SST2772-ABED_1: 1.5 Develop an Understanding of Identity and Nation

Should nation be the foundation of identity?

Big Ideas:

The concepts of identity and nation are related.

Various forces of nationalism have shaped and continue to shape Canada and the world.

What Makes Up the Concept of Nation?

The concept of nation starts with the idea that a collective identity exists. The "collective" is everyone in the nation, and because everyone is part of the nation, they should identify with the nation. Besides a nation having a collective identity, a nation is also made up of many ideas. The diagram (below) shows the main ideas that shape the collective identity of a nation. Click each of the tabs to review how each idea impacts collective identity.

The political idea of a nation involves the concept of being a sovereign nation. A sovereign nation has the political authority to control its own affairs. In some nations, democracy allows citizens the right to have a say in their government and the affairs of their nation. In other nations, various forms of government restrict the citizens' involvement in their government and the affairs of their nation.

Canada is a sovereign nation. The Canadian Parliament (left) is recognized as the government of a sovereign (independent) Canada. Canadian citizens have the right to elect their representatives to the Canadian government. Democratic rights are protected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Go to this website to explore Your Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Reflect on this question regarding "Politics".

Are politics the most important factor for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

A nation's geography can affect its economic and cultural development. A nation's geography also impacts trade with other nations and employment options for its citizens.

Economics

Physical features such as mountains, oceans, and deserts can be important resources. For example, oceans can be a source of food and a corridor for transportation while mountains and deserts can provide mineral resources. Development of such resources can help a nation provide for its people.

Resources from Canada's huge and varied geography play an important role in the development of the Canadian nation. Natural Resources Canada details its top 10 key facts in this PDF about Canada's use of natural resources, such as forestry, mining, and energy. According to the PDF, how does geography shape the economy?

Cultural Diffusion

While a nation's physical features can provide important resources, they can both help and hinder national identity. Mountains, oceans, and deserts can isolate people from one another, which may cause groups to develop cultural characteristics different from those of other groups. Geography can also help promote the strength of a nation's identity such as the island nations of Japan or Hawaii. However, with modern transportation and communication, including globalization, much cultural diffusion occurs despite the geographical obstacles.

Reflect on this question regarding "Geography".

Is geography the most important factor for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

Ayers Rock, Australia

Sometimes, a nation may have a strong relationship to the land their ancestors have lived on for hundreds, even thousands, of years. There may be a connection to the land that is greater than economics. A nation may have a spiritual relationship to the land that has become rooted in that nation's identity.

Consider the following Inuit view of their relationship to the land.

David Aglukark, a co-chief negotiator for Inuit on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, stated the following:

"The relationship between the Inuit and the land was one, like a newborn baby to her mother.... Today, the connection between Inuit and the land has weakened, and Inuit struggle with their identity—the Inuit's latest challenge in a land that has always been challenging."

Read the complete article at Inuit and the Land as One.

First Nations Prayer:

The Land

Pleasant it looked.
This newly created world.
Along the entire length and breadth of the earth, our
grandmother extended the green reflecting of her covering,
and the escaping odours were pleasant to inhale.

Reflect on this question regarding "Relationship to the Land".

Is your relationship to the land the most important factor for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

A nation’s culture can give its people a sense of identity. Often, a nation's culture can be closely related to its ethnic roots, but not always. For example, Canadian Aboriginal groups have a common ethnic ancestry, but they are separated into various cultures. Inuit culture is different from Iroquois culture, and they are different from Cree culture.

Canadian citizens come from many nations. This makes Canada a multination state, a country with many different cultures. So, along with the First Nations and the Québécois, Canada is a nation of many different cultures. Due to Canada’s multinational perspective, the Canadian government supports a policy of multiculturalism. The Canadian policy of multiculturalism attempts to recognize that Canada is a nation built upon many different cultures.

Think about this question regarding "Culture".

Is culture the most important factor for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

Canada has a long history of supporting multiculturalism and the diversity of Canada's citizens. How is your culture supported? Go to the Canadian Encyclopedia's website to read the article "Multiculturalism."

Language can be a powerful unifying force for the citizens of a nation. Linguistics are more than just a way to communicate. Language contributes to the way people view the world around them and how they give meaning to it through their words. When a nation's citizens share a linguistic identity (an identity based on a shared language), they are sharing the meaning behind their nation.

For example, China has many dialects (forms) of the Chinese language, but Mandarin is the dominant dialect. Spoken Chinese binds China's citizens together with a common form of communication, but more importantly with a sense of being Chinese. Written Chinese allows China’s citizens to share a common history and culture.

Canada has a policy of bilingualism (two official languages — French and English). The official languages are given protection in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Although many languages are spoken in Canada, bilingualism is a reflection of the two historically dominant languages in Canada. Many nation-states have only one official language. Bilingualism gives Canada a unique language identity.

Go to this website to explore the Interactive Charter.

Reflect on this question regarding "Language".

Is language the most important factor for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

Religion may have a very important role in the identity of a nation's people. It may unify a nation's citizens and give them an important sense of identity. For example, the predominant religion in India is Hinduism, which is recognized as the world’s oldest religion and third largest after Christianity and Islam. Hinduism and India’s other religions have given the nation of India its unique sense of identity.

However, religion can play a divisive role in a nation. In some cases, religion has divided a nation-state to the point of creating new nation-states, separate nations within a previously-united nation. In India and Pakistan, there have been incidents where the various religions have been at odds. This is especially true of the strife caused by the differences between the Hindu and Muslim religions. Violence against each other has been perpetrated by both sides, resulting in the deaths of many. Other nations struggle with conflicts between Protestant and Catholic Christians or Sunni and Shiite Muslims, for example.

Organized religions usually have their beliefs written down in a book or set of books called "scripture". For example, Christianity and Judaism have the Bible, Islam has the Koran and Hinduism has the Bhagavad Gita.

In Canada, the right to freedom of religion is given protection in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Go to this website to explore the Charter and its protection of religious freedoms.

Reflect on this question regarding "Religion".

Is religion the most important factor for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

Often, spirituality is associated with Aboriginal peoples. Spiritual religions are not usually organized around a central church or clergy (as is the case with Christianity or Islam). Spiritual religions do not usually have their beliefs written in books. Spiritual religions pass on their beliefs and stories mostly by word of mouth from generation to generation.

As mentioned in the "Relationship to Land" section, spiritual religions often have an identity that is rooted in their relationship to the land. For example, Canada's First Nations people have a profound relationship with Mother Earth. Mother Earth is viewed as a provider for resources needed to sustain life, but also as a spiritual connection that fosters respect, humility, and the mutual interdependence between the peoples and the land for current and future generations.

Note the definitions of the following terms.

Religion: a belief in a supernatural being as creator involving an organized system of faith and worship

Spirituality: having to do with deep, often religious, feelings and beliefs, including a person’s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others, and beliefs about the meaning of life

Reflect on this question regarding "Spirituality".

Is spirituality the most important for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

Go to this Canadian government website for further information on the Native Spirituality Guide.

Ethnic groups usually share similar racial and cultural characteristics. Often, a single ethnic group makes up a nation. For example, the German ethnic group makes up the nation of Germany, and the Japanese ethnic group makes up the nation of Japan. Ethnicity and culture are very closely related. However, an ethnic group doesn't always have one common culture. It may have many, very different cultures. For example, Aboriginal peoples of North America have a common ancestry. Therefore, they are part of the same ethnic group. However, North American Aboriginal peoples do not all share the same culture. West Coast Salish people do not have the same culture as the Iroquois, and they do not share the culture of the Navajo, etc.

Some believe a single ethnic group should make up the collective identity of a nation. However, others criticize this idea because it can create problems for those who are not of the same ethnic group. In extreme cases, it can lead to dangerous consequences. In Nazi Germany during the 1930s and 1940s, for example, many supported the idea that Germany should be a nation of only pure-blood Germans. Other ethnic groups, especially German Jews, were to be exterminated so they would not "pollute" the German ethnic group.

In Canada, ethnic and racial equality is guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To discriminate against a person because of race or ethnic background is illegal under Canadian law.

Go to this website to explore the Charter and its protection of equality rights.

Think about this question regarding "Ethnicity".

Is ethnicity the most important for you regarding the identity of your nation? Why or why not?

There are various points of view or perspectives about which of the above ideas is most important to the concept (or idea) of a nation. Many people take the relationship between their identity and the identity of their nation very seriously.

Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism, and read pages 25 to 29. These pages will further your understanding of the main ideas that form the concept of nation. Take notes using your own methods. Click the following tutorial How to Take Notes if you need a reminder for how to take notes.