Introduction
 Let’s turn to page 118 and find out more about our
focus. With a partner:
 Read the introduction
 Identify what “affirm” means
 Read over page 119 and answer each question that is
paired with a caption and photo.
 Canada is a nation that is built on immigration.
However, long before our nation became Canada,
Aboriginal peoples lived throughout the land. They
had their distinct identity and way of life.
 Then during the age of exploration, Europeans began
to explore North America. Immigration soon followed
and has continued as Canada has become a
multicultural and diverse nation.
 In 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
acknowledged the collective identities and collective
rights of the founding groups: the Aboriginal peoples,
the Anglophones, and the Francophones. Today,
Canada has laws and policies to ensure the rights of all
Canadians.
 A collective is a group that shares or is motivated by a
common interest.
 This protection of rights, called collective rights, is
guaranteed in the Canadian constitution (our laws).
No other country has this type of legislation to protect
the collective rights of a specific group. Not every
collective, however, enjoys this type of protection.
 You will examine how the government of Canada
protects all Canadians through the establishment of
collective rights that works to strengthen the nation.
Back to individual identity
 Your identity as an individual describes who you are.
This identity is unique based on your personal
characteristics, values, experiences, and personal
interests. Stop and think about what defines your
individual identity.
 Part of your individual identity includes the cultural
group you belong to and the place you are living.
 Are you a Canadian citizen? You may be a Canadian
and also belong to another cultural group. Perhaps
you're a member of Canada's First Nations, for
example, or Inuit. Or maybe you're a Francophone or
have a Ukrainian heritage. As a Canadian, you have a
Canadian identity. Stop and think what defines a
Canadian identity.
 Your individual identity is also influenced by the
groups or collectives that you belong to.
 What groups do you belong to here in Sherwood Park?
Do you participate in a group sport, play in a band, or
attend a local boys or girls club? Perhaps you are a
member of a youth group. Each group has its own
collective identity. The collectives you belong to help
to define your individual identity.
Let’s compare identities
individual and collective identities
 Canadian identity is based on strong values shaped by
our history and our diversity. Canadian values are part
of the identity that describes who we are within the
global community as well. You are part of the
Canadian collective. You share common traits with
other Canadians. Your individual identity is influenced
by the fact that you are part of that Canadian
collective.
 Part of your individual and Canadian identity is the
rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms. Every individual in Canada,
whether they are a Canadian citizen or a permanent
resident, has individual rights.
 In the last chapter you explored the individual rights
that the Charter ensures. You have investigated the
fundamental freedoms for all Canadians. The Charter
also protects the rights of certain groups of people.
The protection of group rights is known as collective
rights.
 While there are many Canadian collectives, Canada
has recognized the importance of three collectives
through their protection in Canadian law.
 The special groups that have guaranteed collective
rights include the founding peoples of Canada:
Aboriginal peoples, Francophones, and Anglophones.
The federal government has established collective
rights to assist in protecting the collective identity of
each group.
 The foundation of Canada’s history is based on
histories of the Aboriginals (First Nations, Métis, and
Inuit), Francophones, and Anglophones. The Canada
that we know today would be very different without
the contributions of these three groups.
 Collective rights for these founding groups are based
on historical legislation and constitutional rights.
Collective rights in Canada are rights guaranteed to
these founding groups.
What legislation relates to collective
rights?
 Let’s look at Legislation relating to collective rights to
explore the different laws that affect the collective
rights of each of our founding peoples. We will be
studying the legislation throughout this chapter.
 Let’s turn to page 122 to explore some facts about
collective rights. Be prepared to discuss the BTQ.
Did you think of…
 Collective rights demonstrate that Canadians value the
contributions of the founding peoples and work to
maintain mutual respect among peoples of all origins.
 When resolving modern-day issues, Canadians must
consider the collective rights of all groups involved.
Without this respect, the issues are not likely to be solved.
 Canada is unique because many countries do not have
collective rights explicitly written out in the constitution
for groups within them.