Date: Monday, October 20, 6:00 — 7:30 p.m.
Place: Hokkai Gakuen University, Library building, 6F
Cost: Free for JALT members; 500 yen for guests

Canadian Culture — On the Way to Where?

Presenter: Dr. Robert Courchene

Institute of Official Languages and Bilingualism (OLBI/ILOB), University of Ottawa (Canada)

Abstract: Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Canada had a large number of vibrant and well-developed aboriginal cultures. When the French (this year is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec) and English arrived in Canada, they brought with them their culture — beliefs, values, norms, traditions — and set the framework for what would eventually become Canadian culture. In the process, they rejected the legitimacy of aboriginal cultures on religious, social, educational and moral grounds.

The cultural framework that evolved was based on Judeo-Christian values. With the subsequent arrival in the centuries that followed of settlers from Western Europe, this cultural framework, while at times challenged by different groups, was never critically modified as most groups were also Christians of different persuasions.

Since the last half of the 20th century, this has gradually begun to change as the newest Canadian citizens are from countries that have different sets of beliefs (Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist), cultural values and skin colour. Under Canada's multiculturalism policy, they have been encouraged to safeguard their cultural and religious beliefs while at the same time being full-fledged Canadian citizens.

Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, they are demanding that the dominant Canadian culture accommodate their cultural and religious beliefs, going to court if necessary to obtain such rights: the right of Sikhs to wear the kirpan, their ceremonial dagger in public places such as schools, the right of Muslim women to wear the hijab or veil in public along with the right of Sikhs to wear their turban as members of the RCMP and other public organizations.

In the clash "dust up," conflict of different cultures, what is the future of Canadian culture? What weight should be given to the culture of the settler society (English and French)? What is the future of biculturalism in a multicultural society? What about Canada's flourishing regional cultures within this framework? In this presentation, I will try to address a number of these issues.