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Discover Canada, 6. Who We Are

6. Who We Are

Canada is known around the world as a strong and free country. Canadians are proud of their unique identity. We have inherited the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world. We are the only constitutional monarchy in North America. Our institutions uphold a commitment to Peace, Order, and Good Government, a key phrase in Canada's original constitutional document in 1867, the British North America Act. A belief in ordered liberty, enterprise, hard work and fair play have enabled Canadians to build a prosperous society in a rugged environment from our Atlantic shores to the Pacific Ocean and to the Arctic Circle—so much so that poets and songwriters have hailed Canada as the “Great Dominion.”

To understand what it means to be Canadian, it is important to know about our three founding peoples—Aboriginal, French and British.

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Caption: Images of a Métis man from Alberta, of a Cree dancer, of Inuit children in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and of a Haida artist Bill Reid carves a totem pole

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Aboriginal Peoples

The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are believed to have migrated from Asia many thousands of years ago. They were well established here long before explorers from Europe first came to North America. Diverse, vibrant First Nations cultures were rooted in religious beliefs about their relationship to the Creator, the natural environment and each other.

Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution. Territorial rights were first guaranteed through the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by King George III, and established the basis for negotiating treaties with the newcomers— treaties that were not always fully respected.

From the 1800s until the 1980s, the federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools to educate and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian culture. The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students; some were physically abused. Aboriginal languages and cultural practices were mostly prohibited. In 2008, Ottawa formally apologized to the former students.

In today's Canada, Aboriginal peoples enjoy renewed pride and confidence, and have made significant achievements in agriculture, the environment, business and the arts. Today, the term Aboriginal peoples refers to three distinct groups:

Indian refers to all Aboriginal people who are not Inuit or Métis. In the 1970s, the term First Nations began to be used. Today, about half of First Nations people live on reserve land in about 600 communities while the other half live off-reserve, mainly in urban centres.

The Inuit, which means “the people” in the Inuktitut language, live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic. Their knowledge of the land, sea and wildlife enabled them to adapt to one of the harshest environments on earth.

The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, the majority of whom live in the Prairie provinces. They come from both French- and English-speaking backgrounds and speak their own dialect, Michif.

About 65% of the Aboriginal people are First Nations, while 30% are Métis and 4% Inuit.

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Unity and Diversity

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John Buchan, the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, was a popular Governor General of Canada (1935-40). Immigrant groups, he said, “should retain their individuality and each make its contribution to the national character.” Each could learn “from the other, and … while they cherish their own special loyalties and traditions, they cherish not less that new loyalty and tradition which springs from their union” (Canadian Club of Halifax, 1937).

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The 15th Governor General is shown here in Blood (Kainai First Nation) headdress.

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Caption: Images of

St Patrick's Day Parade, Montreal, Quebec, Highland dancer in Maxville, Ontario,

a family Celebrating Fête Nationale in Gatineau, Quebec,

and an Acadian fiddler in Village of Grande-Anse, New Brunswick

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English and French

Canadian society today stems largely from the English-speaking and French-speaking Christian civilizations that were brought here from Europe by settlers. English and French define the reality of day-to-day life for most people and are the country's official languages. The federal government is required by law to provide services throughout Canada in English and French.

Today, there are 18 million Anglophones—people who speak English as a first language—and 7 million Francophones—people who speak French as their first language. While the majority of Francophones live in the province of Quebec, one million Francophones live in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba, with a smaller presence in other provinces. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.

The Acadians are the descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces in 1604. Between 1755 and 1763, during the war between Britain and France, more than two-thirds of the Acadians were deported from their homeland. Despite this ordeal, known as the “Great Upheaval,” the Acadians survived and maintained their unique identity. Today, Acadian culture is flourishing and is a lively part of French-speaking Canada.

Quebecers are the people of Quebec, the vast majority French-speaking. Most are descendants of 8,500 French settlers from the 1600s and 1700s and maintain a unique identity, culture and language. The House of Commons recognized in 2006 that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada. One million Anglo-Quebecers have a heritage of 250 years and form a vibrant part of the Quebec fabric.

The basic way of life in English-speaking areas was established by hundreds of thousands of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish settlers, soldiers and migrants from the 1600s to the 20th century. Generations of pioneers and builders of British origins, as well as other groups, invested and endured hardship in laying the foundations of our country. This helps explain why Anglophones (English speakers) are generally referred to as English Canadians.

Becoming Canadian

Some Canadians immigrate from places where they have experienced warfare or conflict. Such experiences do not justify bringing to Canada violent, extreme or hateful prejudices. In becoming Canadian, newcomers are expected to embrace democratic principles such as the rule of law.

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Caption: Images of

Celebration of Cultures in Edmonton, Alberta,

of Ismaili Muslims in the Calgary Stampede, Alberta,

of a Caribbean cultural festival inToronto, Ontario,

of the Ukrainian Pysanka Festival in Vegreville, Alberta,

of a Young Polish dancers in Oliver, British Columbia,

and of the Pipes and drums in Ottawa

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Diversity in Canada

The majority of Canadians were born in this country and this has been true since the 1800s. However, Canada is often referred to as a land of immigrants because, over the past 200 years, millions of newcomers have helped to build and defend our way of life.

Many ethnic and religious groups live and work in peace as proud Canadians. The largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian. Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries.

Non-official languages are widely spoken in Canadian homes. Chinese languages are the second most-spoken at home, after English, in two of Canada's biggest cities. In Vancouver, 13% of the population speak Chinese languages at home; in Toronto, the number is 7%.

The great majority of Canadians identify as Christians. The largest religious affiliation is Catholic, followed by various Protestant churches. The numbers of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and members of other religions, as well as people who state “no religion” are also growing.

In Canada the state has traditionally partnered with faith communities to promote social welfare, harmony and mutual respect; to provide schools and health care; to resettle refugees; and to uphold religious freedom, religious expression and freedom of conscience.

Canada's diversity includes gay and lesbian Canadians, who enjoy the full protection of and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage. Together, these diverse groups, sharing a common Canadian identity, make up today's multicultural society. ------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: Images of

Christmas in Gatineau,

Chinese-Canadian war veterans,

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Québec City,

and Chinese New Year celebration, Vancouver.

Image of Marjorie Turner-Bailey with caption:

Olympian Marjorie Turner-Bailey of Nova Scotia is a descendant of black Loyalists, escaped slaves and freed men and women of African origin who in the 1780s fled to Canada from America, where slavery remained legal until 1863.

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6. Who We Are 6. Wer wir sind 6. Quiénes somos 6. Qui sommes-nous ? 6. Chi siamo 6.私たちとは 6. 우리는 누구인가 6. Kas mes esame 6. Wie we zijn 6. Kim jesteśmy 6. Quem somos 6. Кто мы 6. Biz Kimiz 6. Хто ми є 6. 我们是谁 6. 我們是誰

Canada is known around the world as a strong and free country. Le Canada est connu dans le monde entier comme un pays fort et libre. 加拿大作為一個強大和自由的國家而聞名於世。 Canadians are proud of their unique identity. Les Canadiens sont fiers de leur identité unique. 加拿大人為自己獨特的身份感到自豪。 We have inherited the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world. Nous avons hérité de la plus ancienne tradition constitutionnelle ininterrompue au monde. 私たちは、世界で最も古い継続的な憲法の伝統を受け継いでいる。 我們繼承了世界上最古老、持續的憲政傳統。 We are the only constitutional monarchy in North America. We are the only constitutional monarchy in North America. Nous sommes la seule monarchie constitutionnelle d'Amérique du Nord. 我々は北米で唯一の立憲君主制国家である。 我們是北美唯一的君主立憲制國家。 Our institutions uphold a commitment to Peace, Order, and Good Government, a key phrase in Canada's original constitutional document in 1867, the British North America Act. Nos institutions s'engagent à respecter la paix, l'ordre et le bon gouvernement, une phrase clé du document constitutionnel original du Canada de 1867, l'Acte de l'Amérique du Nord britannique. これは、1867年に制定されたカナダ憲法「英領北アメリカ法」のキーワードである。 我們的機構恪守對和平、秩序和良好政府的承諾,這是加拿大 1867 年原始憲法文件《英屬北美法案》中的關鍵短語。 A belief in ordered liberty, enterprise, hard work and fair play have enabled Canadians to build a prosperous society in a rugged environment from our Atlantic shores to the Pacific Ocean and to the Arctic Circle—so much so that poets and songwriters have hailed Canada as the “Great Dominion.” La croyance en la liberté ordonnée, l'esprit d'entreprise, le travail acharné et le fair-play ont permis aux Canadiens de bâtir une société prospère dans un environnement accidenté, de nos côtes atlantiques à l'océan Pacifique et au cercle arctique, à tel point que les poètes et les auteurs-compositeurs ont salué le Canada comme le "Grand Dominion". 對有序自由、進取心、勤奮工作和公平競爭的信念使加拿大人能夠在從大西洋沿岸到太平洋再到北極圈的崎嶇環境中建立一個繁榮的社會,以至於詩人和詞曲作者將加拿大譽為“ 「偉大的統治」。

To understand what it means to be Canadian, it is important to know about our three founding peoples—Aboriginal, French and British. Pour comprendre ce que signifie être Canadien, il est important de connaître nos trois peuples fondateurs : les Autochtones, les Français et les Britanniques. カナダ人であることの意味を理解するためには、3つの建国民族(アボリジニ、フランス、イギリス)について知ることが重要である。 要了解身為加拿大人意味著什麼,了解我們的三個建國民族—原住民、法國人和英國人非常重要。

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Caption: Images of a Métis man from Alberta, of a Cree dancer, of  Inuit children in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and of a Haida artist Bill Reid carves a totem pole Légende : Images d'un Métis de l'Alberta, d'un danseur cri, d'enfants inuits à Iqaluit, au Nunavut, et d'un artiste haïda, Bill Reid, qui sculpte un totem. キャプションアルバータ州のメティス人、クリー族のダンサー、ヌナブト州イカルイトのイヌイットの子供たち、トーテムポールを彫るハイダ族のアーティスト、ビル・リードの写真。 Підпис: зображення метиса з Альберти, танцівниці крі, дітей інуїтів в Ікалуїті, Нунавут, і художника-хайда Білла Рейда, який вирізає тотемний стовп. 圖說:來自艾伯塔省的梅蒂斯人、克里族舞者、努納武特地區伊卡盧伊特的因紐特兒童以及海達藝術家比爾·里德雕刻圖騰柱的圖像

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Aboriginal Peoples

The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are believed to have migrated from Asia many thousands of years ago. Les ancêtres des peuples autochtones auraient migré d'Asie il y a plusieurs milliers d'années. アボリジニの祖先は、何千年も前にアジアから移住してきたと考えられている。 They were well established here long before explorers from Europe first came to North America. Ils étaient déjà bien établis ici bien avant que les explorateurs européens n'arrivent en Amérique du Nord. ヨーロッパから探検家たちが北米にやってくるずっと以前から、彼らはこの地に定着していた。 Diverse, vibrant First Nations cultures were rooted in religious beliefs about their relationship to the Creator, the natural environment and each other. Les cultures diverses et vivantes des Premières nations sont enracinées dans des croyances religieuses concernant leur relation avec le Créateur, l'environnement naturel et les autres. 多様で活気に満ちたファースト・ネーションズの文化は、創造主、自然環境、そして互いとの関係についての宗教的信念に根ざしていた。

Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution. Les droits des autochtones et les droits issus des traités sont inscrits dans la Constitution canadienne. アボリジニと条約の権利はカナダ憲法にある。 Territorial rights were first guaranteed through the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by King George III, and established the basis for negotiating treaties with the newcomers— treaties that were not always fully respected. Les droits territoriaux ont été garantis pour la première fois par la Proclamation royale de 1763 du roi George III et ont jeté les bases de la négociation de traités avec les nouveaux arrivants, traités qui n'ont pas toujours été pleinement respectés. 領有権は1763年のジョージ3世による勅令によって初めて保証され、新参者との条約交渉の基礎を確立した。

From the 1800s until the 1980s, the federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools to educate and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian culture. Des années 1800 aux années 1980, le gouvernement fédéral a placé de nombreux enfants autochtones dans des pensionnats afin de les éduquer et de les assimiler à la culture canadienne dominante. The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students; some were physically abused. Les écoles étaient mal financées et infligeaient des difficultés aux élèves ; certains étaient victimes d'abus physiques. Aboriginal languages and cultural practices were mostly prohibited. Les langues et les pratiques culturelles autochtones sont pour la plupart interdites. In 2008, Ottawa formally apologized to the former students. En 2008, Ottawa a présenté des excuses officielles aux anciens élèves.

In today's Canada, Aboriginal peoples enjoy renewed pride and confidence, and have made significant achievements in agriculture, the environment, business and the arts. Dans le Canada d'aujourd'hui, les peuples autochtones jouissent d'une fierté et d'une confiance renouvelées et ont obtenu des résultats significatifs dans les domaines de l'agriculture, de l'environnement, de l'économie et des arts. У сучасній Канаді аборигени відновили гордість і впевненість і досягли значних досягнень у сільському господарстві, навколишньому середовищі, бізнесі та мистецтві. Today, the term Aboriginal peoples refers to three distinct groups: Aujourd'hui, le terme "peuples autochtones" désigne trois groupes distincts :

Indian refers to all Aboriginal people who are not Inuit or Métis. Le terme "Indien" désigne tous les Autochtones qui ne sont ni Inuits ni Métis. In the 1970s, the term First Nations began to be used. Dans les années 1970, le terme "Premières nations" a commencé à être utilisé. Today, about half of First Nations people live on reserve land in about 600 communities while the other half live off-reserve, mainly in urban centres. Aujourd'hui, environ la moitié des membres des Premières nations vivent dans les réserves, au sein de quelque 600 communautés, tandis que l'autre moitié vit hors des réserves, principalement dans les centres urbains.

The Inuit, which means “the people” in the Inuktitut language, live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic. Les Inuits, qui signifient "le peuple" en inuktitut, vivent en petites communautés dispersées dans l'Arctique. Their knowledge of the land, sea and wildlife enabled them to adapt to one of the harshest environments on earth.

The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, the majority of whom live in the Prairie provinces. Les Métis sont un peuple distinct d'ascendance mixte, autochtone et européenne, dont la majorité vit dans les provinces des Prairies. They come from both French- and English-speaking backgrounds and speak their own dialect, Michif. Ils sont issus de milieux francophones et anglophones et parlent leur propre dialecte, le michif.

About 65% of the Aboriginal people are First Nations, while 30% are Métis and 4% Inuit. Environ 65 % des autochtones sont des Premières nations, 30 % des Métis et 4 % des Inuits.

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Unity and Diversity

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John Buchan, the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, was a popular Governor General of Canada (1935-40). John Buchan, 1er baron de Tweedsmuir, était un gouverneur général populaire du Canada (1935-40). Immigrant groups, he said, “should retain their individuality and each make its contribution to the national character.” Each could learn “from the other, and … while they cherish their own special loyalties and traditions, they cherish not less that new loyalty and tradition which springs from their union” (Canadian Club of Halifax, 1937). Les groupes d'immigrants, disait-il, "devraient conserver leur individualité et apporter chacun leur contribution au caractère national". Chacun peut apprendre "de l'autre et [...] s'ils chérissent leurs propres loyautés et traditions, ils ne chérissent pas moins cette nouvelle loyauté et cette nouvelle tradition qui naissent de leur union" (Canadian Club of Halifax, 1937).

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The 15th Governor General is shown here in Blood (Kainai First Nation) headdress. Le 15e gouverneur général est ici représenté avec la coiffe des Blood (Première nation Kainai).

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Caption: Images of

St Patrick's Day Parade, Montreal, Quebec, Highland dancer in Maxville, Ontario,

a family Celebrating Fête Nationale in Gatineau, Quebec,

and an Acadian fiddler in Village of Grande-Anse, New Brunswick

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English and French

Canadian society today stems largely from the English-speaking and French-speaking Christian civilizations that were brought here from Europe by settlers. La société canadienne d'aujourd'hui est en grande partie issue des civilisations chrétiennes anglophones et francophones apportées d'Europe par les colons. Сьогоднішнє канадське суспільство в основному походить від англомовної та франкомовної християнської цивілізацій, які були привезені сюди з Європи поселенцями. English and French define the reality of day-to-day life for most people and are the country's official languages. L'anglais et le français définissent la réalité de la vie quotidienne pour la plupart des gens et sont les langues officielles du pays. The federal government is required by law to provide services throughout Canada in English and French. Le gouvernement fédéral est tenu par la loi de fournir des services en anglais et en français dans tout le Canada.

Today, there are 18 million Anglophones—people who speak English as a first language—and 7 million Francophones—people who speak French as their first language. While the majority of Francophones live in the province of Quebec, one million Francophones live in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba, with a smaller presence in other provinces. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.

The Acadians are the descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces in 1604. Between 1755 and 1763, during the war between Britain and France, more than two-thirds of the Acadians were deported from their homeland. Despite this ordeal, known as the “Great Upheaval,” the Acadians survived and maintained their unique identity. Today, Acadian culture is flourishing and is a lively part of French-speaking Canada.

Quebecers are the people of Quebec, the vast majority French-speaking. Most are descendants of 8,500 French settlers from the 1600s and 1700s and maintain a unique identity, culture and language. The House of Commons recognized in 2006 that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada. One million Anglo-Quebecers have a heritage of 250 years and form a vibrant part of the Quebec fabric.

The basic way of life in English-speaking areas was established by hundreds of thousands of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish settlers, soldiers and migrants from the 1600s to the 20th century. Generations of pioneers and builders of British origins, as well as other groups, invested and endured hardship in laying the foundations of our country. Покоління піонерів і будівельників британського походження, а також інші групи інвестували і витримали труднощі, закладаючи основи нашої країни. This helps explain why Anglophones (English speakers) are generally referred to as English Canadians.

Becoming Canadian

Some Canadians immigrate from places where they have experienced warfare or conflict. Such experiences do not justify bringing to Canada violent, extreme or hateful prejudices. In becoming Canadian, newcomers are expected to embrace democratic principles such as the rule of law.

------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: Images of

Celebration of Cultures in Edmonton, Alberta,

of Ismaili Muslims in the Calgary Stampede, Alberta,

of a Caribbean cultural festival inToronto, Ontario,

of the Ukrainian Pysanka Festival in Vegreville, Alberta,

of a Young Polish dancers in Oliver, British Columbia,

and of the Pipes and drums in Ottawa

------------------------------------------------------------

Diversity in Canada

The majority of Canadians were born in this country and this has been true since the 1800s. However, Canada is often referred to as a land of immigrants because, over the past 200 years, millions of newcomers have helped to build and defend our way of life.

Many ethnic and religious groups live and work in peace as proud Canadians. The largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian. Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries.

Non-official languages are widely spoken in Canadian homes. Chinese languages are the second most-spoken at home, after English, in two of Canada's biggest cities. In Vancouver, 13% of the population speak Chinese languages at home; in Toronto, the number is 7%.

The great majority of Canadians identify as Christians. The largest religious affiliation is Catholic, followed by various Protestant churches. The numbers of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and members of other religions, as well as people who state “no religion” are also growing.

In Canada the state has traditionally partnered with faith communities to promote social welfare, harmony and mutual respect; to provide schools and health care; to resettle refugees; and to uphold religious freedom, religious expression and freedom of conscience.

Canada's diversity includes gay and lesbian Canadians, who enjoy the full protection of and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage. Together, these diverse groups, sharing a common Canadian identity, make up today's multicultural society. ------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: Images of

Christmas in Gatineau,

Chinese-Canadian war veterans,

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Québec City,

and Chinese New Year celebration, Vancouver.

Image of Marjorie Turner-Bailey with caption:

Olympian Marjorie Turner-Bailey of Nova Scotia is a descendant of black Loyalists, escaped slaves and freed men and women of African origin who in the 1780s fled to Canada from America, where slavery remained legal until 1863.

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