (including charities and businesses) should be able to operate freely in a number of nations. But the effect of transnationalism goes beyond economics. It has facilitated the flow of ideas, people and goods. When I'm in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like. - Jane Fonda A century ago, immigrants would move to Canada and sever most ties with their homeland. Improvements in transportation and telecommunication technologies have made it easier for migrants to maintain strong ties to their homelands. These strong ties have lead Canadians to debate the issue of dual citizenship.

Globalization How do Canadians stay Canadian? Globalization is primarily an economic force that is defined as the integration of the world’s regional, national and continental organizations into a single economic system. But the increasing globalization of the world’s economy has had a profound effect also on culture, and therefore, on identity. It has lead to the homogenization or blending of peoples and culture. Anthropologists argue that Western English- speaking nations are dominating world culture, and contributing to the disappearance of other distinct cultures. I'm not an American! I am a Canadian. I come from a "nice", thoroughly unrealistic country. - Matthew Fisher The Canadian cultural identity is threatened by both the proximity and size of the United States. Globalization has increased that threat. We are inundated with media (Television, Radio, Movies, the Internet) from the United States, and therefore with the cultural values and norms of American society. This has lead to several government initiatives to protect Canadian culture from erosion.