Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.06.1967, Blaðsíða 20

20
LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 1. JÚNÍ 1967
generations of French Canadians span 360 years of
continuous history.
The majority of French pioneers came to Canada
from Normandy, a large province on the coast of France.
It was so named because Norse vikings, led by Rolf
the Ganger, invaded and conquered it in the year 912,
built it up, organized and governed it so that it became
the most powerful province in France. In many ways the
vikings adapted to the French way of life, mingled and
intermarried, eventually dropping the Norse (now Ice-
landic) tongue and speaking French only. This may have
been due to the fact that except for runic writings the
Norse was not, at that time, a written language.
When the ethnic editors arrived in Quebec, October
16, 1966, nine centuries and two days had passed since
the Duke of Normandy, William the Bastard, and his
soldiers won the fateful battle of Hastings, October 14,
1066, and thereby took possession of England. William
was a fifth generation descendant of Rolf the Ganger.
Though Old Norse (Icelandic) was the native tongue
in many parts of the British Isles, the conquerors con-
tinued to speak Freneh only. They adopted neither the
Norse nor the Anglo Saxon tongues. French became the
language of the court and the nobility for nearly three
centuries. It was not until 1362 that the British Parlia-
ment was opened in the English language, and to this
day educated Britons are well versed in the French
language.
French Canadians so cherish the relics of their past
that it is only fair to assume they are familiar with
their history. It can hardly be protested that the blood
of French Canadians descended from the pioneers who
came from Normandy is somewhat mixed with viking
blood. Certainly they show some of the viking tenden-
cies to be the leaders rather than the led — and
certainly they gratified the urge to explore and discover
the unknown, no less than did the vikings — when they
explored western Canada and the Mississippi Valley, all
the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Actually they had in
mind the conquest of the entire continent. Such names
as Cartier,Champlain, Grosseilliers, Joliet, Marquette,
La Salle, Laverendrye and others will live forever in
Canadian history.
Yet I must frankly say that I feel the viking blood is
thinning in those French Canadians who want to se-
psrate from the rest of Canada and pen themselves up
in one small province, instead of going the conquering
way of the vikings and by modern means claim their
rightful share of the advantages and well-being that
awaits them everywhere as common owners of a vast
and wonderful country.
However, I do not believe, that the separatist move-
ment is as strong as newspaper publicity might lead
one to believe. At least, I observed little of it. Many
French Canadians are scattered through all parts of
Canada; for instance, in Manitoba, where they seem no
less satisfied with their lot than other citizens. Many
have married people of other ethnic origins and other
faiths without any apparent disaster.
But it is French tongue, its survival and broadening
domain, that seems to be the French Canadian’s con-
suming concern. But is not the language of the fore-
bearers dear to all people? We, who edit newspapers in
languages other than English and French understand
this sentiment. We too, are eager to extend the survival
of our inherited languages as far into the future as
possible.
In this regard French Canadians have the support of
a special article of the British North America Act,
which I will not quote, since most people are familiar
with it — and one or more of its interpretations. Despite
this legislation, I believe that the majority of Canadians
will learn only one or the other of the two official
languages. Those who take the trouble to study an extra
language will probably choose the tongue of their fore-
bears if given the opportunity in school to do so.
Many scholars choose to learn French, English,
German or Russian because they are widely spoken
languages. Others prefer the classic and basic languages,
such as Latin or Icelandic; all of them are the keys to
great literary treasures.
The high schools and universities of Western Canada
invest more effort and devotion in teaching French than
any other language. The problem is that is taught like
Latin — like a dead language, and students who have
attended French classes for three to four years are un-
able to speak French with any degree of usefulness at
the end of their studies. The great need is for really
capable French teachers, preferably French people. A
few years ago I questioned a member of the Winnipeg
School Board as to the possibility of getting French
teachers in Quebec to come west. He said they were
not available. In Quebec I asked why good French
teachers from the province were not sent west. If they
really cherish to strengthen the hold of the French
language on other Canadians, it should be their natural
function and desire to see that we were able to obtain
qualified teachers who could impart on to our young
the intricacies of the language. For some reason I could
not get a satisfactory answer to this question.
I have noted that a number of parents in the west
who can afford to do so, are sending their children at
an early age to private classes to learn French. The
LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA
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language is getting to be a “status symbol” as it was in
Britain of old — this since the much discussed Bi-Bi
Commission went to work. It is time that we Canadians
knew more than one language, whether it is French or
some other tongue.
The large number of churches and cathedrals
throughout Quebec give the province a strong religious
flavour. When relations broke down between the French
Canadian settlers and France, after the Paris treaty of
1763, and the settlers were regarded with indifference
by the nation of their old homeland, they seem to have
turned Rome. Tremendous sums of money have been
spent on these churches, even in the poorest communi-
ties. But beautiful as these edifices are, one is tempted
to contemplate whether Rome and the church have not
been a rather heavy burden on the people of Quebec
and whether their guidance has álways been for the
best. I feel, for example, that the practice of dividing
children and young people between Catholic and Pro-
testant schools is entirely indefensible. The children
should study and play together. The young people
should become acquainted with each other and marry
each other without regard to nationality or religion. It
is up to the church and homes to teach religion, not
the public institutions of education. The present edu-
cational system of Quebec is a dividing force in our
society. How are we to become a nation with this kind
of social behaviour?
But the churches are beautiful, as so many things
that have been molded by French Canadian hands. Art
collections of every sort are to be found everywhere in
Quebec. Just recently French Canadian authors won
four coveted awards in Paris, and the French of France
are no mean competition in the literary field. But, we,
the compatriots of these masters, must learn French in
order to share the beauty and enjoyment of their artistic
accomplishment!
The millions of guests who attend Expo 67 will
discover how imaginative and artistic French Canadians
are.
They are also the world’s best hosts. Those of us who
were their guests for one unforgettable week last Octo-
ber know this. I thank them for the warmth and charm
of their hospitality.
PAR LA CONFÉRENCE INTERCONFESSIONNELLE CANADIENNE
BV THE CANADIAN INTERFAITH CONFERENCÉ
Pairons
Leurs Excellences le Gouverneur général et Madame Vanier
rnrhis(cnmmmíofConfrd(ranon.thcpnpl(of(anada look haá with humluy and thanksývinq upon thc
fplcndoiu ofitshmtaqc and qimth.itsbasicfmdms and spmtuaí and moraí foundatwns.
jí\urant lc ccntcnairc dc la (onlrdcmtim.nous. (anadicnsjaons un icqard surnotrcpassc ct considcions. avcc
JL/humilitc ct qrurirudc. la splcndcur dc notrc hctitaqc cr dc notrc cpanouisscmcnt. nos libcrtcs fondamcnralcs
ct nos principcs spirirucls ct morma'.
IVc (anada cst unpays dc promcsscs. unc tcrrc auxpaysaqcsjrundioscs. richc cn rcssoums naturcllcs(Mais
JfLc'cst surtout unpays oú les qcns viccnt ct aimcnt. pcincnt ct bátisscnr. rcvcnt ctprvjcttcnt.librcs dc rcaliscr
lcurdcstincc cn 7)icu.
C’anada is a (ountiyqfchallcnqc and oppoitumty. a land ofqrcat bcauty. pllcd with naturaírcsourccs: but
abovc all.ajkccwhcrtpcoplc livcand lovc.labair and buitd.drcam andplan.frtc tofiilfiíthcirdcstiny
imdcr God
c aic a pcoplcof inany onjins. culrurrs. tiadirions and rclujious faiths. shaiinq a common country
(Ælaas sommcs un pcuplc aux oriqincs, aux culturrs, aux tradirions ct aux crpyanccs nliqicitscs multiplcs,
11)1 mais uni cn unc sculc patric.
nf(jfousprions quc lcpcuplc canadicn continuc dc s’cpanouir dans la frutcrnitc, sans craintc.sans arro-
IDlqancc, sans scrvilitt. i la poursuitc constantc dc la justicc.
TJtToiLSprions quc notrcpcnscc s'ctcndc au mondc cntin .quc nous apissions, ausandc la arandc fámillc
jDfdcs narions, dans t'amour ct lajcncrositc. la diqnitc ctlaficrte, la saqcssc ct l'harmonic.
msi rtconnaissantspour tes bicnfaits du passc ct confumts dans l'avmm, nous pmlamons ccttc anncc his-
'ýí\ toriquc. tqbj, unc annec d'acfion dc qraccs, dc pricres ct dc rt/ouissanccs pour commcmorxr le
(oitenaire de la (onfCdCration.
lcpray that wc shalljrvwin biothcihood. without fcar.without arroqancc.without scrvility.m (on-
stant pursuit of nqhtcousncss.
Ol hfc prqy that wc shall think notý oursclvcs alonc. butofall thcpcoplcof thc world: that v»r shall act
\V]\f witlun thc famúy ofnations with lovc andjcncrosity. wirh diqmty and pndc. with wisdom and
undcrstandmq.
hus, mjratitudc for thc blcssínqs of thepast. and in hopc for thc fururc, wc doproclaim ths histoiic
ycar: tqOj. as oncof thanksqivinq.praycr and cclcbratm ro commcmoratc thc (cntcnmal of (onfcdcration
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