As preparation for the talk by filmmaker Linda Ohama in our class on July 13th,  we will continue to discuss the situation of the Japanese Canadians.

In class, we will view and discuss the film below:

Minoru: Memory of Exile (1992, dir. Michael Fukushima)

Begin preparation for your second presentation on Canada and Quebec.

See “Presentation 2″ under the link above “Assignments” for details.

Read the chapter “Quebec’s Destiny” from James and Kasoff.

What myths about Quebec do the authors seek to challenge? Discuss some of the arguments made against these myths.

The following background article from the Canadian Encyclopedia will be helpful:

Anglophone-Francophone Relations

As well as this reading from Quebec History:

“Gerard Bouchard, the ideology of survivance and its corollaries”

Prepare a short presentation (7-10 minutes) on the contemporary Aboriginal topic that you have chosen from Reed.

Do any additional research you feel is necessary to make your presentation current.

Prepare a handout or a set of Power Point slides.

Read the chapter entitled “Native Peoples” from James and Kasoff’s Canadian Studies in the New Millennium (2008) and prepare to discuss one cultural, historical or political question regarding Canada’s aboriginal people.

Choose one of the following readings and prepare to summarize the contents and answer the indicated question:

1. Ch. 18 “Economic Change,” Q2
2. Ch. 19 “Relocation from Traditional Lands,” Q2
3. Ch. 20 “New Political Organizations,” Q2
4. Ch. 21 “Developments in the North,” Q1
5. Ch. 22 “The Political Front,” Q2

Video: “A Changing Face”

At the beginning of class, we will watch a short clip entitled “A Changing Face” from the documentary series Canada: A People’s History (aired 2000–1) <http://history.cbc.ca/>. Consider question 3 on the handout: “What can reasonably be expected of immigrants in regards to adaptation and integration to a new society? What should receiving countries do to accommodate immigrants? Are there limits to accommodation? Explain.”

Also, choose one of the readings and prepare to summarize the content and discuss the assigned question.

1. “Contact to Confederation”: Do Q1, page 37.

2. “The Numbered Treaties”: Do Q1, page 39.

3. “Resistance on the Prairies”: Do Q2, page 43.

4. “The Indian Act”: Do Q1, page 45.

5. “Banning Traditional Practices”: Do Q2, page 47.

6. “Residential Schools”: Do Q2, page 49.

Welcome to the course homepage for Multiculturalism in Canada, Spring Semester 2009.

Here is the reading and discussion homework for next week’s class.

Read the excerpt from Charles Taylor’s essay “The Politics of Recognition” and prepare to answer these questions:

1. What are some of the ill-effects of non-recognition or misrecognition?

2. What changes, according to Taylor, have lead to the modern importance of identity and recognition?

3. Explain what Taylor means by the “politics of universal dignity” and the “politics of difference.”

Our next class meeting will be on November 10th.

Please read the introduction to Selling Diversity and prepare to discuss the contents of chapter 1, especially the aim and method of the book outlined in the chapter.

Also, look over some of the links on writing critical review essays and be prepared to discuss your approach to Abu-Laban and Gabriel’s book.

During the fall semester, we will focus on specific communities in Canada and discuss question of representativeness and representation.

We will discuss literary texts, film and essays.

Students will write a critical review of a chapter from a recent work on multiculturalism.

See the Fall semester course outline (handout) for details.

Homework for our next meeting on October 20th:

Read “The Other Family,” “Ajax Là-Bas,” or “Dancing.”

Be ready to discuss a relevant theme in the story as well as the author’s background and views on multiculturalism. How might they relate to the story?

Read the information about writing a critical review essay and think about a text and a chapter focus for your own essay.

Please submit a brief proposal (about 250 words) for your final paper / presentation.

Here are a few things that you should include in the proposal:

A brief description of the topic and current thinking about it in the field / public opinion

Statement of problem or issue that you will address in the paper/presentation

An outline of the main parts of the paper/presentation, with (optionally) a brief discussion of the methodology you will employ