ELA11, CSS, Cizeron

Learning Target(s): Recognize an increasing range of text structures and understand how they contribute to meaning. Understand the influence of land/place in First Peoples and other Canadian texts. Transform ideas and information to create original texts using various genres, forms, structures, and styles. Recognize that texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed.

Cultural Identity

What are some ways people identify themselves?  What does it mean to have a personal identity?  A collective identity?  A cultural identity?

Some factors to consider may include traditions, cultural background, language, religion and spirituality, the arts (music, dance, etc.), attire (clothing, body markings), relationship to the land, ideological beliefs (political view, personal mottos).

Is a Canadian someone who lives within the "physical" boundaries of Canada?  Or is a Canadian simply someone who identifies themselves as Canadian?  Can you identify yourself as Canadian AND something else?  Think about some common Canadian stereotypes or symbols (hockey, RCMP, the maple leaf, the word "eh", the national anthem).  Does everyone who is "Canadian" identify with these things?  Why do these stereotypes exist?

Dr. Duke Redbird (b. 1939 on the Saugeen Reserve on the Bruce Peninsula, near Owen Sound, Ontario) is an Indigenous intellectual, poet, painter, broadcaster, filmmaker and orator. He brings his breadth of cultural knowledge and artistic practice to the benefit of a global audience.   He delivers a unique perspective from his heritage that is both a positive and optimistic alternative to how we view our universe in the 21st century.

His poem “I am a Canadian” uses contemporary poetic forms such as colloquial language and line breaks that follow oral rhythms.  He develops his poem geographically from Canada's east coast to the west coast.  He has said, “The inspiration for my work comes from the deep well of history and tradition that is the heritage of our people on this continent.  From this well I quench the thirst for wisdom and water the seeds of ideas that the creator has sprinkled upon my soul; nourished into words and verse these ideas become poems which I enjoy sharing.  I hope that they bring pleasure and inspiration to those who read them.”

Source:  https://afptoronto.org/blog/the-power-of-the-land-by-dr-duke-redbird/

Read "I am a Canadian".  As you read, think about how you would identify your cultural identity.