Happy Kanata Day, Eh'?
“Kanata” translates to town or village in the Iroquoian languages, which is the family of languages used by the Indigenous people of North America. When French explorer, Jacques Cartier “discovered” Canada for the first time in 1534, he thought he landed in China. That’s what he was looking for, at least. While sailing through New Found Land, PEI and the St. Lawrence River, he met tribes of Indigenous people – realizing he was not, in fact, in China – repeating, “Kanata,” as they tried to explain to him, that this was their village. These Native Americans were cordial and welcomed these foreign men, even nursing those sailors who had fallen ill during the journey. Cartier then set sail back to France, and proclaimed his discovery of this new country, Canada and, detailing his interactions with the Canadien Habitents.
Canada’s day of Confederation is July 1st, 1867. We have 3 territories,10 provinces, stretched over 9.9 million square kilometers of land, with a population of 37.9 million. Our government is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with a monarch and Justin Trudeau as our Prime Minister, whom serves as the chair of the cabinet and head of the government. Yes, when Justin Trudeau was elected we all swooned over him. What a breath of fresh air the world of politics needed! But on the job, he’s not the favourite of most Canadians right now…
We’ve hosted the Olympics 3 times, invented BASKETBALL (oh yes you read that right), the lightbulb, and obviously - the snow blower! Canadians, you will find have traveled a whole lot and are embraced by the countries we visit. (I once met a traveler in Spain who understood this advantage and had a Canadian flag sewn on his knapsack… even though he was American). Our country is extremely diverse, as of 2016, 17.2% of the population was second generation**, I am one of them! Stereotypically, we love hockey, maple syrup, apologizing, Tim Hortons, a mickey or a 2-4 and Molson Beer. Most people know these stereotypes, know how nice we are and nothing else. But that’s cool! For the most part, we are a subtle troupe of people. Except for when you take one to a hockey game… My dear fiancé learned that the hard way…
When I initially thought about writing a little Canada-Day-diddy, it was a couple of weeks ago. My idea was to send out a short list of questions to girlfriends who had lived abroad and compile the answers. A close family member is a retired RCMP officer (yes the Mountees…) and an absolute icon of a man, the exact person you would want donning a Red Serge. I called my mum and asked her to scan this epic picture from his 1981 swearing in to use as the main photo of this article. Fast forward to Monday {June 29}, we hop on the phone and I remind her about the photo. She responds hesitantly, explaining some recent videos that had surfaced of police brutality against the First Nations. Protests had erupted as multiple people had died in the last few weeks.
I admit, I did not know that this was happening so recently up North. America has had a lot of news of its own to cover lately and the election is coming up, so I am wrapped up in American politics. So I start researching, and am met with some disturbing video footage and heart-wrenching images and stories about innocent people being abused and killed. It’s tragic. And on the flip side, this hits particularly close to home, because I have two upstanding men in my family who are good-hearted, dedicated RCMP officers.
So I had already sent out these questions to some friends as I hung up the phone with my mum. An hour later, I receive a response from a friend; “Given the research I’ve been doing surrounding anti-racism and awareness, I don’t necessarily feel comfortable participating this year. Hope everything goes well!” Okay — This article is officially being rethought.
When it comes to issues about race, I am very hesitant about speaking on it because I have no idea what it is like. The pain, anger, punishment and suffocation is so far beyond. I don’t feel I have the right to speak to this - that’s just me and my sensitive personality. I feel, that the changes I can implement daily and encourage others to do to aid change is too seriously educate one’s self, and to listen and support those leading the movements.
From my experience, I am very grateful that I was raised in Canada. I love the values it taught me, the abundant land I was able to explore as a child, the wildlife, the diversity in my high schools and the opportunity it provided for me and my mother when we moved there. Canada Day has been an annual tradition of me waving my little Canadian flag in a bar, with a Molson and new Canadian friends, no matter where in the world I am. BUT - to a large percentage of the country, Canada Day is not celebrated. It is seen as a sad day, a reminder of a place that was taken from the people who lived there peacefully and treated the land with utmost respect. Minority groups have said that Canada Day, Victoria Day, and St-Jean-Baptiste Day are reminders and symbols of violent colonialism. This year more than ever, minority ethnic Canadian groups and communities, are choosing to not celebrate the holiday - finding it difficult to celebrate a government that is not doing enough to right the wrongs of the deeply rooted systemic racism.
On the surface labelled a very peaceful and “nice” place, we have our own dirty laundry — prejudice, brutality and genocide of indigenous people. Between 1863 and 1998, 150,000 children from Indigenous tribes were taken from their families and forced into government and religious run boarding schools - to strip them of their culture. More than 3,000 children were killed, buried in unmarked graves without notifying their parents. Only 2,800 have been found and identified in the last 8 years. Since 1980, there have been reportedly 3,000 (some say higher) indigenous women who have gone missing. Young teenagers to women, they vanish or are killed in cold blood. Most of these cases were thrown out with very little attempt of being solved in the first place. In 2019, Canada officially ruled it a genocide.
Our country is not perfect — No country is perfect. There is so much happening in the world right now bringing important issues to the forefront. It is overwhelming and heavy and disturbing and we MUST fight for change.
On July 1st, 2020, let’s take this as a reminder to educate ourselves. Although this article was initially meant to be light hearted, I was quickly humbled by the importance of a deeper message. I do miss living in Canada so I think my ache of wishing I was there on this day physicalized into this Q & A idea. But we cannot have the light without the shadow, this dark history. Moving forward, we must support and shed light on those courageous beings at the frontline of this movement. I sincerely hope that readers learn something new from this and take the next steps to educate themselves. Below are links to documentaries that would be a great starting point and are exceptionally-well made. And for the Canadians who aren’t at home and want a little chuckle… Put on your toque, grab your timmies and let’s giv’er.
Resources:
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World — An absolutely stellar documentary. Originally screened at Sundance FF in 2017, it won multiple awards and gained international attention. “The Indians that rocked the music industry.” This covers history of Canada and America, and how legendary music was borne from Indigenous people.
Being Canadian — A humorous look at what it’s like to be Canadian, as told by famous Canadians. More of a Hollywood and light hearted, TV & film approach, but nevertheless educational.
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance — In July 1990, a dispute over a proposed golf course to be built on Kanien’kéhaka (Mohawk) lands in Oka, Quebec, set the stage for a historic confrontation that would grab international headlines and sear itself into the Canadian consciousness
A compilation of answers to fun Canadienne questions sent to fabulous Hussey’s who have lived abroad!
What are the most common reactions you get from people once you tell them you’re Canadian?
“You don’t say eh that much.”
“It’s cold there.”
“Say sorry!”
They always make a joke about me saying “eh”.
“Do you speak French?”
“Canada?! I’ve always wanted to go!”
Usually a misunderstanding of how big each province/territory is which ends in a conversation about how big the country is.
"Canadians are SO NICE!"
I feel like people ask me if I’ve seen a lot of bears as well?! I had a British boyfriend come to Canada who joked about his concerns about bears, as if they were lurking around every corner. I must have reassured him 100 times that he probably wasn’t going to see a single bear. Well, low and behold, his first week in Vancouver, on a picnic in the park, 3 bears ran straight through the field just meters away from us. I never lived that one down. So I guess there’s some truth to that assumption!
How good is your French?
C’est parfait (ou presque)!
I graduated with a dual-dogwood diploma in high-school, which means I did the majority of my education in French. In Canada we have French Immersion programs from Kindergarten to Grade 12. I would say my receptive knowledge of French is 80% fluent and my expressive knowledge is about 30%. The last time I spoke French was about 10 years ago while I lived in Paris for 3 months after graduating high-school.
I did French Immersion from grade 6 to 9 and I’ve always been really good at reading and writing it, but never very good at understanding it when people speak to me.
I can still remember the very basics that I learned in elementary school.
Terrible… But I pretend it’s so much better than it is.
Favourite hockey team if you have one?
“The Edmonton Oilers! Home town pride. Although my brother is a Flames fan. I love going to Oilers games!
Canucks.
I’m not a hockey fan. Blasphemy!!
I am all about the Raptors!
Canucks when I was living in Vancouver… I’ve got some fun party stories with those boys from back in the day. But now - any Canadian team that is playing I will cheer for with extreme enthusiasm.
What did you miss while living abroad?
Saying “thank you” to the bus driver. No one does that anywhere else. In Vancouver, guaranteed every bus stop someone says “Thank You!” while getting off… At least I do.
The water! Our tap water is the best in the world.
Food culture. Sushi. Fresh veggies.
I went from growing up on the Pacific Coast of Canada to living city life in London, UK. I missed the ocean.
Favourite Canadian actor?
“Olivia Buckle.” **disclaimer I did not tell her to say that! She’s just that amazing of a person.
Ryan Goslling
Schitts Creek Cast
Keanu Reeves
There are lots of good ones: Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Ryan Reynolds, Rachael McAdams
Favourite Canadian Comedian?
Seth Rogen, in great part because of his recent f*ck you’s to all of the “All Lives Matter” folks responding to him on social media. Gave me a giggle when I needed it most.
Seth Rogen
Jim Carrey
A young Martin Short
Mike Meyers, Jim Carrey
Favourite Canadian musician?
Leonard Cohen.
Alanis Morrisette
Gotta give it up to Celine.
I live in Toronto, so of course I'll have to say Drake!
Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell, Drake, Neil Young
Photo used for this article is a painting by Emily Carr. She is one of Canada’s most admired icons, 1871 - 1945 an indigenous woman born in Victoria. Our most famous art school, located in Vancouver, British Columbia is named after her. This painting is entitled, “First Nations War Canoes”.
** First generation Canadian means you were born out of country and then moved into Canada. Second generation is when one of your parents is born outside of Canada, but you were born in Canada. My mother moved to Canada from Australia in 1975, she is first generation. I was the first born Canadian in my immediate family, I am second gen.
