View from Prairie Canada

(Sketch by Wayne Tollefson)

Canada and the United States: The View from Prairie Canada

Americans have rather cordial but mainly neutral feelings toward Canadians. Canada is not particularly important to American identity. On the other hand, Canadians have strong opinions about the United States, many of them negative. The U.S. is important to Canadian identity. Canadians consider their society definitely different and significantly better than American. One of the most important elements in Canadian national identity is to be un-American. Historically speaking, this is especially so in prairie Canada. Important parts of the un-American identity of Canada derive from Canadian prairie experience. The table below summarizes some of the perceived differences.

North of 49o N.South of 49o N.
The Union JackThe Stars & Stripes
Canada Day4th of July
A Just and Humane Indian PolicyWarfare and Genocide
The Thin Red LineMatt Dillon
Metropolis WinnipegMetropolis Minneapolis
Continuity and Good OrderRevolution and Conflict
A Humane SocietyEvery Man for Himself
A Cooperative CommonwealthHeartless Capitalism