Culture and Geography Trivia

What is Culture?

• Culture includes values, customs, marriage and family dynamics, government and law, games and leisure activities, economy and trade practices, language, religion, institutions, and food
• Values consist of beliefs, principles, and important aspects of lifestyle
• Customs encompass holidays, clothing, greetings, typical rituals, and activities
• Marriage and Family relates to the type of marriage (arranged, free, same-sex), family size, and patriarchal or matriarchal structures
• Government and Law involves the type of government, leaders, and how the system works
• Games and Leisure cover sports teams, games, TV, popular music, and what people do in their free time
• Economy and Trade includes trading partners, imports, exports, workforce, and main jobs
• Language pertains to the language of the area and dialects
• Religion includes symbols, religions of the area, praying, worship, and holy items
• Institutions cover education, government, religion, and economy
• Food encompasses what people eat, how food is prepared, tools people use to eat, and settings in which people eat

Canada - History

• Canada was founded in 1867
• It is the second-largest country by landmass
• Canada has 6 time zones
• France has the most time zones of any country, with 12
• The US and its territories have 11 time zones
• Russia has 11 time zones
• Antarctica may have 24 time zones
• The UK has 9 time zones
• Australia has 8 time zones

Who Owns the North Pole?

• Countries bordering the Arctic Ocean include Denmark, Norway, Canada, Russia, and the USA
• Each nation gets exclusive economic rights to the area where its continental shelf extends into the ocean up to 200 miles beyond its coast
• The 200-mile area does not include the Pole, so the area is still a contested territory
• A legitimate claim may be made if a country proves scientifically that the pole is a continuation of its land shelf

Mountains, Prairie, Coastal

• Canada has mountains, prairies, and coastal regions

Key Terms

• Residential School
• 60s Scoop
• Metis
• 7-year war
• Smallpox
• Royal Proclamation of 1763
• John A. Macdonald
• Dominion of Canada 1867
• The Indian Act
• Treaties
• Ceded and Unceded Territories

Indigenous People in Canada

• Understanding indigenous history is important in examining the history of Canada and the Americas
• Indigenous peoples of Canada bear the scars of many generations due to the eradication of their way of life, destruction of their land, and destruction of their culture under the guise of assimilation
• The high representation of indigenous youth in the penal system, the poverty, substance abuse, and high suicide rates are all part of the legacy of residential schools
• Generations of indigenous children were taken from their homes, robbed of their culture, abused, and ignored
• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led by Senator Murray Sinclair, has set the stage for the government acknowledging its role in the abuse
• Most Canadians were unaware of these issues until recently
• Indigenous Peoples Timeline: Follow this link: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/first-nations
• Residential Schools in Canada: Follow this link: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/residential-schools
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Follow this link: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/video/ssontr-eng.aspx

Required Readings - Indigenous Food Sovereignty

• Indigenous food sovereignty was decimated by design
• The separation of people from their food systems and land is a function of colonialism
• Canada's history is a history of legislating First Nations, Inuit, and Métis out of existence by erasing indigenous food cultures
• The Gradual Civilization Act, the banning of potlatch ceremonies, and the signing of treaties exchanged life-sustaining hunting grounds for farmland, livestock, and amounts of cash
• All of it was designed to eliminate through assimilation.

History Leading up to Canada

• First Nations include Algonquins, Iroquois, and Sioux
• Eskimo and Inuit
• Vikings in the 11th century
• Europeans, namely British and French
• John Cabot in 1497
• Jacques Cartier in 1534
• Martin Frobisher in 1576
• Henry Hudson in 1610
• Samuel de Champlain in 1608
• British victory at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 (Montcalm vs. Wolfe)

More History

• The Hudson Bay Store was founded in 1670
• The British North American Act was signed in 1867
• Canada's independence was achieved in 1982 with the signing of the Constitution Act and Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• It's part of the British Commonwealth
• The War of 1812

Canada's Timeline: Province Inceptions

• New Brunswick: 1867
• Nova Scotia: 1867
• Ontario: 1867
• Quebec: 1867
• Northwest Territories: 1870
• Manitoba: 1870
• British Columbia: 1871
• Prince Edward Island: 1873
• Yukon: 1898
• Saskatchewan: 1905
• Alberta: 1905
• Newfoundland: 1949
• Nunavut: 1999

History Canada

• July 1st was originally Dominion Day but became Canada Day in 1983
• The Canadian flag was first flown in 1965.
• Capital: Ottawa
• National Anthem: O Canada
• The "Loonie" was released in 1987
• The "Toonie" was released in 1996

Geography and Climate

• Canada has 10 provinces and 3 Territories
• Canada borders 3 oceans
• The 49th parallel forms the border between Canada and the USA
• Varied topography and weather exist
• Canada features Rocky Mountains, Central Plains, the Canadian Shield, and Great Lakes
• Natural resources include forests, minerals, water, oil, and gas

Climate

• The climate can be harsh in many regions, with varying growing season lengths
• The southernmost point is Pelee Island

Culture

• Canada is multicultural and democratic
• Canada's government provides universal health care
• The measuring system is metric, not imperial
• Canada is part of the Commonwealth
• Individuals and nuclear families are valued, and gender equality exists
• Canadians are often considered as friendly, courteous, peaceful, and accepting of differences
• Canadian culture includes the Art-Group of Seven, dance, English and French languages, literature (Munro, Atwood), music (Young, Rush), and theatre (Shakespeare Festival)

Group of Seven

• Franklin Carmichael
• Lawren Harris
• A.Y. Jackson
• Frank (Franz) Johnston
• Arthur Lismer
• J.E.H. Macdonald
• Frederick Varley

National Symbols

• Maple Leaf
• The Beaver

Canadian Inventions

• Blackberry
• Insulin
• Penicillin
• Basketball

Religion

• Christianity has the largest following in Canada
• Followed by Islam
• Holidays: Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving
• Stores closed on Sundays until 1992 in Ontario

Religious Affiliation

• Christian: 63.2%
• No religion or secular perspectives 26.3%
• Muslim 3.7%
• Other religious and spiritual traditions 1.2%
• Sikh 1.4%
• Hindu 1.7%
• Buddhist 1.4%
• Jewish 1.0%

Melting Pot vs Salad Bowl

• Canada is a mosaic
• Proudly heterogeneous
• Diversity is generally regarded as a strength
• "American dream"
• Homogeneous aspirations
• More emphasis on assimilation

Sport

• Hockey
• Lacrosse

Regional Cuisine

• West Coast: salmon
• Prairies: wheat, wild rice, beef, berries, Ukrainian influence.
• Ontario pork, fruits, vegetables, wine, cheese, maple syrup, corn
• Maritime seafood, potato:

Specialties

• Butter tarts
• Peameal bacon
• Lumberjack breakfast
• Maple syrup
• Montreal bagels
• Oka cheese
• Nanaimo bars
• Pâté Chinois
• Poutine
• Tourtière
• Planked salmon
• Saskatoon Berries
• Tourton
• Beaver Tails

Beverages

• Canadian whiskey
• Ice wine
• Microbreweries
• Bloody Caesar
• Tim Horton's

Snack Foods

• Ketchup chips
• Coffee crisp
• Smarties
• Hickory sticks

Colonialism

• Loss of sovereignty
• Laws - The Indian Act
• Relocation through Land Treaties and Reserves
• Food Security issues
• Education, especially regarding *Residential Schools
• Loss of Language
• Imposition of Religion
• Impact on Health/Disease
• Disruption of Family structures
• Social Degradation
• Focus is on The Truth & Reconciliation Commission

Test your knowledge of cultural aspects, historical facts, and geographical trivia. This quiz covers basic concepts and common misconceptions. See how well you know world cultures and geography!