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Upon first glance of this picture, I did not see why these teacups would represent identity in any way. However, it is really interesting to see how all the details in the photograph tells a story about you and your sense of identity.

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This is a great representation of community and belonging, and how every individual is important because everyone has their own unique role to play.

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I think it is also interesting to note, just like the uniqueness of each of the flags, each Canadian province has a vastly unique Identity of its own

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I really enjoy the metaphor of the bees for working together for the common good. I think it also speaks deeply to the current state of the world as well, not just Canada. We all now bees are definitely becoming endangered, yet they vital to the proper functioning of the global ecosystem. Much like the bees we as humans are facing issues of not necessarily endangerment of our species, but definitely the materials and goods we use to sustain us. I think it important that we as humans start to come together en masse just as the bees for the betterment of Canada, and the betterment of the world

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Although I am terrified of bees, this is a great metaphor! I think a key aspect taught in social studies is about cooperation and collaborative learning, similar to the behaviour of bees

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I think this picture also addresses an essential question in social studies: Who is Canadian?

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what identity is now?

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what identity is now?

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This picture can expand notions of what identity is by exploring the idea that our identities can be shared and passed on. Sometimes identity can be viewed as confined to an individual, or a group of people. What this picture can demonstrate is the ability for an individual’s identity to positively influence understandings of other individuals in order to create a well-informed and engaged society.

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about identity today?

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about identity today?

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This picture explores the idea of a dynamic rather than static identity. Our identity is always shifting as we encounter new and old knowledge and experiences. We use both past experience and present knowledge to shape our understandings of the world and of ourselves. It also demonstrates the importance of sharing who we are and what we know in order to expand on other individual’s concepts of identity.

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I believe this picture demonstrates my identity and also demonstrates why knowing myself and being open to, and aware of the world is important to becoming a teacher. I do not intend to keep these teacups for myself. I will pass these on to my kids in order to share in the family tradition. As I pass them on, I will talk about and teach my children what I learned from my grandmother and great aunt. I will teach them about our family’s history and culture. In the same way, I will take what I have learned through my family’s experience, that has guided my own understanding of the world, and share my knowledge with my future students. I want to use what I know to help guide students’ learning and growth in order for them to make sense of their own lives. I want to foster each student’s individual cup of tea, what ever that might be. In doing so, my class will be a safe place where all different identities can meet and learn from each other to expand perspectives and knowledge.

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The stacking of the teacups is a representation of my identity. At the base of the stack is a clear cup. I turn to tea for clarity when I am stressed. I can fill my cup as much as I need and drink as much as I want in order to achieve mental clarity. Which enables me to become open to new experiences that fill my mind with knowledge. The more I know, the more I can learn and grow. The clear cup at the bottom represents my openness and yearning to learn and grow. Growth is demonstrated through the stacking of cups. The two middle teacups that were passed down to me from my grandmother and great aunt represent the wealth of knowledge I have gained from them. Family is a big part of my life and identity. When considering my identity, I would not be who or where I am today without the knowledge and experience that my family has shared with me. The more teacups that I collect from family or even from my own adventures, will add substance to this stack. Therefore, I will always be learning and obtaining new knowledge.  The silver decorative balls in the top teacup represent the many different perspectives that I have gained throughout my life. They are round and interconnected like the world. They are placed in a clear cup to demonstrate my openness to new perspectives that expand my understandings of the world and of myself. I placed these balls at the top of the stack of teacups because if this stack represents me, then that is where my brain is, where I hold my knowledge and perspectives. As a white, female, Canadian my perspectives of who I am and of the world in which I live largely differ to other perspectives in the world. It is important for the top glass that holds my views of the world to be clear and open to different perspectives, which will continually shape who I am in the world that I live in.

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Here is a photo of four teacups, two of which I brought with me when I moved into my new apartment, and the other two I purchased new. These cups are significant to who I am and where I came from, and provide a sense of familiarity and comfort for me as I navigate through life out on my own. The two clear, glass teacups are mine that I bought. The two fancier cups have been passed down from my grandmother and my great aunt to my mother and then to me. The silver decorative balls, displayed in the top teacup, are décor that I bought for my new place. This picture is a representation of new and old and demonstrates how I am becoming who I am today.

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what identity is now?

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what identity is now?

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This photo demonstrates, through the visual appeal of the blue skies, that there is work being done to change these perceptions or lack of knowledge regarding Canadians and mores specifically, First Nations people. I believe this sort of change revolves around education. Educating people on Canada’s and First Nations history, and also educating individuals on the importance to find their own identities and to share them with the world, is a way to broaden our understandings of people and community in a Canadian context. In our own education program, we have a course on First Nations, Metis, and Inuit history, culture, and leadership. Hopefully through education, we can expand our knowledge and understandings of what it means to be Canadian for ourselves and others. As future teachers, we can then take what we have learned and apply it to our classrooms and lessons in order to capture the many different identities that are living in Canada today. In doing so, we can create a society that welcomes and values different cultures.

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about identity today?

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about identity today?

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If you have ever gone to the United States and have been asked if you live in an igloo, then you may understand my concern over our Canadian identity. This picture demonstrates the sometimes-superficial nature of Canadian identities. Sometimes different identities are depicted in insignificant ways that give no substance or meaning to who we are as Canadians.

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This picture allows questions of Canadian identity to arise. For me, this picture especially questions how First Nations identity is being portrayed in Calgary. Naming our roads after First Nations people and communities gives a degree of acknowledgment of their place and presence here in Canada. However, this is only the surface. There is a deep and vibrant culture that has been washed over by Western civilization when truly, the first Canadians were our First Nations people. This picture then, begs the question: who are we, if the snowflakes and names of our roads are only superficial identities? I want to know more about the people and culture in my country, this photograph sparks questions that can help me discover different identities.

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To some Calgarians, this image may not mean anything more than a road on which they drive to get to work or school. A closer look at it though may cause one to wonder: who are we? The overpass that is separating blue skies from cloud-covered skies represents the confusion over the question. The clouds are demonstrating the lack of clarity that is sometimes expressed over who we are as Calgarians, Albertans, and Canadians. The clouds are covering up the true identities of some individuals. However, the blue clear skies are just under the surface and near our reach. Consider the snowflakes in the image. No matter what season, these snowflakes remain cemented onto the overpass to remind all who drive by that snow is just around the corner. In my experience, most Calgarians dread the coming of snow and the cold. Does capturing snow on an overpass accurately depict who we are as Calgarians? Maybe, but it might not accurately demonstrate what we want our identities to be. Furthermore, the names of the roads are of interest when discussing what it means to be a Calgarian, Albertan, and Canadian for some people. Crowchild trail and Stoney trail are names representing our First Nations of Canada. However, there is nothing more to say about First Nations culture and history in this photo other than these signs. In fact, this photo demonstrates how Western civilization has destroyed First Nations way of life with roads, streetlights, large concrete walls that fracture and clutter our Canadian landscape and environment. These signs, roads, concrete walls, and streetlights may fracture what it means to be Canadian for some First Nations people. Thus, the identity of our First Nations people in Canada is not being accurately depicted in Canadian society. The blue skies in this picture demonstrate that there is the possibility to change these superficial perceptions of identity.

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This picture was taken in my community in North West Calgary. It is of an overpass that crosses over Crowchild trail. The sky is cloudy in the upper half of the photograph. Blue sky is visible in the bottom half. Separating the two different skies is a large concrete overpass. There are items of interest on this overpass. There are snowflakes built into the cement and a green sign informing drivers to keep right in order to get onto Stoney Trail in 800m. A C-train line follows the flow of traffic on Crowchild trail, streetlights clutter the landscape, and a large concrete wall acts as a barrier to our ability to see the world behind it.

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what citizenship is now?

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what citizenship is now?

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Without an understanding of different perspectives on Canadian citizenship, and why individuals have different perspectives, members in society may never fully understand the plight of others living in their same country. Education on the histories of Canadian people including First Nations peoples is needed in order to create needed change in Canadian society. Awareness of the many different perspectives on what it means to be a Canadian citizen is necessary to understand how others view citizenship, which influences decisions people make regarding their contributions to Canadian society.

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about citizenship today?

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about citizenship today?

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This picture demonstrates my understanding that citizenship does not have the same meaning for everybody in Canada. Canada’s history of mistreatment and exclusion of First Nations people has shaped the way that some First Nations people contribute and participate in society. Residential schools for example, a product of confederation, play a role in why many First Nations people do not trust Western school systems. These schools were designed to assimilate First Nations children into Canadian society by erasing their traditional culture and language from their lives in very tragic ways. The effects of residential schools have led to some First Nations people having a harder time obtaining an education and contributing to society in ways that are acceptable in Western culture. In turn, this determines how First Nations make sense of citizenship in Canada.

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Confederation was an agreement made in 1867 among some of the colonies in British North America to join together to form the new Dominion of Canada. The reason why I see Confederation as a metaphor for citizenship is multi-faceted. I believe that it brought colonies together to form a nation in which individuals had the responsibility to participate and contribute to a larger democratic society. The agreement also established rules for Canadian society, which established a foundation for equality in Canada for the French and English speaking peoples. However, these rules excluded First Nations peoples as citizens of Canada. Many individuals including both First Nations and women could not vote, and therefore were not given full rights of a citizen. Through this picture I hope to portray that Confederation can be seen as a metaphor for how it sacrificed the citizenship of others in order to create the Dominion of Canada. As a result, there are many perspectives on what citizenship means to different people in Canada.

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The flagpoles in this photo, which represent Canada’s provinces and territories, along with the trees in the background and the flowers in the center of the photo, both representing Canada’s vast natural landscapes, are surrounding the concrete monument, which represents Canada. The flagpoles, trees, and flowers are surrounding the monument as if to protect and secure Canada’s new identity that has formed due to confederation. However, the citizenship of some groups is undermined as Canada strives to become a Nation. The wind is forcing these flags to flow with it, although some appear to be resisting the wind’s power. If the wind represents confederation, then this would suggest that not all people, especially First Nations people were behind the idea of confederation. The natural landscape of this photograph represents First Nations people, and how they are a large part of Canadian history and identity. The Canadian governments decision to neglect First Nations in confederation plays a large role in how Aboriginal peoples of Canada view citizenship. To represent these different angles on what citizenship means to different Canadians, I chose to take this photo on an angle, and not have the Canadian monument as a definite focal point.

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This photograph was taken at Confederation Park in Calgary. It depicts the formation of Canada through the gradual inclusion of all ten provinces and three territories in the nation. Each province and territory is represented by its provincial flag. The flagpoles are surrounding a monument that has a geographic outline of Canada on it. There are flowers on either side of this monument. Green grass, green trees and a clear sky make up the landscape in this picture.

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what citizenship is now?

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How can this photograph provide opportunities for us to expand our notion of what citizenship is now?

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I think we can learn how to work together from the bees in this photograph. I mentioned previously that the University of Calgary campus has not been a place where I have felt an overwhelming sense of community. Many people walk their own paths, never acknowledging one another on a meaningful level. Sometimes we are too busy to put effort into making that connection. However, an opportunity to expand our understandings of what citizenship is now could be to simply stop and take a few minutes to get to know other people in your community. This can start with a smile. I believe that once we connect with people in our society, this not only has the potential to begin positive changes within their own lives by having a sense of belonging. It may also create a society that is more connected and thus, working together more efficiently for the common good of all.

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about citizenship today?

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What does this picture tell us about your understanding/beliefs about citizenship today?

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I believe that this photograph portrays the idea from class that no man is an island. Every individual in society has a responsibility to contribute in whatever way they can for the good of everyone. It is important to understand that everyone will not contribute in the same way. As discussed in class, it is easy to dehumanize someone based on how much they contribute to society. Individuals who are homeless, for example can be dehumanized. Some individuals do not see homeless people as good citizens because of their apparent lack of contribution to society. When an individual is dehumanized, it makes it harder for him/her to contribute to society in a positive and productive way. Therefore, I think on a basic human level, a simple smile goes a long way to show and promote citizenship. It shows a desire to connect with someone for a common good, which might be as simple as happiness. We are not designed to face this world alone. We are to work together just like the bees in this photograph to make our communities a better place. Sometimes a smile is all someone needs to make a change in their lives and the lives of others.

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Bees are excellent examples of working together for the common good. In my opinion, bees, in their own little way, represent what it takes to be an engaged and ethical citizen. I believe that citizens have the responsibility to work towards creating a society that has the good of all in mind. Each and every person comes from a different background and may not be able to contribute as well as others can. How ever big or small, each positive contribution matters. It would be a difficult world to live in without doctors, police, teachers, lawyers, and economists. These are only a few occupations that help to promote the health, development, and security of our Canadian society. Much like the honeybees, Canadian citizens, no matter what their role in society, should work together to ensure the good of all in Canada. This is what citizenship means to me.

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Each and every bee is this photograph is working with one end goal in mind, the production of honey. There are hundreds of bees in this bee farm, and for a good reason. If there were just one single bee working to produce honey, the job would not get done. At least not in an efficient manner, or at all. Inside this farm, each bee has a specific job to do for the entire honey-making process to run smoothly and efficiently. For example, if bees did not leave the hive to collect pollen from flowers, there would be nothing to convert into honey. Also, if the bees that remained in the hive did not assist the pollen-collecting bees in converting pollen into honey, there would be no honey and bees may not be able to sustain their way of life and enable their community to flourish. Therefore, all the bees in this photograph are important and valued for their individual skills that they bring to their bee community.

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Usually when I walk through campus I do not get an overwhelming sense of community or belonging. Most of the time people, myself included, are busy transitioning from class to class, and studying. I cannot say the same for this particular day that this picture was taken. On this day, people were stopping to take in the school spirit and community that was brought to campus through a farmers market. There was live music, different booths selling vegetables, and one booth selling organic honey. The business was called “Buzzy Bee Honey” and they brought with them a live bee farm that actively showed the bees working together to create honey. This is a picture of that bee farm.

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                                                                                                                                                                                             IDENTITY

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                                                                                                                                                                                             IDENTITY

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What is identity within a Canadian context?

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                                                                                                                                                                                                 CITIZENSHIP

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                                                                                                                                                                                                 CITIZENSHIP

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What is citizenship within a Canadian context?