This is where I think Truth and Reconciliation's end game can lead us to: a reconnecting with the traditions and cultures that existed on this land prior to 400 years ago. Build out a Canadian identity around getting all Canadians, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, to celebrate and participate in the original ways of being in this country while taking the country away from its gross colonial foundation.
Love this hopeful perspective! There's no going back but there are far better ways of going forward. Canada has some of the world's worst levels of forced car dependency, with all the anti-collective, anti-community, inherent potential violence and physical-social isolation that entails. This in no small part contributes to our world worst per capita carbon emissions. A key part of this new Canadian identity will require pivoting away from the driver-supremacist status quo and towards multi-modal mobility justice. Namely, a federally-led massive investment in regional electric passenger rail, and high speed rail.
I think at least one reason for the thin tapestry of nationalism in Canada is the perspective — you're comparing to countries that have documented their resistance against or experience against colonialism and imperialism, that have defining stories and strong cultural histories. But on these lands, those are largely First Nations — Canada is still a fairly recent imposition on top of hundreds of distinct nations, which have the kind of unified and powerful expressions of sovereignty and shared culture that you're looking for. Canada's main distinguishing feature is not that it's *not* the US; it's that it's a colonial project that is still trying to justify its occupation.
None of that really negates your points about the tidal wave of fascism roaring towards Canada from south of the 49th parallel — I just think it's good context for our national identity crisis.
All good points! I’m looking forward to visiting my final two countries for a lot of reasons, but one is to get a broader perspective on how that dynamic plays out elsewhere.
I agree. "We have a nice story about about upper class Scottish immigrants compromising with sixth generation French settlers to ask the British really nicely for our independence on domestic issues, along with a fun story about how they burned down the White House as a footnote in the Napoleonic Wars." is the story I was told growing up in BC, but left out a lot of how I now see Canada's story. My kids have been told a more nuanced story, with a lot more angles, at their schools in Ontario and Manitoba. This has led to me learning things that may or may not be in any of our museums, like that Jacques Cartier kidnapped two Iroquoian men on his first voyage, possibly Chief Donnaconna's sons, took them to France, and then brought them back as guides on his second voyage but ended that trip by abducting Chief Donnaconna and nine other Iroquoian people from near what is now Quebec City, and all but maybe one young girl died in France.
I live in Winnipeg now, and I think because it's Canada's most Indigenous city as well as having a lot of newcomers from other countries, Canadian culture here feels more rooted and rich to me. But maybe still not easy to capture in a museum context.
My parents immigrated to Canada in 1954 and I am profoundly grateful to have grown up here. My Canadian identity has largely been formed by our literature, comedy ( SCTV & Kids in the Hall) and yes a love of the outdoors.
Thank you as ever Justin for your essential writing.
Away for 6 months and currently in Australia, looking up at Canada. The comments, questions people ask about Canada - I get the same!
The national food? I’ve mentioned west coast salmon, east coast lobster…poutine…maple syrup…Alberta beef. True, we don’t seem to have a ‘national’ dish.
I’m eager to get home to Vancouver in two weeks. I see the outpouring of love for Canada through social media inspired by ‘bad’ things going on down south.
Interesting times - welcome home - I hear there might be snow 😂.
I’m gonna enjoy writing about food more broadly in a chapter for the book, but I would argue we have regional cuisines, not national ones, and unlike other big countries, there’s not a lot of binding agents between the different styles.
Regarding the weird dread so many of us are feeling - I've been doing some reading on "hypernormalization," the realization that the systems around us are fake and/or collapsing, but not having any idea of how to get out of it, so everyone kinda pretends things are normal.
This term was initially developed by Alexi Yurchak, a Russian anthropologist who used it to describe the period just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Filmmaker Adam Curtis expanded on this in his documentary Hypernormalization (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7T07WfIhM - it's almost 3 hours long, so I haven't watched it yet - but will as soon as I can dedicate the time.)
Fabulous writing Justin, Your experience has been so rich with questions you've been required to answer "I said that our history as peacekeepers got ingrained into stories we told the world, even though it hadn’t been relevant for a while." But hey! Cuisine? I always answer; Poutine!!!
Such a great entry Justin, It is bloody well written and I don't think anyone could write such a good piece in this moment of time. Your travels this past year create a perspective that so many more Canadians need to dig deep into. We often loose sight of what is most important because as they say we are in the fishbowl.
Great article. I share your existential dread. We are an exceedingly lucky generation, having been born after the great wars in a time of unprecedented stability and prosperity in Canada. The thought that this is over, and that the Bully of Mara Lago could upend the world order, is beyond chilling. Welcome to the North American version of Ukraine?
Wow. I'm sitting alone in a restaurant on my lunch break and quietly weeping after reading your article. You are absolutely right that this existential threat has sparked something in us collectively. It gives me a tiny bit of hope that good will triumph over evil. Thank you Justin. ❤️
Years ago I embarked on a post-uni cross-Canada bike trip. Peddling across the prairies, I struggled through head-winds, hail storms and had days to contemplate the endless fields of wheat and the refined culture of bakery arts that had emerged from harvesting this bounty over centuries. Yet, in every small town outpost I restocked at, only Wonder Bread as available. The people were living as temporary occupiers, refusing to connect to the land beyond a stale neo-colonial settler fever dream.
11 months. Gone fast . That Trumpy business has paused my news reading and watching ceased years ago. Interesting how you reflect on it from afar. It’s going to be “Different” but I hope only for a while.
This is where I think Truth and Reconciliation's end game can lead us to: a reconnecting with the traditions and cultures that existed on this land prior to 400 years ago. Build out a Canadian identity around getting all Canadians, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, to celebrate and participate in the original ways of being in this country while taking the country away from its gross colonial foundation.
Love this hopeful perspective! There's no going back but there are far better ways of going forward. Canada has some of the world's worst levels of forced car dependency, with all the anti-collective, anti-community, inherent potential violence and physical-social isolation that entails. This in no small part contributes to our world worst per capita carbon emissions. A key part of this new Canadian identity will require pivoting away from the driver-supremacist status quo and towards multi-modal mobility justice. Namely, a federally-led massive investment in regional electric passenger rail, and high speed rail.
I think at least one reason for the thin tapestry of nationalism in Canada is the perspective — you're comparing to countries that have documented their resistance against or experience against colonialism and imperialism, that have defining stories and strong cultural histories. But on these lands, those are largely First Nations — Canada is still a fairly recent imposition on top of hundreds of distinct nations, which have the kind of unified and powerful expressions of sovereignty and shared culture that you're looking for. Canada's main distinguishing feature is not that it's *not* the US; it's that it's a colonial project that is still trying to justify its occupation.
None of that really negates your points about the tidal wave of fascism roaring towards Canada from south of the 49th parallel — I just think it's good context for our national identity crisis.
All good points! I’m looking forward to visiting my final two countries for a lot of reasons, but one is to get a broader perspective on how that dynamic plays out elsewhere.
I agree. "We have a nice story about about upper class Scottish immigrants compromising with sixth generation French settlers to ask the British really nicely for our independence on domestic issues, along with a fun story about how they burned down the White House as a footnote in the Napoleonic Wars." is the story I was told growing up in BC, but left out a lot of how I now see Canada's story. My kids have been told a more nuanced story, with a lot more angles, at their schools in Ontario and Manitoba. This has led to me learning things that may or may not be in any of our museums, like that Jacques Cartier kidnapped two Iroquoian men on his first voyage, possibly Chief Donnaconna's sons, took them to France, and then brought them back as guides on his second voyage but ended that trip by abducting Chief Donnaconna and nine other Iroquoian people from near what is now Quebec City, and all but maybe one young girl died in France.
I live in Winnipeg now, and I think because it's Canada's most Indigenous city as well as having a lot of newcomers from other countries, Canadian culture here feels more rooted and rich to me. But maybe still not easy to capture in a museum context.
My parents immigrated to Canada in 1954 and I am profoundly grateful to have grown up here. My Canadian identity has largely been formed by our literature, comedy ( SCTV & Kids in the Hall) and yes a love of the outdoors.
Thank you as ever Justin for your essential writing.
A good read on a day when many of us are having nationalistic thoughts. Thanks.
Away for 6 months and currently in Australia, looking up at Canada. The comments, questions people ask about Canada - I get the same!
The national food? I’ve mentioned west coast salmon, east coast lobster…poutine…maple syrup…Alberta beef. True, we don’t seem to have a ‘national’ dish.
I’m eager to get home to Vancouver in two weeks. I see the outpouring of love for Canada through social media inspired by ‘bad’ things going on down south.
Interesting times - welcome home - I hear there might be snow 😂.
I’m gonna enjoy writing about food more broadly in a chapter for the book, but I would argue we have regional cuisines, not national ones, and unlike other big countries, there’s not a lot of binding agents between the different styles.
True, regional cuisines- we are a big country, though so is the USA and potentially they have the national hamburger!look forward to your book!
California rolls (Vancouver) and pineapple on pizza (Toronto) are both Canadian inventions enjoyed the world over. Worth a mention!
London Fogs are also, surprisingly, a Vancouver invention
Never heard of them, but I did consciously avoid the entire ‘syrupy hot chemical milkshakes for adults’ trend Starbucks pioneered back in the 1990s. 😆
Welcome home! I've so enjoyed your writings and photos along the way.
We missed you! We're going to need your voice and perspective in these crazy times. No pressure! 🙏🏼😳💪🏼
We're all Canadian here, whether we were born to it or not. And I think the Trumper Tantrum is striking one hell of a nerve.
This was a great reflection, Justin!
Regarding the weird dread so many of us are feeling - I've been doing some reading on "hypernormalization," the realization that the systems around us are fake and/or collapsing, but not having any idea of how to get out of it, so everyone kinda pretends things are normal.
This term was initially developed by Alexi Yurchak, a Russian anthropologist who used it to describe the period just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Filmmaker Adam Curtis expanded on this in his documentary Hypernormalization (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7T07WfIhM - it's almost 3 hours long, so I haven't watched it yet - but will as soon as I can dedicate the time.)
Fabulous writing Justin, Your experience has been so rich with questions you've been required to answer "I said that our history as peacekeepers got ingrained into stories we told the world, even though it hadn’t been relevant for a while." But hey! Cuisine? I always answer; Poutine!!!
Such a great entry Justin, It is bloody well written and I don't think anyone could write such a good piece in this moment of time. Your travels this past year create a perspective that so many more Canadians need to dig deep into. We often loose sight of what is most important because as they say we are in the fishbowl.
Great article. I share your existential dread. We are an exceedingly lucky generation, having been born after the great wars in a time of unprecedented stability and prosperity in Canada. The thought that this is over, and that the Bully of Mara Lago could upend the world order, is beyond chilling. Welcome to the North American version of Ukraine?
Beautifully said!
✔️✔️✔️👍👍
Wow. I'm sitting alone in a restaurant on my lunch break and quietly weeping after reading your article. You are absolutely right that this existential threat has sparked something in us collectively. It gives me a tiny bit of hope that good will triumph over evil. Thank you Justin. ❤️
Years ago I embarked on a post-uni cross-Canada bike trip. Peddling across the prairies, I struggled through head-winds, hail storms and had days to contemplate the endless fields of wheat and the refined culture of bakery arts that had emerged from harvesting this bounty over centuries. Yet, in every small town outpost I restocked at, only Wonder Bread as available. The people were living as temporary occupiers, refusing to connect to the land beyond a stale neo-colonial settler fever dream.
11 months. Gone fast . That Trumpy business has paused my news reading and watching ceased years ago. Interesting how you reflect on it from afar. It’s going to be “Different” but I hope only for a while.