Losing North

Losing North

Musing on Land, Tongue and Self

by Nancy Huston

The Arrogant Mosaic

Someone sent me a copy of a Toronto Star article dating from August 1998, shortly after France's triumph in the soccer World Cup. You may think, the article says overall, that France's enthusiasm for the Blues, a mixed Black-White-and Arab team, reflects a global policy of racial tolerance and generosity. Well, you've got another think coming. “Racism is very much alive and well in France, in a disgraceful departure from the ideals of the 1789 Revolution. And it will remain so until the French begin to emulate the Canadian model of true multicultural equality for all citizens.”

Exactly what “multicultural equality” might mean is not specified. The expression not being set off by quotation marks, it is apparently assumed to be common knowledge. What is set off in quotes, however, is the word “foreigners.” Included in this category, pell-mell, are French-born children of immigrants from France's former colonies in North Africa, newly arrived refugees without papers, Kanaks (from New Caledonia, who are French citizens) and Jews. “There are more than four million “foreigners” inn France,” states the author of the article – and, having conveniently tossed all of them into the same boiling cauldron, he goes on to paint a horrifying picture of their situation in France.

This country – Canada – which puts the word foreigners in quotes, happens to be a country made up almost exclusively of foreigners, a country in which the word has no discriminatory function because it designates virtually anyone and everyone. In 1789, at the time of the famous Revolution lauded by the Toronto Star, Canada was seventy-eight years short of Confederation.

Upon arriving in Canada, did we (the French, English, Irish, Swedish, German, and Armenian immigrants to Canada) ask the local population if they agreed with our “multicultural” ideals? Having appropriated their land in order that our own cultures might thrive there, isn't it a bit caddish of us to par ourselves on the back for not being racist?

Come one, come all! Whether you hark from Sir Lanka the Ukraine or Saudi Arabia – the more the merrier! Look, there's plenty of land! Millions of acres at your disposal! Settle in, make yourselves at home, you're welcome to go on speaking foreign in private, provided you learn English (or a la rigueur French) for public life...

That is the origin of the Canadian mosaic. “As paradoxical as it may seem,” my brother wrote in a recent letter, “the paternalistic, condescending multiculturalism of English Canada in the exact equivalent of Quebecois nationalism. They're simply two different ways of maintaining a good conscience while continuing to feel superior to those you perceive as aliens.”

Perhaps what I'm trying to say it this: it's easy to be “multicultural” when you don't have a culture of your own.

Okey. I said it. But having said it, I've also given myself away as an emigrant, a national apostate, a traitor to the Great North. Because, deep down, I know that this vision of Canada – my vision, the one sarcastically formulated just now – is false. That Canada is not the real Canada – rather, it is an artificial construction, shaped by public discourse for political purposes. Deep down, I know that the real Canada is a fine place to live. I know that the texture of everyday life there, as real people live it, is rich and variegated. I know that Canadians are creating world-class literature and film, theatre and dance; I know they have specifically Canadian community activities and figures of speech; I know they're profoundly attached to their neighbourhoods and gardens churches and houses, cafes and restaurants... I also know that these things add up to make a culture.

Canada 150 years. Photo by Elena.