First nations in Canada

"According to archaeological and genetic evidence, North and South America were the last of

Earth’s major landmasses to be inhabited by humans. It is believed that the first inhabitants of

North and South America arrived during that last ice age."

Around 30000 years ago, small bands of people crossed into America from Asia. they pass

though a wide gap between the glaciers,and they walk to every part of north and south

America.the glaciers melted and people walked north and settled the land is called Canada

now.the first nations or peoples to settle in North America came from Asia.they were the

people called ------Indian and Inuit. they were the only people living in North America .after

they settled, they learned a new way of life.they hunted,fished,gathered plant food and began

to farm.groups of Indian and Inuit peoples were very dependent on the land for their lives.and

There are different languages.those of them are distributed in different areas in North

America.most spoken Aboriginal languages Cree and Ojibwe are belong to Algonquian, the

areas of those language are spoken in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,

Ontario, and Quebec.

Inuit are first people who live in Canada’s North, they settled in the far north along the coast

of where is today's arctic Canada.Inuit lived at a stringent land,because of the winters are long

and dark,the summers short and the resources are scares. however,under these badly

conditions,Inuit still had great numbers of invented.they invented weapons and

tools:boat,harpoons,goggles,and so on.

The Inuit as first nation in north America, they used a stone as weapon,and it was very sharp

and deadly to hunted large animals.they ate animals and used animals skins for clothing.some

first nation's people became farmers around 5000 years ago.they still hunted small animals

and gatherers plant food.addition they learned that seeds of some plants .Hunting and farmers

are powerful culture for first nations.

the way the Indian peoples made their living depended on the land where they settled.people's

life was difficult or easy was depend on the land.the land along the coast,that the sea could

offer rich food, the forest could offer wood and animals for Indians' life.Indian culture grew

up on this pacific coast.

Until about five hundreds years ago,the first Europeans to settled the North America.trade is

an important activity in all Europeans' society,it was among the Indian people.they began to

make agreements, or treaties, with first nations.the process that first nations gave up their title

to lands in exchange for certain rights and benefits.Many early French traders and some

English traders married First Nations women. Their descendants is called Métis people. The

Métis is developed their own distinct culture on the Prairies, played an important role in the

trade road.Today, the majority of Métis people live in the western regions of Canada.

Canada is still a multicultural country now, people come from all over the world,the languages

and culture are very "colourful".English and French as a"home language",people spoken most

often.the first nations of peoples in Canada are working to keep their unique cultures and

languages alive.

References:

http://history.cbc.ca/history/webdriver?MIval=EpContent.html&series_id=1&episode_id=1&chapter_id=1&page_id=2&lang=E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Canadahttp://www.statcan.gc.ca/edu/power-pouvoir/ch2/history-histoire/5214912-eng.htm
http://www.linksnorth.com/canada-history/ Mithun, Marianne. 2001. The Languages of Native North America. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
http://canadianhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/canadian_history_the_first_nations

The French Presence; Quebec Politics

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Something about Canada history

Something about Canada history
Canada is one of the most mix-cultural country in the world. The Aboriginal people were the only people living in Canada in 500 years ago. In the dictionary the word "Aboriginal" means the original inhabitants, the people who were here first. And we also can say they are the first nations in Canada. The word "Native" are also mean the same thing as the word "Aboriginal". As we know now there are two official languages in Canada. There are English and French. It is because the two part of Canada's territories. In Nunavut, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun are official languages alongside English and French, and Inuktitut is a common vehicular language in government which with about 29,000 speakers in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern Quebec, and Northern Labrador, with around 8,500 speakers, mostly in Eastern Canada.
Canada’s aboriginal used at least 53 different languages. Each groups referred to themselves by a specific name in their own language and most of which are spoken only in Canada and are in decline. As they try so hard to keep their own language, they received lots of helps of learning an Aboriginal language from their parents. And they also learn it in the school. There are some number I found in the internet. In 2001 APS showed that almost 68% children who could understand or speak an Aboriginal language received help from their parents and almost 36% children are received help from their teachers. It was in 1972 that the first on-reserve First Nation school was established. Since then, numerous First Nation communities have taken over local control of their schools. As of the 2006 Canadian Census there were over 1,172,790 Aboriginal people in Canada, 3.8% of the country's total population. 2006 Census, Statistics Canada] This comprises 698,025 people of First Nations descent, 389,785 Métis, and 50,485 Inuit. National representative bodies of Aboriginal people in Canada include the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the National Association of Friendship Centers and the Congress of Aboriginal People.
There are just few aboriginal around our lives. So we want to know where they are living , what language they are speaking and what kind of lifestyle they are. The Aboriginal are try hard to make their own lives better and protect their cultures to be continued and developed. In the Modern Canada, Canada is becoming one of the most mix-cultural countries in the world. There are so many people who come from anywhere of the world immigrated to Canada in the past 20years. But the Aboriginal people still have their own territories.
People always call Canada is a multicultural country. Canada is a country which immigrated from all over the world. But when you stay here, no matter where you from, you also can have freedom and equal rights with Canadians when you become Canadian, The cultures of people who emigrated from other countries are tolerated by Canada. But now the group of First Nations become smaller and smaller, whatever Canadian government give them priority policy to live, and also they try to keep their language, culture, life style from generation to generation. Canadian government should support them to be more competitive.
There is something I want to say about Canada history.

First Nations of Canada

Where does Canadian come from at the first place? Who are they? Where do they live? How do they live? Why? What language do they speak? Like kids ask their parents where and how they come from, every Canadian should know when, where and how this country started.

Once upon a time, the first nations of North America people lived in this land; however, the history of Canada begins with the arrival of European discoverers at the end of the fifteenth century. So what happened to the first nations?

Thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans, people who lived in Canada are known as the "Original People" or First Nations. These nations of people were very different from one another. The North American continent was not divided up into political areas with boundaries. First Nations people were free to live wherever they wished within their own territories. Although each nation was independent, “some created alliances with one another. All nations were interdependent on all life and all Creation.”

Because of the climate, food sources and other harsh environment and demographic factors, First Nations people lived a nomadic lifestyle throughout the area of Canada and the United States. “Many First Nations groups settled in what is now known as Saskatchewan with their own culture and language.” First Nations have contributed many things to Canada.

As essential part of a culture, language is really important for people to live and communicate. The first language in Canada is aboriginal language which is spoken by North American Indian. After British and French explored and later settled in Canada and since the majority people speak English and French, these two languages become the official language.

Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. “It has also been influenced heavily by American culture because of its proximity and migration between the two countries.” Now Canada is a diverse country with people who immigrated from all over the world. No matter where you from, once you become Canadian, you have equal rights and freedom to live. The cultures of people who emigrated from other countries are tolerated by Canada. That’s why people call Canada as multicultural country.

Historically, the settlement and trade of European have tremendous effect on Aboriginal population throughout Canada. First Nations have been through a tough time for recognition, adaptation and change for surviving. Now the group of First Nations become smaller and smaller, even Canadian government give them priority policy to live, even they try to keep their language, culture, life style from generation to generation. The First Nations group is still shrinking. It is a tragedy, however; the survival of the fittest is always the way we live on the earth. From thousands of years ago until now, that’s the reason why First Nations had been through a tough time for recognition, adaptation and change for surviving. They just too weak to be survive. Canadian government should support them to be more competitive. And I hope they can become stronger enough to keep their beautiful language and culture forever.

The first nations in canada

First Nations is a term of ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in canad who are neither Inuit nor Métis people.They had been admited by the constitution in 1982. By the year 2006's population, there are total 1,172,790 first nations, its like the 3.8% of the whole population.

a form of the first nation's population:

Number and percentage of population reporting Aboriginal identity, Canada, provinces and territories, 2006

Provinces and territories Number Percentage

Canada 1,172,790 100
Newfoundland and Labrador 23,450 2
Prince Edward Island 1,730 0.1
Nova Scotia 24,175 2
New Brunswick 17,655 2
Quebec 108,430 9
Ontario 242,495 21
Manitoba 175,395 15
Saskatchewan 141,890 12
Alberta 188,365 16
British Columbia 196,075 17
Yukon Territory 7,580 0.6
Northwest Territories 20,635 2
Nunavut 24,920 2


Impirtant years for the first nation:
the year 1763, submit the first nation's rights
the year1763-1921, make treaties and agreement of the land sharing
the year 1867, ensure the Lands Reserved for Indians
the year1876, in the india act: creat and buide the relationship w/ india
the year1882, submit the first nations Treaty Rights

June 21st is the first nation's celebration day from 1996 on.

The term First Nations can be confusing. Collectively, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples constitute Canada's Aboriginal peoples, indigenous peoples or first peoples. First Nations is a legally undefined term that came into common usage in the 1980s to replace the term Indian band. Elder Sol Sanderson says that he coined the term in the early 1980s.A band is a legally recognized "body of Indians for whose collective use and benefit lands have been set apart or money is held by the Canadian Crown, or declared to be a band for the purposes of the Indian Act". There are currently over 600 recognized First Nations governments or bands in Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
As individuals, First Nations people are officially recognized by the Government of Canada by the terms registered Indians or status Indians only if they are listed on the Indian Register and are thus entitled to benefits under the often controversial Indian Act, or as non-status Indian if they are not so listed and thus not entitled to benefits, according to the Canadian state. Administration of the Indian Act and Indian Register is carried out by the federal government's Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.
While still a legal term, the use of the word Indian is erratic and declining in Canada. Some see the term as offensive while others prefer it to terminology such as Aboriginal person/persons/people. Another reason for the decline in the use of this term is purely practical – according to the 2006 Census, there are now more Canadians who identify as being of East Indian ethnicity than there are members of First Nations. The use of the term Native Americans is not common in Canada as it is seen to refer to the Aboriginal peoples of the United States specifically. The parallel term Native Canadian is not commonly used, but natives and autochthones (from Canadian French) are sometimes used. Under the Royal Proclamation of 1763, also known as the "Indian Magna Carta", the Crown refers to indigenous peoples in British territory as "tribes" or "nations". The term First Nations is capitalized, unlike many of the alternative terms. Bands and nations may have slightly different meanings.



reference:
Katherine Barber, editor (2004).
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Second Edition. Toronto, Oxford University Press

The First Nations people of Canada

Land, Language, Lifestyle: The First Nations' Struggle for Recognition and Equality in Modern Canada.

"First Nations People" refers to Status and Non-Status "Indian" people in Canada. Currently, there are about 615 First Nation communities that represent more than 50 different cultural groups and about 50 Aboriginal languages.The " First Nations People" came to Canada about 25,000 years ago. They were the first ones to acquire this beautiful country, Canada. Canada is a multicultural country where people from all over the world immigrate and have equal rights like all other Canadian immigrants or citizens. But the first natives of Canada are still struggling, even after 25,000 years, to gain their identity, equal rights and recognition.

Today, there are about 30 different languages spoken by First Nations people only in Canada and which are in decline. According to 2001 Census, there is a decline in Aboriginal languages as a mother tongue (the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood). However, not all languages saw a decline in mother tongue.

The 2001 Census shows that the contribution of the Aboriginal people’s population to Canada’s total population is on the rise. In 2001, the population of Aboriginals was about 4.4% of the total population, whereas, in 1996, it was 3.8%. From 1901-2001, the growth rate of the Aboriginal population was tenfold while that of the total population of Canada was just six. In 2001, about 3.3% of Canada’s total population identified themselves as Aboriginals. The Aboriginal population is much younger than the non-Aboriginal population, but is still aging. The median age of the Aboriginal population was 24.7 years compared to 37.7 years of the non- Aboriginal population. But still, the Aboriginal birth rate is about 1.5 times higher than that of the non-Aboriginals.

Like any other culture, the First Nations people want to practice their religion, speak their languages, keep their heritage, and want their kids to follow their traditions and culture. They want their generations to speak their languages because language is "not only a means of communication, but a link that connects people with their past and grounds their social, emotional and spiritual vitality".

Before the European intrusion, the Aboriginal people lived in a reciprocal relationship with nature. They had a different kind of relationships with flora and fauna. Most of the many groups were hunters and gatherers who were nomads that followed the seasons and the cycles of the game. Some of them were fishers and some of them were involved in pursuing horticulture.The Aboriginals were not given the rights they deserved for more than 400 years. They were treated as uncivilized and their kids were forcefully taken away from them to put them in Christian schools to make them civilized. They were strangers in their own land. They were considered worthless and their languages and their lifestyles were considered unfit. For about 100 years, the Government of Canada is trying to compensate for these losses. There are many treaties that came in place to try to help the First Nations People. Due to laws and policies that encouraged and sometimes required Aboriginals to assimilate into a eurocentric society; Canada is alleged to be in violation of the United Nations Genocide Convention that Canada signed in 1949 and passed through parliament in 1952. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology on behalf of the Canadian government and its citizens for the residential school system.

There are many reasons for treaty negotiations all over Canada. The very first treaties were signed between Aboriginals and Europeans, when the Europeans began to settle in North America. The reasons for treaty negotiations in British Columbia generally fall into three categories: moral; economic; and constitutional and legal. These issues mostly include the quality of life for Aboriginal peoples, which is well below that of other British Columbians. The Aboriginals die earlier, have poorer health, have lower education, have lower employment and income levels as compared to other British Columbians. As a result of these reasons, the Nisga’s treaty was signed between the First Nations, the Government of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada on April 13, 2000. The Nisga'a Treaty is the first modern-day treaty in B.C. and is the fourteenth modern treaty in Canada to be negotiated since 1976. The Nisga's Treaty is consistent with Canada's supreme law, The Constitution Act, 1982. In 1982, The Constitution Act was changed so that the existing Aboriginal rights were affirmed and recognized. The Aboriginal rights were not created or changed, but just "recognized and affirmed" existing Aboriginal rights and treaty rights. Aboriginal rights and treaty rights are different and are not clearly defined, and must be established through the courts on a case-by-case basis.

Since 1996, June 21 is an official day of celebrations for the Aboriginal people.

The Government of B.C is trying to build a new relationship with First Nations based on the principles of mutual respect, recognition and reconciliation with the help of treaty-making. Treaties will clearly define the rights and responsibilities of all parties in the negotiations. Treaties will also lead to greater self-reliance for First Nation communities, and help to close the social and economic gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal British Columbians.INAC (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada), one of the federal government departments, supports Aboriginal people to improve social well-being and economic prosperity; develop healthier, more sustainable communities; and participate more fully in Canada's political, social and economic development - to the benefit of all Canadians. The Government of Canada is committed to make sure that the Aboriginal people enjoy the same education and employment opportunities as other Canadians. INAC has the primary responsibility for education for First Nations people.

After all the hard times and humiliations they have to go through, the First Nations people are getting the recognition and equality of their Aboriginal rights. They are now considered as human beings who are given equal health, education and employment opportunities. But there are many areas that still need to be addressed. They are the only History of Canada that needs to be protected. I think no apologies are enough to compensate for what they went through.

References:

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ap/fn/index-eng.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aboriginal_peoples_in_Canada
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/abor/canada.cfm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-589-x/4067801-eng.htm
J.M. Bumsted: A History of the Canadian Peoples
http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/treaty/negotiating/why.html
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/mr/is/nit-eng.asp
http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/treaty/faq.html

Canada's First Nations; Canadian Political Cutlure

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The First Nations in Canada

The First Nations' Struggle for Recognition and Equality in Modern Canada.


Today Canada is one of the most multi-cultural country in the world. 500 years ago, the only people living in Canada were the Aboriginal people of Canada."Aboriginal" means the original inhabitants, the people who were here first. The words "Native" are also used, and mean the same thing.

As much as we konw,there are not many "Native" around our lives.Therefore,there are some questions that where they are living , what language they are speaking and what kind of lifestyle they are. Eventhough we don't really konw that,the Aboriginal still try really hard to make their own lives better and protect their cultures to be continued and developed. In the Modern canada, what the Fist Nations struggled for recognition and equality are so hard.

Canada’s first people used at least 53 different languages. Each group referred to themselves by a specific name in their own language and most of which are spoken only in Canada and are in decline.

Two of Canada's territories gave official status to native languages. In Nunavut, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun are official languages alongside English and French, and Inuktitut is a common vehicular language in government. which with about 29,000 speakers in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Quebec), and Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador); and Mi'kmaq, with around 8,500 speakers, mostly in Eastern Canada. Many aboriginal peoples have lost their native languages and often all but surviving elders, speak English or French as their first language.

As they try so hard to keep their own language,they recived lots of helps of learing an Aboriginal language from their parents.Moreover, school also plays an importan role.In 2001 APS showed that almost 68% childen who could understand or speak an Aboriginal language received help from thire parents and almost 36% children are received help from their teachers.
It was in 1972 that the first on-reserve First Nation school was established. Since then, numerous First Nation communities have taken over local control of their schools. Further more, in the past 37 years they have seen some impressive changes:

Moving from zero schools in 1972 to over 500 schools in 2008; Approximately 33,000 First Nations students enrolled in post-secondary institutions yearly and more than 4,000 First Nations post-secondary graduate each year; Thousands of First Nation teachers and administrators working in our schools today; Over 80% of First Nations youth who say they value speaking their language ; And the emergence of on-reserve Early Childcare Centres, and many more signs of success.

As of the 2006 Canadian Census there were over 1,172,790 Aboriginal people in Canada, 3.8% of the country's total population. 2006 Census, Statistics Canada] This comprises 698,025 people of First Nations descent, 389,785 Métis, and 50,485 Inuit. National representative bodies of Aboriginal people in Canada include the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the National Association of Friendship Centers and the Congress of Aboriginal People.

Part of the reason for the increase is higher birth rates among aboriginals compared to the non-aboriginal population, according to Statistics Canada.But it's also because more people than before are identifying themselves as aboriginal.

Canada is becoming one of the most multi-culturel countries in the world. Lots of people from anywhere of the world immigrated to Canada in the past 20years. The Aboriginal people still have their rights and territories. because in the early 1976 the Nisga'a Treaty is the first modern-day treaty in B.C and is the fourteenth modern treaty in Canada, Aboriginal people are treated on recongnition and equality. The Nisga'a Treaty sets out the land and resources that form part of the agreement between Canada, B.C. and the Nisga'a Nation. Also,the Treaty sets out the Nisga'a's right to self-government, and the authority to manage lands and resources.
The Nisga'a Treaty has historic impact in Canada, and provides insights for future land claims negotiations in Canada and in other jurisdictions. The Nisga'a Treaty is often called "a beacon of hope."

Aborigines were nomadic and lived in clans that were united through common traditions in music, art, and tribal ceremonies. In the late 18th century there were 500-600 distinct groups of aborigines speaking about 200 different languages or dialects. They lived by hunting and gathering, and there was extensive inter-group trade throughout the continent. Prior to the Treaty, the Nisga'a Villages delivered health, education, social and other services through a variety of federal and provincial programs.

Then, the modern ways of life have brought dramatic social changes to Native people. Mang Aboriginal seniors are no longer considered productive members of their society. The conveniences, electronic gadgetry, improved medical treatment and changing family structures mean that many Aboriginal seniors now have little opportunity to contribute to their own community.

In conclusion, what I mentioned above shows that the Aboriginal have made the success of the recognition and equal treatment on languages land and lifestyle are the result of their continued efforts and perseverance. And their spirit is worth protecting because they are protected the history of Canada and continue .


Reference:

[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/aboriginal.cfm Aboriginal peoples]

[http://www.our-story.ca/TrevorJang.html]

[http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/mr/is/nit-eng.asp]

[http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/treaty/negotiating/why.html]

[http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2009OTP0060-000606.pdf]

[http://www.gov.bc.ca/]

Inaugurating the "Lester B. Pearson Lecture Series"

Hello Everyone,

This summer, in conjunction with this course, Sprott-Shaw Degree College will be inaugurating the "Lester B. Pearson Lecture Series". From July to September we will do our best to bring you a number of exciting speakers from the worlds of business, politics, academia and the arts who will share with you their insights into key aspects of Canadian life, which will shape our future deep into the 21st Century.

You all know, of course, that Lester B. Pearson -"Mike" to his friends- was Canada's 14th Prime Minister. Despite his unprepossessing nature, he was one of the most remarkable individuals ever to have led our country: academic -with an MA in history from Oxford, veteran of both World Wars, career diplomat, then from 1948 Canada's Minister of External Affairs, Pearson was awarded the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize - "because of his personal qualities - the powerful initiative, strength, and perseverance he has displayed in attempting to prevent or limit war operations and to restore peace in situations where quick, tactful, and wise action has been necessary to prevent unrest from spreading and developing into a worldwide conflagration": he defused the 1957 Suez Crisis though the United Nations by creating the very first UN Peacekeeping Mission. Pearson became leader of the Liberal Party in 1958, after defeating his chief rival, Paul Martin -father of Canada's 21st Prime Minister of the same name.The five years he spent at 24 Sussex Drive - the Canadian Prime Minister's official residence- from 1963 to 1968 proved to be, in many ways, a critical period which came to define and shape to this day not only our country and its values, but also the people who have governed it for the past half-century.



After being routed by John Diefenbaker's Conservatives in the 1958 election, Pearson convened, in 1960, what turned out to be the pivotal policy conference of the Liberal Party in the 20th Century: the Kingston "Thinkers' Conference", which developed many of the most important ideas which Pearson then implemented after he became Prime Minister. Next year we will be marking 50 years since this conference. In order to underline that politicians' ideas, values and visions for the future still matter most in the long-term for a country and its people, this lecture series celebrates not only Pearson the man, but also 50 years since the Kingston Conference and the policies it gave birth to - many of which have become, over the past century, fundamental markers in how we have come to define what it means to be "Canadian".

During his five years as Prime Minister, Pearson led two minority governments. As a result, he established the most remarkable partnership in Canadian politics since Confederation with Tommy Douglas, the leader of the NDP, and guided the House of Commons to adopt many of Canada's major social programs, such as universal health care, the Canada Pension Plan and Canada Student Loans, and and established the Maple Leaf as the new national flag in time for the Centennial Celebration and Expo '67. Pearson signed the critical Canada-US Auto Pact of 1965, instituted the 40-hour work week, two weeks vacation time and a new minimum wage. He instituted a number of Royal Commissions, formost among which on the status of women and on bilingualism, and recruited to Ottawa "The Three Wise Men" - Jean Marchand, Gerard Pelletier and Pierre Elliott Trudeau - in order to strengthen Quebec's role in the Confederation and give French Canadians a larger voice in Ottawa. "Mike" took the lead in instituting the world's first race-free immigration system, based on a points system which is even today being copied around the world (most recently in the United Kingdom), reorganised and unified the three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces, opposed the Vietnam War by declining the US request to send Canadian troops to South-East Asia, and stood up in no uncertain terms to French President Charles de Gaulle's famous "Vive le Quebec libre" by remarking that "Canadians do not need to be liberated" and making it clear le General was no longer welcome in Canada. It will come as no surprise that Canadians recently chose both Pearson and Douglas as two of the top six Greatest Canadians of all time (Douglas at No. 1 and Pearson at No. 6).

Yet Pearson's influence on the latter half of the Twentieth Century derives not only from his personal attributes and successes or from the policies he helped to shape and adopt, but also from the extraordinary cast of politicians he moulded in so many ways. "Mike" either recruited or mentored the next three Liberal Prime Ministers who eventually followed him - Pierre Trudeau, John Turner and Jean Chretien - and greatly influenced his main Liberal rival's son, Paul Martin Jr., who succeeded Chretien as Liberal Party Leader and Canadian Prime Minister. Remarkably, Pearson's vision and leadership left an important mark even on the young generation of Progressive Conservatives, and in particular on future Prime Ministers Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney. In short, one would not be greatly amiss in claiming that, although Pearson was Prime Minister for only five years, the four decades between 1963 and 2003 could rightfully be labelled as "the Pearson Era" in the same way that we speak of the "John A. McDonald Era" at the end of the 19th Century and of the "McKenzie King Era" in the first half of the 20th Century.

Future Prime Ministers Pierre Elliott Trudeau, John Turner and Jean Chrétien with
then-Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson following Cabinet changes, 4 April 1967, Ottawa

Today, we live again in a time when minority governments seem to be back in fashion in Canada, but without the civility and cooperation between members of different parties for the greater good of the country -when vision and leadership are more required than ever at both national and international levels in the midst of the greatest economic, social, political, cultural and environmental upheavals and challenges we have faced for almost a century. At this time, we could do far worse than remember and celebrate the Pearson Era and, perhaps, re-acquaint ourselves with an idea of politics as public calling, and of public service as a solemn duty encumbent not only on a few elected officials in far away national and provincial capitals, but on each and everyone of us, in our daily lives, irrespective of our chosen professions. If the "Lester B. Pearson Lecture Series" will contribute to even a modest degree in motivating us all to reach towards this goal, it will more than have accomplished its aims.

Indians and the Just Society

Hello All,

I was really glad to meet all those of you who took the time to come to yesterday's induction meeting. We took about 20 minutes to go over the course syllabus, marking system, and on-line tools. The books for the course have arrived too, so anyone who doesn't have them yet can pick them up from the Reception Desk.

During the meeting I also took the time to briefly mention an article discussing the evolution of the Federal Government's policy towards Native Americans, entitled: Indians and the Just Society, by William Johnson. This is a great point to start thinking about your short essay, since it briefly and clearly outlines the two competing visions - liberal and communitarian - of the relationship between Aboriginals and the Canadian state: should they be regarded as a community with special rights to self-governance, or as equal Canadian citizens with the same rights and obligations as any other Canadians?

I hope you all enjoy your week off after what I am sure was a stressful exam period. At the same time, please do make sure you all join this blog, the attached course wiki as well as my Facebook page, and start doing your readings. This course does not start with the first on-campus meeting, on Thursday, July 9, but on Monday, July 6, and you need to keeep up with work on a daily basis in order not to fall behind with your readings and assignments. Don't forget to check the calendar on the first page of the wiki to see the recommended timelines for all the work in this course.

Last but not least, with this course we will launch the Sprott-Shaw "Lester B. Pearson Lecture Series" - about which I will post a separate blog next week. We hope to bring at least six great speakers for you over this summer to discuss various aspects of Canadian history, society and politics. The scheduled first speaker (subject to confirmation) is Sprott-Shaw's own President, Dean Dupperon, who will talk to us about his Metis background, as well as his work with and views on Native Canadians' role in 21st Century Canada.

I look forward to seeing you start posting your discussion contributions regarding your first short essay on the Course Wicki Disscussion thread set up for this purpose.

Have a fun vacation week!

Canada in the 21. Century Induction Session

Hello Everyone,

The end of the second term at Sprott-Shaw Degree College is upon us - and the beginning of the third term - and therefore, of our course - only a few weeks away. As promised, I'm back with additional information about the course and with details about what you need to do BEFORE the course starts, on July 9, 2009.

The most important date to note in your Agenda is that of Friday, June 26, at 12:30 pm. This is the date and time when the Course Induction Session will be held, in the Staff Computer Room of the SSDC Burnaby Campus. Attendance to this session is mandatory: in other words, you MUST attend if you wish to take this course. The session will be very brief - only 30 minutes, but critical to the entire course. During this Session, you will be introduced to the course books, blog, wicki, work schedule, assignments, and marking system. You will also find out the Readings you must complete before coming to the first class, on July 9, as well as the assignment you must complete by then. Please make sure you attend this very important Induction Session.

For those who want to get a head start, you can already find out what you can do now, before the course starts, by accessing the course Wicki and checking out the Announcements page, as well as the Week 1 Study Guides page and the Week 1 Assigments page. The easiest, but most important three things you can do right now is to join this Blog, join the Wiki and add me (Alex Olteanu) to your Facebook friends' list (after joining Facebeeok if you are not already a member). Please also check regularly the Course Calendar on the Wiki Homepage; in addition to the weekly lectures you will find marked there all assignments' deadlines, as well as indicative times when you should have finished various assigned homework during the week. Following the Calendar guidelines and doing a bit of work every day will make your life much easier and your mark much higher!

The Course Blog and Wiki will be very important study and communication tools throughout the course. Facebook will also be very important - I will post there on a regular basis links to various articles of interest I may wish you to read, and will keep in touch with you on a more informal basis if you have any questions or issues outside classroom time.

Well that's it for now - good luck with the upcoming exams and see you soon, at the Course Induction Session!

By the way - the two short clips at the beginning and the end of this blog are both.., commercials for a Canadian beer called, surprisingly enough, Canadian. The first ad became one of the most popular commercials in the history of Canada and unleashed an entirely uncharacteristic assertion of Canadian pride in their country and origins. Isn't it interesting that it was, of all things, a beer company and not, for example, the Federal Government, that came up with such an ad?

Welcome to the Summer '09 Edition of The Canadian Exception: Canada in the 21. Century Course!

Congratulations for finding the Blog of the Summer 2009 Edition of The Canadian Exception: Canada in the 21. Century course offered by Sprott-Shaw College, Burnaby Campus! This site, and the accompanying Canada in the 21. Century Wiki are an important part of your learning experience



My name is Alex Olteanu, and I am very excited to be your instructor this summer. I have taught a variety of courses in law, politics, sociology and business management, at university level, for large classrooms composed mostly of international students - so I know the challenges you all will face in studying a new and difficult subject in a language that is most likely not your mother-tongue. Well, that's something we share, since I immigrated to Canada some 25 years ago from Europe. I studied politics and law in Canada and the United Kingdom, and worked in the legal field for almost two decades in both these countries. I also speak fluently (besides English!) French, Spanish, German, and Romanian - so I will be able to help all those among you who need some assistance with your English skills - especially essay writing and public speaking.

As you know, The Canadian Exception: Canada in the 21. Century is a twelve-week course, from July 9th to September 24, 2009. Although we meet only once a week, Thursdays from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, for three and a half hours, the workload, group activities, readings and assignments are spread out throughout the week. Therefore, it is vital that you access this site and the wiki on a daily basis to stay in touch with me and your colleagues, check on news and announcements, and submit your work. The Canadian Exception: Canada in the 21. Century is an intensive course and it is very important that you keep up-to-date with your work in this course and do not fall behind. As long as you do so, and make sure you come to every Friday class on time every time, you all should do very well in this course and learn valuable information and skills that will help you a lot in your future academic and business careers.

I will be available for one-on-one tutoring after each Friday class. Please contact me to make an appointment if you wish to see me individually.

I will post additional material and information for our first class both here and on the Wiki, by Thursday, July 18, 2009. Please make sure you familiarise yourself with them before coming to class.

I look forward to getting to know you all soon!