Lesson - Nationalist Loyalties

RESOURCES

Read and refer to Chapter Three as your resource for completing this lesson's assignment.

Chapter Study Notes
 Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?
American Nationalism
Quebec Nationalism
Metis Nationalism


LESSON

One synonym for loyalty is "commitment" - the act of staying true to an idea, a cause, a nation, a person, or even yourself. People sometimes demonstrate their loyalty publicly. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill did this during World War II, when he vowed in a famous speech that Britain would "never surrender" to Hitler and fascism. But loyalty does not need to be displayed publicly. It can be low-key and long term, as in the quiet commitment of two people who are united in a lifelong relationship.

Non Nationalist Loyalties are loyalties that are not embedded in the idea of nation. (ex - Loyalties to family, friends, school, etc)

Listen to the following explanation for Reconciling Contending Loyalties

Loyalty means to be firmly committed or faithful to someone or something

           flames

Patriotism is the love of one's country or nation

soldier

A Nationalist Loyalty means to be faithful to your country or nation by going to a parade, or displaying a flag, or keeping in touch with your community

Contending Loyalties mean against or competing with one another

Names can be useful tools for affirming nationalist loyalties. The Inuit of South Baffin Island, for example, have started the South Baffin Place Names Project to record traditional Inuktitut place names. Inuktitut is the language of the Inuit. Inuktitut names were often ignored by Europeans, who gave their own names to places in the North.  Watch the following video, Kiviaq versus Canada.

Watch the following documentary. Kiviaq vs Canada:



As you watch, consider the following questions:

  1. Does the title of the documentary capture the idea of contending loyalties? Why? Why not?
  2. Does a person need to be immersed in a nation in order to by loyal to it?
  3. Create a list of criteria to determine how a man like Kiviaq should decide which of his loyalties should come first (his loyalty to Canada, Alberta and Edmonton or his loyalty to the Inuit). What course of action should Kiviaq take?