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Indigenous contributions to Canada
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The first Canadian postage stamp, the three-pence beaver, was issued on 23 April 1851. Imperforate stamps gave way to perforated stamps in 1858 and by 1897, the first commemorative stamp had been issued to honour the 60th Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign. Canada Post eventually issued a policy guideline: to have one’s image put on a Canadian postage stamp, one must have made “outstanding contributions to Canada.” Two of Canada’s most controversial historical figures, Louis Riel and Sir John A. Macdonald, both had their images placed upon Canadian stamps. Louis Riel was a Métis leader executed in 1885 for leading a series of rebellions against the Canadian government. Riel is also regarded as “the Father of Manitoba” , having been the …show more content…
Yet, based on the guidelines, Riel and Macdonald do equally deserve the honour of having their image upon a Canadian postage stamp, as their actions shaped the country while their mistakes equalised all imbalances in their contributions. Louis Riel’s contributions to Canada are most evident in his advocating of Métis rights. His rise to power as a Métis leader began in 1869 when he emerged as one of the few individuals publically advocating the Métis cause in the Rupert’s Land negotiations between the Hudson Bay Company (HBC) and Canada. By the summer of 1869, Riel had begun advocating action against the surveying and gifting of Métis land to settlers. He convinced a multitude of men that a provisional government ought to be put in place to “[make] a clear protest against the injustice…done [by] Canada.” Riel became the government’s secretary, declaring that “the territory south of the Assiniboine belonged to the people of Red River…and that the Métis would not allow the survey to …show more content…
He was, after all, a “Father of Confederation”, one of the founding fathers of the country. Therefore, his key contribution to Canada was Confederation in 1867. Whether Macdonald was one of the earliest advocates of the union of the British North American (BNA) colonies is debatable, but he was certainly the leader of the process of unification. After all, it was Macdonald who drafted 50 of the 72 resolutions established at the Quebec conference of 1864 where he held control over the discussion about the unification of the BNA colonies. These resolutions “established the framework for a united Canada.” Furthermore, it was Macdonald who set forth the idea of a union between not only the Canadas and the Maritime provinces but also with Rupert’s Land and British Colombia. This then led to his idea of building a continental railway, which eventually blossomed into the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), which was completed on 7 November 1885, connecting the continent from sea to sea. The railroad was the “foundation of [the] nation-building program”, and was his second contribution. It allowed for the citizens of Canada to “come to know each other and to need each other”, and also allowed for a national market as an extension of the National Policy. It is understandable that Macdonald’s actions were more significant than Riel’s. Macdonald, after all, was the founder of a nation, knighted by the
Louis St. Laurent managed to prevent the government and cabinet from collapsing, during one of Canada’s largest crises. He also helped assert Canada’s independence, by separating the influence of American culture, and providing more Canadian tradition. As well as succeeded in convincing Newfoundland to join confederation, after it failed to do so many times before. Overall there were many challenges to face during Louis St. Laurent’s years as a politician, however in the end he managed to maintain himself, succeeded in achieving many great accomplishments, and even created many historical moments for Canada along the way.
The years following the Second World War were bleak in regards to Canada's future as a country, with the public and politicians alike set against each other, but soon a Québec man by the name of René Lévesque entered journalism, and then politics, voicing his views for all to hear, with great success and vigour. Though obstacles presented themselves often in his life, he changed the views of Québec, Canada and the world as a whole. René Lévesque was a passionate and charismatic politician who greatly contributed to post-war Québec and even today through his beliefs in separatism, founding the Parti Québecois and passing Bill 101.
“Just watch me.”Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau said in 1970. He meant it as he fought to keep Quebec a part of Canada. Not only did he do that, he managed to be prime minister for 16 years, as well as being Canada’s youngest leader at the time. He brought greater civil rights to Canadians, Quebec citizens mainly. His charismatic personality matched his innovative ideas, that enhanced Canada for the better. For his entire political career, not only did Canada watch him, the whole world watched him change the country for the better. He made a radical change to Canada by championing the idea of officially implementing bilingualism. Trudeau was a trailblazer from the moment he was elected.
In conclusion, Pearson strengthened Canadian nationalism, promoted equality that is now an integral part to the Canadian identity, and he introduced several important social programs that continue to support Canadians. The ongoing benefits to Canadians from his contributions make him the most significant post WWII Prime Minister of Canada. Without the leadership of this influential Canadian, Canada would not be as strong a nation as it is today.
Louis Riel had taken up residence in the United States after the Red River Rebellion. A delegation traveled to Montana to enlist Riel's help once again to stop the Canadian government from encroaching on Métis land. Riel returned to Canada with the delegation and drew up a petition of grievances that had the support of both English and French speaking Métis as well as the immigrant settlers of the area. The petition was sent to the federal government calling for improved political representation, modification of the homesteading laws, and a land grant for the Métis among the seventeen items called for. Riel and his followers believed themselves to not being taken seriously by the Canadian government so he set up the first provisional government in the Northwest. Riel's earlier religious training was affecting his way of looking at his situation and he began fighting against the church and calling for war against the Canadian government. He proclaimed himself, "Prophet of the New World" and claimed his authority came directly from God (Stanley 302). Riel's provisional government was beginning to lose its original support and even the French-speaking Métis began to question his intentions. He hurriedly restored the unity with the treason trial of Charles Nolin and ...
Pierre Trudeau is the greatest Canadian of the twentieth century due to the fact that he declared Canada’s independence from Great Britain, he abolished the death penalty, and he created the Official Languages Act, making our nation entirely bilingual.
To start off, I’ll be writing about the life of people in British North America and its significance towards unifying Canada, as well as background knowledge of conflicts that existed. Life in British North America was changing at an alarming rate. New technology and services were being introduced such as railways and steamships. Industries such as building, producing and farming were being introduced. This was in part due to the many immigrants from Britain and France who’d settled. This was dreadful for the First Nations as their land had been taken away even more so than before. More resources were needed for the growing crowd so trade agreements were made. As more people came, the First Nations were even more distanced from the Europeans. Meanwhile, the French and the British wanted the other’s culture to be erased from the
Any person, place or event that has held the honour of being commemorated in Canada has been recognized of an extreme importance to the country. It is impossible to research commemoration in Canada without reading about world war one and two; The great wars are arguably the most commemorated events in History let alone Canada. Understanding this they are not the only events that receive attention from Canada, the government recognizes many other occurrences as, well, anything from Sir John A. Macdonald day on the 11th of January to the anniversary of the statute of Westminster on the 11th of December. I do not believe that any one event can be placed above or below another, and that they all hold a value in whatever way that may be. This Essay
Sir John A. Macdonald was one of Canada's founding fathers. He is most remembered as being Canada's first Prime Minister, running the government from July 1, 1867 until November 5, 1873. Macdonald would become Prime Minister once again on October 17, 1878 and would stay in this position until June 6,1891. While he was leader of the country he faced his own share of political obstacles, including Confederation, the Metis rebellion and threats of an American he is among the greatest leaders Canada has ever seen and played a significant part in the forming of Canada as a country.
The spirit of compromise and conciliation shown by the Quebec Act of 1774 would guide generations to come in the shaping of Canada. This legacy of equality and respect would resurface in men like Lafontaine and Baldwin (with their “responsible government”) and in the adoption of the British North America Act. The enduring loyalty it secured from its French-Canadian citizens would help keep the nation whole even through difficult
He has had many accomplishments throughout his life like: helping establish the Metis Bill of Rights which was important to the Metis, become the leader of the Metis and made Manitoba a province. All those accomplishments helped lead up to our Canada now. Of course to accomplish all he had done, he took a risk that cost him
One of his big mistakes was the scandal of the pacific railway. The Pacific Scandal was a political scandal in Canada involving allegations of bribes being accepted by 150 members of the Conservative members in the attempts of interests to influence the bidding for a national rail contract.he also made a very controversial decision to approve the execution if the first nations metis leader Louis-riel. There were allegations that john.a.macdonald and Louis-riel were enemies but killing someone like that is not right. It was also said that john had a very bad temper, drank heavily and was allegedly racist. Even though mr.macdonald had many mistakes and bad qualities he still has many good qualities. He was very devoted to his family and his disabled daughter and he was determined to make the french Canadians work with the English to make an amazing nation. He was really tenacious,competitive, spontaneous and very empathetic. Some great achievements he had were promoting the tax of the national policy,building the pacific railway (even if there were scandals) and his great speeches that were sometimes 5 hours
To sum up, Louis Riel was without doubt, a hero. In spite of the mistakes he made, and things he did that might have upset the Canadian government, all of his actions have contributed to Canada’s growth as a nation. He was one of the most important figures in Canadian history, and indeed a true Canadian hero.
To them, the excitement and the adventure of the buffalo hunt held more appeal than farming. Hundreds of Metis were content to earn a living by hunting buffalo, making pemmican or finding employment as freight drivers. After a while Canada bought Rupertsland from Hudson Bay Company. When the Metis heard this they were alarmed. They feared their religion,their language, their lands and their old, free way of* life.
His idea of peacekeeping appealed to many people, and therefore gained him an international reputation, a few years later he earned the Nobel Peace prize. In CBCs news report it is said that Pearson; “had also fulfilled his dream to give Canada an independent place on the world