Canadian Studies Announcements

In this issue:

Former Program Director Nelson Graburn Recalls Meeting Mary Simon, Canada’s First Indigenous Governor General

Earlier this month, the Inuk leader and diplomat Mary Simon was announced as the 30th governor general of Canada. When she officially takes up the position next week, she will be the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. But while her appointment marked Ms. Simon’s introduction to a larger public, for former Canadian Studies Program Nelson Graburn it was more like hearing the name of an old friend.

A trained anthropologist, Dr. Graburn (called ᐊᐱᖁ  ᓂᓕᓯ, “Apirqu Nilisi” in Inuit) is an expert on Inuit culture and conducted his fieldwork in the Canadian Arctic. In the early ’60s, his research took him to Nunavik, the Inuit territory of northern Quebec, where he first met the future governor-general.

“I used to know Mary Simon and her family quite well,” Dr. Graburn explains. “When I lived I Kujjuak (then known as Fort Chimo) from 1963-64, she was a high school student, very bright, rather shy. I employed her as a translator, particularly for the rather long and technical questionnaires on the project for which I was working.”

“Her father was an American entrepreneur and pilot who set up a hunting camp for rich people down the George River, and his HQ was Kujjuak. His clients flew in from Montreal on First Air, and he flew them out to camp and back. He was married to a local Inuk woman and had four children, the oldest of whom I knew best – Johnny May, a tall red-headed boy who was sent out to stay with his uncle in Colorado to earn his pilot’s license. He returned and worked for his father. Later he became a pilot for First Air when it was bought up by Air Inuit with the proceeds of the (CA$83 million) James Bay Treaty,” (which Ms. Simon had helped negotiate.) “When he flew into communities in the North he was cheerily welcomed as the ‘first Inuit pilot’!”

“Since then I have met Mary Simon on many occasions, usually big conferences where we still exchange words (she’s still bilingual). I really admire her career in Canada and internationally.”

Canadian Immigrants in the US: Older, Wealthier, and Highly Educated?

A spotlight article published by the Migration Policy Institute last week profiles the Canadian immigrant population in the United States. Based on census and immigration data, US-resident Canadians are both older and more successful on a number of metrics than both native-born US citizens and other immigrant populations. However, do these sources fully capture the diversity of the Canadian community in the United States?

Census data shows that the Canadian-born population in the US tends to be older than other foreign-born populations, and significantly older the US native-born population, with a median age of 54 (compare 46 for other immigrants and 37 for US natives). Contributing to this high average is the presence of a large population of Canadian retirees. These Canadians are also better-educated than both groups, with 51% possessing a bachelor’s degree (18% more than US-born citizens or other immigrants) and 23% possessing a graduate degree (10% more than either group).

These demographics are reflected in the cities with the highest percentages of Canadian-born residents, which include both business centers and known retirement destinations: a quarter live in the five metro areas of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, and Seattle. 16% of all Canadian immigrants to the US live in California. These factors also contribute to Canadians’ high median household income of $89,000, much more than the $66,000 of US-born householders.

However, Canadian Studies Program director Irene Bloemraad, a noted migration research expert, cautions that identifying Canadians in the United States is difficult. The data do not include US-born Canadians, since they are not immigrants. Also, depending on the data source, naturalized Canadians born outside of North America might or might not be counted. Data from the US Census Bureau tend to rely on place of birth to identify immigrants, a strategy that excludes naturalized Canadians like herself. In contrast, data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, such as the number of Canadians holding H1-B visas, tend to focus on an applicant’s nationality, not birthplace. Bloemraad says, “The actual Canadian immigrant population in the United States is undoubtedly larger and more diverse. We certainly see this on the Berkeley campus among our Canadian international students and faculty.”

IN THE NEWS

Canada to Re-Open to Vaccinated US Visitors Aug. 9

The Canadian government announced today a dramatic scaling back of its COVID travel restrictions – at least for US residents. Beginning August 9, fully-vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents will no longer need to quarantine for two weeks when visiting Canada. The government is also expanding the number of airports authorized to receive international fights. Adults entering the country will need to provide proof of vaccination, and are still required to complete a COVID-test before arriving in Canada.

Restrictions on travellers from all other countries will to continue through September 7.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership

July 23 | 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT) | Webcast | RSVP here

President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau agreed on a “Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership” on February 23, 2021 at their first “virtual bilateral” meeting. The Roadmap includes a range of action items in six broad areas of cooperation including trade, climate change, COVID-19 response and recovery, and global and regional security issues.

In May, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken sent veteran diplomat Ambassador Arnold Chacón to Ottawa to serve as Chargé d’Affaires and lead US efforts to advance the Roadmap. The Wilson Center will host Ambassador Chacón and Canada’s Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman for a conversation about the Roadmap agenda and the route ahead for US-Canada relations. The program will be moderated by Canada Institute director and Canadian Studies Program board member, Christopher Sands.

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Canadian Studies Announcements

In this issue:

New Hildebrand Fellow Aaron Gregory Studies Indigenous-led Energy Projects

Canadian Studies is pleased to introduce Aaron Gregory as the latest recipient of an Edward Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowship. Aaron is a Ph.D. student in regional planning, with an emphasis on Indigenous energy sovereignty.

Aaron’s research explores the social, technical, and regulatory impacts of a renewable energy system developed by a First Nations community in Beecher Bay (British Columbia). He examines this project as an emergent approach to Indigenous environmental governance, an infrastructural solution responding to the problem of Indigenous energy sovereignty, and a regulatory provocation designed to challenge a provincial monopoly on energy production and distribution. His Hildebrand Fellowship will provide funding for fieldwork analyzing new ‘kinship infrastructures’ articulated through the social, technological, and environmental elements of Indigenous energy sovereignty, anticipating the decolonization and decarbonization of energy production and distribution in British Columbia.

Aaron’s research builds upon his training in regional planning, political ecology, Indigenous studies, critical infrastructure studies, and science & technology studies (STS). His current project expands upon prior investigations of an Indigenous-led solar MicroGrid system in northern California, an Indigenous land restitution program in South Africa, and an Indigenous land rights program in Chile. Aaron received his interdisciplinary M.A. from Brandeis and Tufts University before joining the University of California, Berkeley, and has worked with a variety of Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, and community organizations to strengthen and support Indigenous and environmental interests.

Five Berkeley Women to Represent Canada at Tokyo Olympics

As reported by the Cal Alumni Association, two current Berkeley students and three alumnae will represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics later this summer. The five women will join a large cohort of current and former Golden Bears competing for Olympic glory for a number of international teams at this year’s games.

One notable face in this intrepid group is two-time NCAA champion Camryn Rogers, class of ’22. The 22-year-old athlete is a native of British Columbia, and has previously represented Canada at numerous international youth events. She astonished the collegiate sports world earlier this year when she broke the collegiate women’s hammer throw record twice in one day and set a personal best of 75.52 m (247 ft 9 in). Rogers was profiled in a short film by California Magazine as an incoming student in 2019.

The other competitors with a Cal connection are:

Image: Camryn Rogers ’22. (Cal Athletics Track & Field roster.)

In the News

Mary Simon Appointed Canada’s First-Ever Indigenous Governor General

In what is being hailed as a landmark move, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week the appointment of Inuk leader and diplomat Mary Simon as the 30th governor general of Canada. Ms. Simon will be the first Indigenous person to serve in the role, which functions as the official representative of the Crown in Canada. Her appointment has been hailed by Indigenous leaders, and comes at a time where the country is reckoning with its treatment of its Native population.

Ms. Simon was born in a village in Nunavik, the Inuit territory in northern Quebec. A career civil servant and Indigenous rights advocate, she helped negotiate the landmark 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, considered Canada’s first modern treaty with an Indigenous group. In 1994, she was appointed Canada’s first-ever ambassador for circumpolar affairs, and was a key figure in the creation of the Arctic Council, an international forum promoting cooperation between Arctic governments and Indigenous peoples. Ms. Simon received the Order of Canada in 1991 in recognition of her advocacy for Indigenous rights, and was promoted to officer in 2005 for her diplomatic work.

Image: Mary Simon speaks following the announcement of her appointment. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press.)

San Francisco’s Canadian Consulate Launches New Tech Policy Podcast, Confluence

The Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco has announced the launch of Confluence, their first podcast. In each episode, Consul General Rana Sarkar, Canada’s Tech Envoy in Silicon Valley, will delve into the issues shaping technology, diplomacy, and economic recovery through the lenses of Silicon Valley, Canada, and the world. He will discuss pressing topics with subject matter experts to gain an unrestricted, deep dive into the tech policy issues shaping our times. Working at the intersections of big tech, public policy and change, Sarkar brings a unique perspective to these conversations and offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the global technological revolutions happening all around us.

Audiences can tune in for sharp, informative, and entertaining conversations in this limited series. Episodes are available now: Confluence (pod.link)

Canadian Studies Program

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Today, July 1, is Canada Day.

This year’s holiday comes at a difficult time for Canada, as the country is forced to reckon with a history that has fallen far short of its image and ideals. The recent painful revelations about Canada’s residential schools and its treatment of its Indigenous population have shocked and saddened the country. We know that this year, many Canadians are having mixed feelings about whether we should celebrate at all.

At the Canadian Studies Program, we believe it’s important to present a balanced view of the country: highlighting the good where we see it, while not being afraid to confront the darker side of Canadian history. In our colloquia over the past year, we presented many topics where we felt Canada could serve as a model for other countries, such as its national healthcare system. However, we also attempted to bring forward voices from marginalized communities, such as Canada’s Black and Indigenous populations, that have suffered historic and ongoing injustices and continue to fight for equity.

This Canada Day, I encourage all our friends to take some time to reflect on what kind of country we want Canada to be. Our vision of Canada is a truly multicultural nation, one that respects diversity and honors its First Peoples. It’s important to shine light on the ugliest chapters of Canadian history and ensure that we acknowledge that pain, because without doing so it is impossible to move forward together. I invite you to review the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and to visit the new site of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Sincerely,

Irene Bloemraad

Director, Canadian Studies Program

Canadian Studies Program

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