To what extent have local, national, and global forces shaped ...

UnitONE 1989 to the presentWe are all links in a greater human chain. And together,we are writing the story that is Canada.— Michaëlle Jean, governor general of Canada, July 1, 2008On Canada Day 2008, Governor General Michaëlle Jean reminded Canadiansthat the story of Canada is still being written. Jean said that the country’sgreatness is embodied in its people’s day-to-day efforts to make Canada “amore just and more human place to live.”Jean is only one of many who believe that creating a more just society is anideal that everyone must work toward. In this unit, you will explore this beliefand evaluate the extent to which a commitment to social justice has been asignificant force in Canada since 1989.As your exploration progresses, you will discover that people may agree thatachieving social justice is a fine ideal, but that they don’t necessarily agree onwhat this term means or what a socially just society should be like. You will alsodiscover that ideas about social justice cansometimes take a back seat to other concerns.After the attacks on the United Stateson September 11, 2001, for example, somepeople came to believe that national securityand personal safety were more important thanconcerns about social justice — and disagreementover this issue has inspired fierce debate.As you explore the issue that is the focus ofthis unit, you may find that people do not alwayshave clear-cut answers to questions about socialjustice. And you will draw your own conclusionsabout the role of social justice in creating Canadatoday — and the part you might play as thecountry’s story continues to be written.m h r • How have individuals, groups, and governments helped shape Canadian identity? • Ch a p t e r 117

Unit One1989-PresentSocialJusticeUnit1989 TO 2006Your TurnIf you were asked to define social justiceon the basis of only this story, whatwould you say? Record your response.File it so that you can revisit it as youprogress through this unit.18

Unit 1 timeline 1989-PresentThis timeline highlights some key dates and eventsin Canadian history between 1989 and the present. 1989 Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement comes into force 1990 Canadian Forces join UN coalition in Persian Gulf War 1991 World Wide Web first used by publicSoviet Union dissolves and Cold War ends 1992 Canadian peacekeepers arrive in former YugoslaviaCanadian voters reject Charlottetown Accord 1993 Canadian peacekeepers sent to Somalia 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement comes into forceCanadian-led peacekeepers cannot stop massacre in Rwanda 1995 World Trade Organization foundedQuebec voters narrowly reject separation 1996 Royal Commission tells Canadians that Aboriginalpeoples are nations 1999 New territory of Nunavut created 2001 Terrorists hijack four American passenger aircraft and use themto attack U.S. sites 2002 Canadian forces join UN-approved, NATO-led coalition inAfghanistan 2008 Prime minister apologizes for Aboriginal residential school policySharp downturn in American economy plunges world into recessionm h r • To what degree has a commitment to social justice been significant in creating Canada today? • Un i t 119

Unit One1989-PresentYo u rChallengeConduct and report on two interviewsin response to the Unit 1 issue question:To what degree has a commitmentto social justice been significantin creating Canada today?Your InterviewsWhen you conduct historical research, peoplewith first-hand experience of significant eventscan be important resources. Interviewing thesepeople can help you understand how historicevents affected those who lived through them.You can also gain insights into how individualperspectives can influence the way history is toldand understood.As you progress through the four chapters inthis unit, you will develop understandings of, andquestions about, whether and how a commitmentto social justice has been significant in creatingCanada since 1989.Your understandings and questions will becomethe focus of interviews with two different people.These interviews will make up the first exhibitof your museum display. The interviews may bepresented in written form, as an audio- or videotape,or in another format of your choice.Steps to YourChallengeWhat Your Interviews Will IncludeNo matter how you decide to present yourinterviews, your exhibit should include:• brief profiles of the people you interviewed• your interview questions• the responses of the interviewees, including whatsocial justice means to them• a summary describing what the interviewsrevealed about social justice in Canada since 1989As you complete your exhibit, refer to the Unit 1checklist for success (see Appendix 1: Checklistsfor Success) to make sure you have included all theelements necessary to be successful.Steps to YourChallengeTips for Conducting a Successful Interview( Explain the purpose of your interview and how long you expect it to take.( Ask interviewees to bring photographs and other items that will help them tell you about the event and what it meant to them.( Make copies of the questions for yourself and each interviewee.( Decide how you will take notes during the interview. If you plan to tape the interview, ask the interviewee’s permission.( Be prepared to ask follow-up questions when you want more detail. Questions that ask why can be effective.( Do not rush. Give the interviewee enough time to answer each question in his or her own way.( When you finish asking the questions, ask whether the interviewee would like to add anything else.20Un i t 1 • To what degree has a commitment to social justice been significant in creating Canada today? • m h r

Steps to Conducting Your InterviewsStep 1-Cho o s e an Ev e n tAs you progress through this unit, think about a socialjustice-related event you wish to explore in more detail. Yourchoice will determine what you will research and who you willinterview, as well as the interview questions you will develop.Conduct research to explore how the historic event affectedpeople who lived through it. What did these people think aboutthe event and the social justice issues associated with it?What do people today think about the event and the issuesconnected with it?TipThank theinterviewee for helpingyou complete yourhistorical research.Step 2-Pla n th e Interview Qu e s t i o n sWork with classmates to decide what makes an effectiveinterview question. To help plan your questions, refer to “PowerfulQuestions” and “Tips for Creating Powerful Questions” in theprologue (p. 3).Establish clear criteria to help you develop relevant, usefulinterview questions. Keep the focus of your questions on socialjustice. Make sure your questions will help you gather keyinformation, compare the responses of the two interview subjects,or enhance your exhibit in another way.UnitONE 1989 to the presenStep 3-Dra f t an d Develop th e Qu e s t i o n sDraft a list of possible interview questions. As you progressthrough this unit and conduct research into the event youchoose, be prepared to adapt, revise, and refine your questions.At key points, as youprogress through the unit,ask a partner or yourteacher for feedback onyour interview questionsand your reasons forasking them.Step 4-Com p l e t e th e InterviewsWhen the unit concludes, finalize the interview questions andconduct your interviews.Once the interviews are complete, analyze and interpret theresponses and summarize your findings. In your summary, youmight quote statements or stories that helped you understandthe past or see historic events in a new light.As you assemble your exhibit in the format you have selected,remember to keep the unit issue question clearly in focus - andto ask for feedback from a partner or your teacher. In yournotes, keep track of this feedback, as well as ideas for revisingyour exhibit to make it a more effective part of the display.m h r • To what degree has a commitment to social justice been significant in creating Canada today? • Un i t 121