To Quote William Shatner, "I Am a Canadian!"
Dropping an "Eh-bomb" at AC
Yes ladies and gents, I know Angie sometimes has trouble speaking her mind - in Quebec we call that "having her tongue in her pocket" - and that some of you were concerned she didn't have any friends. (Of course, everyone was tactful enough to avoid mentioning that any lack of companionship could possibly be linked to her nationality...)
But now I am here to tell you, fellow members of AC, Angie is not alone. Yes, she does have a friend. And yes, I am a Canadian too.
That's right, I'm dropping the "eh-bomb" on you all.
And in response to those - who shall, of course, remain nameless - who suggested they had not yet gathered enough ammunition to compose jokes that could target both me and Angie simultaneously, I offer this meagre public service. Here are some things it might help you to know about us Canadians.
1. We Were Here First
St. John's Newfoundland, recognized on Portuguese maps as early as 1516-1521, is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement north of Mexico. Now some date the settlement a little later, and I'm sure at least a few will be inclined to argue San Juan has us beat. But if I understand your laws correctly although you might own Puerto Rico, as a non-incorporated territory it never actually became part of the United States.
Just to be sure we don't get caught up in technicalities, though, let's keep in mind that Leif Erikson established the first European settlement of the New World in Vinland (probably L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland) some time around the year 1000. That's just under 500 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. There are also legends that say St. Brendan of Ireland made landfall in Newfoundland, sometime during the 5th century!
2. Our Thanksgiving Has Nothing to do with the Mayflower
There is a history of giving thanks in Canada that stretches back to European peasant harvest ceremonies featuring the cornucopia. There is reason to believe our modern celebrations are influenced by these, and by the observances of Martin Frobisher in 1578 - as well as by the American Thanksgiving customs brought north with the United Empire Loyalists. The first truly Canadian Thanksgiving day, however, was actually marked in April of 1872. This day celebrated the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from typhoid. Today we just eat turkey and cranberries in the fall, the same as our neighbours to the south.
3. We Have First Nations People, Not "Indians"
Perhaps I should amend that to say "and 'Indians'" - as we have roughly one million people in Canada who self-identify as Indo-Canadians (sometimes called "East Indians.") But the majority of our native peoples are now officially called aboriginal or First Nations - regardless of what they choose to call themselves. We have corrected the centuries old misconception propagated by the common British and French ancestors of both Canada and the United States. It may take some time before everyone stops using the "I-word" (and even longer before we resolve the "Eskimo" problem, not to mention addressing the many other misnomers attached to a whole assortment of peoples and bands.) Maybe our health officials attempted to remedy concerns over H1N1 in remote aboriginal communities by sending them extra body bags - but at least we've got a politically correct name now, right?
4. Canadians Can Easily Pose as Americans
We are among you, blending in so well that you rarely take much notice of our origins - well, except at the border where we must all present a passport to cross from one side to the other. Canadians otherwise generally pass undetected unless we choose to declare ourselves. Engineers and scientists, health care workers and performers, Canadians often work side by side with Americans who simply assume their colleagues to be other Americans. Until, that is, the unfortunate person drops the proverbial "eh-bomb": It's really starting to get cold outside, eh?
We do it without thinking (except those of us who sat through Mrs. Desmarais' grammar lessons or who were reminded time and again by Mrs. Bolla that there were twenty-five other letters in the alphabet. For these, there is still a guilty, inner twinge that hits as soon as the idiom escapes our lips) but we know you notice it. Gee, I didn't know she was Canadian . . . Almost as if we had a Queen, used brightly coloured bank notes, and were a bunch of irreverent, fecal agitating socialists . . . Ummm. Right, I'd best shut up now.
So there you have it, my American friends. You've had Shatner, Carrey and Gretzky. You've had Lord Black (and are quite welcome to keep him!) And now you've got Mohr. As for me and my house, well, we're still sitting on the fence as we Canadians are sometimes wont to do. I remain in Canada, body and soul, but I am very happy to have joined you all in this virtual community. You have all been so kind in your welcome, in your support, and even in your offers of help should I need it. I find that at AC I feel very much at home. Merci!
Sources:
"Leif Ericson Biography" Linne Ryne
"List of North American cities by year of foundation" Wikipedia
"St. Brendan,The Navigator" Bridget Haggerty (Irish Culture and Customs)
"St John's" Melvin Baker (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
"Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day" Canadian Heritage
"Thanksgiving Day" David Mills (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
Published by Kyla Matton
Kyla Matton has been writing ever since she could hold a pen in her hand. Her first piece was published almost 30 years ago, and since then she has written for a number of print and online publications. Her... View profile
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20 Comments
Post a CommentEh - good article. And I'll admit that some of my favorite comedians are Canadian.
LOL! I was never much of a fan. I think it comes from never being home to watch them - was always at work when the show was on. The analogy is fun though - and we've got Marg Delahunty. Who needs guns??
The idea that Canadians can pose as Americans reminds me of an old sketch from "The Kids in the Hall" where Dave Foley was in the Phillipines (maybe) and someone asked him where he was from. He said he was from Canada and said, "We're like Americans...but without guns." :)
Thanks Smorg! Glad I don't need to don a mask & put a condom over my keyboard now :P
I am very glad that Angie notified us about you indeed. Welcome and write a lot! You sound very infectious (in a good way, that is). ;o)
This discussion thread is a perfect example of how little the border between our countries has mattered in days gone by. It's hard to get kids to relate today, especially since 9/11, but I find it helps to look at the old maps of New France & British North America. We've been discussing this a lot in our homeschool social studies lately.
I have to agree that Marie Anne has a much nicer ring to it (especially in French) than Mary or Marie alone. having an unusual name I can relate to wanting one's name pronounced a certain way but often getting something that's not so terribly close...
Ca va? My mother was Irish so no, the pronunciation was pretty much American-zed by the time I came along. I pronounce my first name like Mary Anne, but don't call me Mary (and I haven't bitched about it here, but I detest just Marie also. I have no middle name). Of course when I say it with the French accent, it all sounds just like it's supposed to, the way Dad did. I only recently reclaimed my maiden name, and I'll go out of this world with the same nom I came in with.
Marie Anne, I was going to ask about your family name. Do you pronounce it like we would? My father's ancestor was Joseph Mathon, a French surgeon who came to Quebec in 1736. Apparently, all the Matton/Mathon in North America are descended from him. On mom's side we've got family from the Dakota Territory, and I married a dual citizen born in MA. So, when I say I'm sitting on the fence, it's not just a philosophical stance :)
You can't be snarky, Angie, you're Canadian! if someine bumps into us we apologize to them! We're like the goodest people in the world..... (BTW, don't tell the Barefoot it's the hockey sticks you have to look out for - not the skates....)
No complaints from me. Dad was a first generation American, his ancestry in North America started when Jean-Louis Anctil came over from Normandy with the fishing fleet in the 1700s and on the last trip didn't go back. Eventually settled on the St. Jean River, hence the family name Anctil-St. Jean. When future generations flew south to NH, some dropped the St. Jean, others lost the Anctil - I believe only one family kept both upon arrival in the U.S., and that was my father's parents. Enough of my family history, eh?