Expressions of Nationalism

A Sense of Nation Among Ukrainians, Métis, Acadians and

Canadians…

What are expressions of nationalism?

• Nationalism: the collective, shared sense of belonging of people who identify themselves as a nation.

Expressions of Nationalism

• When individuals or groups of people communicate or act on this shared sense of belonging, these communications and actions are expressions of nationalism.

How do nations express their nationalism?

• People can choose to express their nationalism in a variety of ways…– Celebrations of identity– Political actions– Writing and telling of history– Artwork– Literature– Multimedia– Magazines, newspapers, songs, music, speeches

Expressions of Nationalism

• Nationalism can also be expressed in how people live as a nation, in their daily lives and ways of life.

Expressions of Nationalism

• …are motivated by the desire to reinforce feelings of belonging in the people of a nation.

• This can lead to the unification of the individuals of the nation, to the confirmation of the nation’s identity.

Ukrainian Canadians

• Many ethnic Ukrainians who either live in Canada or in the Ukraine share a collective sense of nationality based on– Food– Clothing styles– Celebrations (Orange Revolution)– Shared experiences (history of oppression

from the former USSR)– Cultural symbols (pysanky)

Expressions Among the Métis

• Descendents of Aboriginal women and French/British/Scottish explorers.

• Settled mainly in the Red River area of Southern Manitoba.

• Sense of nation is largely based on their shared history of discrimination and displacement by John A. Macdonald’s government during confederation.

The Métis

• Louis Riel was executed by order of the Canadian government in 1885 after he led a rebellion against the government over land disputes and unanswered letters of petition to the government.

• Riel was both Métis and French Canadian, and both nations include Riel in their telling of their histories.

The Acadians

• 1713 – the Treaty of Utrecht stated that the French colony of Acadia (the British called it Nova Scotia) was to become a British colony.

• 1755 – the Acadians were able to negotiate neutrality with the British that had taken control of their colony.

The Acadians

• This neutrality allowed them to continue to live in Acadia (Nova Scotia) but to exclude them from the ongoing conflicts between the British and the French.

• However, later in 1755, the British broke this neutrality agreement and demanded that the Acadians pledge allegiance to the British.

• They refused, and were deported out of Acadia.

Le grand dérangement

• A shared, common history has connected Acadians from all over the world.

• The Congrès mondial acadien (CMA) is held every five years to celebrate the Acadian shared heritage and identity.

• The mission of the CMA is to develop closer connections among Acadians around the world.

Canadians

• Canadians express their sense of nationalism through– The Arts (literature, songs, poems,

paintings)– The Flag, Coat of Arms, National

Anthem– Shared culture (sports, travel,

recreation)– Politics (international ventures,

peacekeeping missions, supporting our troops, etc.)

– Official Multiculturalism laws