Government oversight
Way back when I and the three other Canadian wives of Quantico were working on our presentation on Canada for the International Officers' Wives Club, we had the difficult task of distilling all that is emblematic or iconic about Canada into an easily digestible 10 minute PowerPoint presentation and three course meal.
It was not an easy task, though 3/4 of us were in agreement probably about 3/4 of the time. However, one part of the Canadian cultural mosaic that I felt extremely strong about presenting to our International colleagues was the contribution of Native culture and its diversity to Canadian society.
It appears that 3000 of my Canadian peers don't feel the same way. In a poll to determine the 101 most iconic images of Canada or most meaningful contributions and accomplishments of Canadians, 3000 Canadians completely neglected to identify a single image or person from Native culture as being a defining part of Canadian heritage. No soaring totem poles, or potlatches, or inukshuk (despite being adopted as part of the 2010 Olympic logo), none of the organic, sweeping designs of Douglas Cardinal, nor the ethereal vibratto of Buffy Ste. Marie.
What that means about how Canadians view Aboriginal culture is, I suppose, open to interpretation, and will probably be debated by people a lot smarter and more well informed than those of us here at Saedigh.com. But I, personally, think it's pretty sad.
Comments
I have always wanted to have a small inukshuk in our garden. I need to research them so I get it right.
Straying off topic for a moment :-) I'd like to have a little Canadian garden patch somewhere near the house full of native and/or symbolic plants and flowers (that will actually grow well here too. I'll probably put the inukshuk there.
I found a nursery just down the street from us that sells several varieties of Pitcher Plants.
And I was delighted to find trilliums growing in the shade in the little woods that borders our property!
Posted by: heather at July 18, 2008 07:21 PM