INQUIRY PROJECT: WHAT IS CANADIANISM?

This project will demonstrate how Canada is a multicultural country and how everyone fits under the Canadian umbrella.

Motto: A Mari Usque Ad Mare (Latin) CANADIAN FLAG COAT OF ARMS"From Sea to Sea" Anthem: "O Canada"Royal anthem: "God Save the Queen"

CANADIAN DEMOGRAPHICS

Canada’s population has been increasingly growing in the past decade where nearly 60% of new immigrants come from Asia (including the Middle East). From 2001 to 2006, the Canadian population has increased by 5.4% for a total of 31,612,897. Population growth is from immigration and, to a lesser extent, natural growth. According to the 2001 census, Canada has 34 ethnic groups. At least one hundred thousand members are in each ethnic group, with 83% of the total population claiming they are white. The largest ethnic group is English (20.2%), followed by French (15.8%), Scottish (14.0%), Irish (12.9%), German (9.3%), Italian (4.3%), Chinese (3.7%), Ukrainian (3.6%), and First Nations (3.4%). Of the respondents, only 40% identified themselves their ethnicity as Canadian. In 2001, visible minorities make up 49% of the Vancouver population and 42.8% of Toronto's population. By 2012, Statistics Canada recently projected that people of non-European origins will constitute a majority in both Toronto and Vancouver. In 2007, a survey reveals that virtually 1 in 5 Canadians (19.8%) is foreign born. As a result, Canada is shifting from Europeanism to multiculturalism.

Historically, Canadian culture has been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. Due to its proximity and migration, Canadian culture also has also been influenced by American culture. Canada is a geographically vast and ethnically diverse country. There are many cultural variations and distinctions from province to province and region to region. Canadian culture has been greatly influenced by immigration from all over the world. Many Canadians value multiculturalism, and they see Canadian culture as being inherently multicultural. Multicultural heritage is the basis of Section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Based on these facts, this is our foundation for the inquiry project.

Resource: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2008. Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada#Demographics.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CANADIAN?

“Hey. I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader, and I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dog sled, and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice. I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I speak English and French, not

American, and I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'. I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peacekeeping, not policing; diversity, not assimilation; and that the

beaver is a truly proud and noble animal. A tuque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch, and it is pronounced zed: not zee – zed!! Canada is the second largest land mass! The first nation of

hockey! And the best part of North America! My name is Joe!! And I am Canadian!... Thank you.”

So, this is what it means to be Canadian eh?

The mind-boggling question: What does it mean to be Canadian? Since the existence of Canada, this question has not been answered. In havoc, Canadians have searched for symbols such as beavers, hockey, beer, snow, French, and totem poles to define the Canadian identity. Although Canadians are ‘attempting’ to answer the question, they seem to be drifting away from what the question is specifically asking for. In other words, Canadians have started to define themselves based on what they are not. This is demonstrated in the above speech that attempts to distinguish the United States from Canada.

This project symbolizes Canada as a multicultural country where all people are Canadian in their own right. The concept of the umbrella shows how all religions, along with culture, fit under the realm of what it is to be Canadian. The inside of the umbrella illustrates Canadian identity made up of all ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds where as the outside of the umbrella embraces the symbols that Canadians have adopted as part of the cultural identity. Thus, this project of inquiry will define what it means to be Canadian without highlighting the things that we are not.

TIPS ON HOW TO BE CANADIAN

Step 1:Use "eh" (pronounced "a") whenever you can, especially when asking a question or turning a statement into a question. For example, "It's cold out here, eh?" This invites the other person to express their views on the subject.

Step 2:Learn key phrases and words. This will help you blend in and people will know what you're talking about (even if you don't). A couple key words are "loonie" (Canadian coin dollar) and "toonie" (Canadian coin two dollar). A couple key phrases are "colder than a witch's t@t" and "don't be a hosier, eh."

Step 3:Wear shorts in the winter, especially if you work for a courier company, but do not wear sandals with socks--your feet will get cold.

Step 4:Realize that there are only two seasons in Canada--winter and no winter (but not spring, summer or either fall). In one it snows; in the other it doesn't.

Step 5:Along the same line as Step 4, understand that if the west coast (i.e., BC Vancouver region) gets snow, they will shut down if it hits 1 inch. In the east coast (i.e., New Foundland), they will shut down if it hits 5 feet.

Step 6:Learn the metric system.

Step 7:If you live or visit Alberta, do not listen to the weather person, 9 out of 10 times he/she will be wrong. For example, if they say it is rainy outside, wait 5 minutes and then go out. Chances are the rain will have stopped but still be prepared - bring an umbrella, winter jacket (even if it's not winter), gloves and hat.

Step 8:Never take anything too serious and learn to laugh at yourself. The best jokes about Canadians or Canada were created by Canadians; we know how to have fun!

Resource: eHow. How to be Canadian. Retrieved March 5, 2008. Website: http://www.ehow.com/how_2148465_be-canadian.html?ref=fuel.

Activities:

The impact that media has on society has become increasingly apparent as technology continues to grow at an exponential rate. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements, opinions, perceptions, and ideologies. This is especially important for elementary students that are at an impressionable age and may not yet be ready to interpret messages and create their own definitions. We therefore aim to bring awareness to students that although the media may identify certain symbols of being, “Canadian,” that it is important to create their own representations.

Through a collage activity, students will explore how media portrays to be Canadian versus what their own interpretations and opinions are. They will divide a symbol, such as a Canadian flag, into two sections. In one section, students will be asked to represent the impact on how media makes them think they should act, represent, feel in order to be Canadian. In the second section they will have an opportunity to express what it means to them to be Canadian.

This activity can be modified for any grade. Younger students may do a whole class collage on a simple Canadian flag, while older students can create a collage on a symbol that they fits with their own interpretations, such as our Canadian Umbrella.

Students will then be asked to present their project to the class. This will help students see that everybody is Canadian in their own right and that answering the

question “What it means to be Canadian”, may incorporate different interpretations and meaning from each individual.

Technical Notes:

This section will focus on other possible collage techniques and activities, tips on tackling multicultural issues using collage and materials needed to accomplish our activity.

A Collage is defined as an artistic composition of fragments (as of printed matter) pasted on a picture surface (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary). One possible collage technique/activity is making an assemblage of pieces of you 3D Imagination. This collage builds on the concept of making a basic collage using cut-out pictures from a magazine, similar to the activity done in class and making of our umbrella. This activity consists of finding objects that are interesting in texture or design to your collage work that works well for assemblage. For example colourful netting from a bag of oranges could compliment the colours of a collage and add an odd texture. This could be accomplished by cutting a netting into a shape you like and then attach it to you collage by using small scraps of coloured paper and then glue it over the edges like tape. This will hold the net into place on strategic edges, while allowing the bulk of it to flow freely over the underlying collage. After attaching the netting you could decide to add some craft beads for interest. After applying the found objects and covering the assemblage with glue, put it aside to dry. At this point the assemblage is complete. Other possible collage technique are “Peeling paint,” this technique is made from found papers and acrylic paint on a wood support, “Wrinkled blue,” is made from tissue paper, coffee filters, and acrylic paint on a wood support. This texture was created by painting over and down folded tissue paper and coffee filters onto the support and “Shredded treat,” is comprised of shredded papers glued on a wood support. Mixed shredded paper also creates an interesting texture effect that can act as a background or design itself. An assortment of tissue and printer paper is used to make the background.

One way of tackling multicultural issues is creating a simple collage from cut-out pictures from magazines or family pictures/life experiences. Students could do an activity similar to one on the impact of media, however this time on one section they will put pictures/images that is stereotypical to their culture/religion and on the other side they will include pictures/images that reflect their true beliefs and traditions based either on their cultural/religious practices.

The materials needed to accomplish our “Umbrella,” activity were a red umbrella, strong adhesive glue, paint brushes, white paint and magazines (cut-out pictures). It is really important to use strong adhesive glue to allow the cut-out pictures to stick to the fabric. At some points while making our “Umbrella,” we had to apply glue on top of some pictures for them to remain in place. Overall, it was an enjoyable time for all of us and it was fun washing out the glue from our fingers and finger nails afterwards.

Collection of Notable Collage Artists

Pablo Picasso: (1881-1973)

Analytic cubism is a style of painting Picasso developed along with Georges Braque using monochrome brownish and neutral colours. Both artists took apart objects and “analyzed” them in terms of their shapes. Synthetic cubism was a further development of the genre, in which cut paper fragments—often wallpaper or portions of newspaper pages—were pasted into compositions, marking the first use of collage in fine art.

(1912) Still Life with Chair Caning (Nature-morte á la chaise cannée)

Bobbi Adams: (current)Art and gardening are Bobbi's passions.  Her garden is her muse. Light and color are important in her painting, just as light  influences the  colors which are seen in a garden. Bobbi has been painting for thirty years and gardening all her life. Her art developed in its current form from the materials in the garden. Today Bobbi makes her own paint of materials from the earth and handmade papers from the plants she grows in her gardens.

Pegasus  Self-made paper collage 2001 papers include those made from marigolds, paper wasp nests, mulberry, etc

Geeta Chaudhuri: (1943- present)Geeta has had no formal training in the fine arts. Everything she does comes from deep within her and is guided by her strong artistic instincts and visions. A supportive family has helped her in experimenting with various art forms and has been substantially instrumental in helping her evolve the unique art form for which she has become well-known. Geeta has been blessed with a keen sight which helps her to see the beauty in her surroundings. She makes numerous sketches on her sketch-book, a constant companion of heres, whenever she steps outdoors. These sketches are then given a new lease of life through her wood collages.

()The Solitary Reaper: wood collage

Amedeo De Palma: (1967- present)Many of the collages of this Canadian artist with an ironic sense of humour cast light on life "south of the border." Her mission is to promote photo collage well into the 21st century.

(2003) This is America: Photo Collage