Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Final Battles of the Northwest Rebellion/Resistance
Posted by Froher.A at 3:08 PM 21 comments
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Assignment 10- Letter /Diary from the Railway
For this assignment we are suppose to write a journal entry or a letter from a perspective of someone in the 1880's when Canada's most amazing Railway was being built. It can either be a point of view from a Chinese worker, family members, and other people involved in building the Railway. For more information on this assignment click here and here.
Dear Sung, 1882
How are you? How is our daughter? She is probably two years old by now, oh how I miss you and I haven't even seen our daughter. She is probably as pretty as you are, perfect skin, enormously beautiful eyes and a very adorable mouth. I won't be able to see her until all this railway business is over. I don't even enjoy being here, we don't get payed enough compared to how tough the job is and I have to tell you it wasn't worth the trip to come here all the way from China. I get payed $1.00 per day, it is hundred times better then what my wage was in china ($0.07) but the work is also hundred times harder here. I am however, hoping to earn enough money to buy a land back in China, but it is really hard to save up because I need money to pay for my food, clothes, shelter, strong boots, taxes and the shovel I use for work. During the three months of winter when the work came to a standstill, they didn't pay us. So it is extremely hard to save up.
The work we do here is really hard and we have to be extra careful around the dynamite. People can easily die if they were not careful around it. Like a week or two ago, an Englishmen forgot that he was beside the dynamite and he shook the ashes out of his pipe. He unfortunately died with a few of my friends. Luckily, my job was no where near there. Actually my job is to move the rocks out from where they want to built the tracks. I grew muscles from doing this job, something I was trying to have since I was twelve and finally, I accomplish it.Here everyone is so rude to me and all my other Chinese friends, whenever we pass by them, they stare at us as if we are some clowns doing a show. Last night as I was walking to my room, five Englishmen tripped me to the ground and were insulting me in every possible way. They insulted the types of food we eat, our height, and many other things. It hurt me really badly, I felt like killing myself. I mean I have never been insulted in that way.
Well enough of what happened here, I want to tell you some of my dreams for the future. I have earned $600 since I started working here but you know what i was only able to save up like $80 because I spend the rest on my needs. To make this railway it will probably take us like 3 or more years because our goal is to make a railway that stretches from Vancouver to Montreal and also several other major cities in a country which I don't think you have heard about but its called United States. We still have a long way despite the fact that there are so many workers and each worker works day and night. Hopefully it last for at least six more years because by then I will be able to earn enough to buy a land in either china or enough money to get you guys to come up here. If the railways are all built six years I might look for a job here or I can even start a business which you can also help me with. Here in Canada there are many beautiful sites such as mountains and lakes but there are hardly any people here. Since we are making the railways, life would be a lot easier because these railways will unify the country and so you can go around the country with no transportation problem. Do you think it will be a great idea to bring our little sweetheart up here. It might affect her life in many different ways as in she might not eat rice as much. You are gonna have to help me make my decision of what to do because i can have you enter this country, it cost $50 per person.
Take care my love.
P.S. If you write back sent a picture of my daughter, who i have not seen yet.
Love
Dong Yee
Interesting Information:
- After the Canadian Pacific Railway was built, the government gave them 25 million acres of free land but they did not thank them for all the hard work and effort the Chinese workers put into the Railway.
- About 5000 of the Chinese workers stayed in Canada after the completion of the railway because they could not afford to go back to China.
I got most of the information from the following sites and from a history book:
History of Chinese immigration.
Posted by Froher.A at 5:13 AM 0 comments
Friday, March 6, 2009
Test Your New France Knowledge
I took a quiz on New France and it had some questions about some of the stuff I already knew about like " Who was Canada's first Adventurers" and they were some stuff that i never heard off or learned about such as "In addition to his search for the "western sea," what other occupation did Pierre de la Verendrtre hold.
After i finished the quiz I got 8 out of 10, which was better than what I thought I would get because the last time I learned about New France was in grade seven. By taking this quiz, I learned a lot that I didn't know about such as: When Thompson was done exploring, he put together an enormous map pf western Canada, a school teacher Annie Taylor was the first person to go over the falls and survive, and Mina Hubbard was the first non-native woman to explore Labrador. From taking this quiz I learned many facts that i never knew or heard about, so take the quiz and discover the new facts you might learn about New France that you never knew.
Posted by Froher.A at 6:09 AM 0 comments
Friday, February 20, 2009
Assignment 8 - The Real Riel
In this assignment, we are supposed to read about Louis Riel, the founder of Manitoba and a person who helped form Canada. In other words, most people see him as the father of Confederation. After we have gathered enough information about Louis Riel, we are supposed to try to feel how some people felt about Louis Riel, it can be negative or positive. We then write an imaginary interview with Louis Riel. Click Here for more information on this assignment. The setting for this interview is November 14th 2120.
Louis: The pleasure is all mine and I can really see the development Canada has gone through over the past century.
Host: (laughs) Of course, thanks to people such as yourself. Well, Mr. Riel today we have you here to tell us Canadians the actual truth about yourself and exactly what caused people to think what they are thinking about you right now. We will start with I guess your father. I heard that your father unfortunately died in 1864, how did that affect your life?
Louis: Wow, that's quiet sudden starting with my father's death. Anyways it affected my life because when I heard about my father's death, I started losing interest in the priesthood which gave me no choice but to withdraw from the college of Montreal. Afterward, I did try to continue my studies in the Grey Nuns but I was later asked to leave due to the fact that I basically had lack of both interest and discipline to the subject. Also because of the death my father, I started to work as a law clerk in the Montreal office of Rodolphe Laflamme . So, overall it affected my life as well as my career.
Host: Well, its tragic and I personally think that if I were in your shoes I would probably lose interest in priesthood too because from my experiences such shocks changes the way you think. Keep watching and we will be back after this short break.
Host: Ok we're back with Louis Riel. So after your fathers death, you continued to stay in Montreal and there you found someone really special. I am sure that the audience and I will love to hear more about it.
Louis: I got involved in a relationship with the most amazing woman I had ever met named Julie Guermon. Julie and I decided that we should get married and we signed a marriage contract. So basically we were engaged but however, Julie's family were against her involvement with a metis and so our engagement was broken.
Host: Riel, when your engagement was broken due to their family not wanting Julie to be involved with metis, were you offended to that comment or decision?
Louis: In fact I was offended because they made such a quick judgement, they didn't even try to get to know us metis.
Host: After the incident with Julie, did you marry anyone else?
Louis: Well, after having my heart broken by Julie, I never thought I would be interested in another women but I however, married another most amazing women name Marguerite. With her I had two children named Jean and Angelique and a third son who passed away at birth.
Host: Look at the bright side you were able to get over Julie and Marguerite must have been a very incredible woman. Anyways we will be back right after this short break keep watching.
Break in session for 5mins.
Host: Ok we are back. Now Mr. Riel this next question of mine has absolutely nothing to do with what we have been talking about. I heard that you were involved in the red river rebellion, what was your purpose or role there?
Louis: I had several roles in the Red river rebellion. These roles include: maintain peace in the settlement, preventing William McDougall from entering the settlement, being spokesmen of the Metis and there are several others that aren't as important.
Host: I have been wondering. Was your role able to end the rebellion?
Louis: To say the truth, my role had nothing to do with the end of the rebellion. Basically the rebellion ended as soon as I fled from the settlement due to the fact that most people thought that the only reason the expedition was coming was to arrest me because of Thomas Scott's execution.
Host: With all that events happening around you, did you get involved in any type of problems such as stress, depression and etc.
Louis: Yes, in fact I got involved in a continues stress which later made me suffer from mental exhaustion. As it got worse I was forced to go to a psychiatric hospital in Montreal and in Beauport (somewhere near Quebec).
Host: That is so terrible and so unexpected. I also heard that many people throughout Canada has different opinions about you. Some say that you were a father of Confederation while others thought you were a traitor and other such things. How do you feel about the way other people think about you? Do you agree or disagree with their opinions?
Host: We were just getting at the good part but we will be back after this really short break.
Louis: Well, if I were able to go back in time which I can actually today since I am here from the past, I would probably not kill Thomas Scott. Instead I would put him under custody because part of the reason why the government did accept our will was because I killed Thomas. The second thing I would probably change is not to flee from the settlement and instead listen to their decision because I felt really bad leaving the metis side when they needed me the most as a spokesmen. Other than that I am actually proud of myself for accomplishing more than what I planned too. I mean, I am known as a father Confederation and hero to most people.
Thomas being executed
Louis: I feel like I am being punished for no reason, well at least I think that I am being punished for no reason. The reason for that is because I thought that I did something that would help the people of metis and lessen the racism against them. I also think that I brought the concept that everyone needs human rights, no matter what race they are.
Host: It was a privilege to interview you but unfortunately we are running out of time, so I guess this is a bye.
Louis: The pleasure was all mine, never thought I would be able to see how this developed.
Host: (laughs) Watch me tomorrow to make even newer discoveries, same channel, same time, WATCH ME!
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel
2. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2390-e.html
3.http://www.shsb.mb.ca/Riel/indexenglish.htm
Posted by Froher.A at 6:02 AM 2 comments
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Assignment #7- Canadian Personalities
Which category of Canadian Personalities interested you the most? Did you like the "we inspired", "we founded", "we fought", "we built" or "we governed" section the best? Why?
The category of Canadian Personalities that interested me the most was "we built." This section includes the following Canadians: Samuel De Champlain, David Thompson, James Bernard Harkin, Francis Rattenbury, and Jules Timmins. This section in particular interested me because Canadian with such personality has changed Canada in its physical appearance. They built hospital for the sick, schools for education, parks for little kids to play, map to helps us find our way, roads and railways for transportation and many more. If it weren't for these Canadian, there will be only the church for education and for health care, river for transportation and you wouldn't probably see much high buildings or museums and etc. also think that if it weren't for them we probably couldn't enjoy life like we do now because every fun activity needs a place of it own. I mean that if like to watch a movie in the theatre, there has to be a building where you can watch, or if you would want to play soccer with a group of friends then you would probably need a park with a field suitable for playing. Therefore, Canadians with such personalities has changed not only the physical appearance of Canada, but also the lives of our citizens.
Which personality interested you the most? Why? Find an image of him or her to embed (add to the body of your post) and write, in your own words, a short description of what he or she did and why he or she is your favourite. If you get information from any source, you must credit it by creating a link to it (that includes information from the site that I've asked you to look at).
In your post, suggest three more influential Canadian personalities that could be added to this site. Why did you choose these people? Which categories would they fit into? Link to information about each of them.
Three Influential Canadian Personalities:
Terry Fox: Terry Fox was born on July 28Th, 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was known as a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer treatment activist. Terry loved sports, he loved to run, play soccer but unfortunately he met with an accident which gave him sore right knee. He soon found out that he was diagnosed with "Osteosarcoma," a type of cancer and the only way to treat this was with an amputated leg. Three years after losing his leg, Terry decided to run from coast to coast to raise money for cancer research. He created the "marathon of Hope," hoping to get one dollar from each Canadian Citizen. He should be put in the Category "we fought" because he fought to save many others who were and are suffering from cancer, he gave up his life to save others. He truly is one of a kind.
**** Mystery History Maker Match Up Game
7. Go back to your post and answer the following question:
d.) Which History-Maker did you have the most in common with? Were you able to figure it out from the clues given? What do you share with that person? What are some things that are different between you and that person?
Clues
-I had one sister and two brothers. My parents died when i was only eight
-I spoke English but my original rules of basketball have been translated into dozens of languages.
-I was pressured to call my new game "Naismithball," but i prefer to call it basketball.
-I earned degrees in philosophy, physical education, medicine and theology
-I belonged to many sports teams, the university choir, the debating team, and the literary society.
- I travelled and lived in many parts of Canada and the United States, I served in France during the first world war.
- I believed in building character through sports and education.
- School and streets have been named after me
-The Naismith Memorial Basketball hall if fame bears my name
- Athletic awards are given in my honour
-Postage stamps and coins have celebrated my inventions
The history-maker that I had most common with was James Naismith. James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861. He was known as the inventor of the sport basketball, played by 300 million people from all over the world. Throughout his life, James Naismith has coached in several schools, universities and etc. He wrote the original rulebook of basketball and he was also credited for introducing the first football helmet. He was also the founder of the University of Kansas basketball program. James Naismith has many athletic awards that are given in his honour. James Naismith was inducted into the Canadian Basketball of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame, the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame, the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of fame. James Naismith's Quote " I decided that the only satisfaction that I would ever derive from life was to help my fellow beings ."
Things we have in Common:
-we both believe in building character through sports and education
-we both have more than one siblings
-we both love the sport basketball
Thing that are different:
- James Naismith has two brothers and I don't have any brothers
- He got his degree for theology, medicine, physical education, philosophy and I am only in grade eight. Although I am planning to get my degree in medicine.
- Many athletic awards are given in his honour
8. Think long and hard about this part and then post an answer to this question on your blog:
e.) One hundred years from now, (in 2109!) imagine that students are learning about Canadian History Makers and they discover you. What will you be remembered for? How were you a Canadian History Maker? You are using your imagination, so think about some things that you would like to accomplish in your life and imagine that you have all the accomplishments of your life to look back on. Write a short profile of yourself, imagining the contributions you have made to the future of Canada. (Write this as though you've lived your whole life. You may have been a phenomenal athlete, the first black Prime Minister, cured cancer...use your imagination!)
Froher Ahmadi was born in 1995. She was credited for finding cure to many diseases that has killed many people around the world. These diseases include: Influenza, Lupus Erythematosus, Polio, Ebola, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Asthma, Cancer, and the Common Cold. The diseases listed above were once incurable once upon a time and they killed more than 1 million people. She was not interested in Medicine but that however changed when Froher saw many innocent kids from Africa dying from such diseases. Ever since she has realized that, she has been working on cures to these diseases till the day she died. Throughout her life, she has saved millions and millions of people. She has also given hope to many people whose loved ones are suffering from such diseases. Another thing that Froher is well-known for is her famous Fashion Company which was and still is one of the top business running. Froher used most of the money she got from her Company on Charity and for fundraisers. That also changed many people's life in areas such as Africa. She received a Nobel prize for each of the diseases she found a cure for. She however, got many prizes for curing Cancer because after many researches done by other scientists, we finally succeeded thanks to Froher Ahmadi, a genius in curing diseases.
" If you persevere and not give up you will be able to reach your goal."
Posted by Froher.A at 6:07 AM 3 comments
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Assignment #6
Posted by Froher.A at 2:31 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Its Freezing Here!!!
Canada has extremely cold winters but, we deal with this problem by wearing gloves or mittens to keep our hands warm, heavy coats to keep our upper part of our body warm, hats to keep our heads warm, boots to keep our feet dry from snow and snow pants or ski pants to keep our legs warm. We also wear lots and lots of layers of clothes under our jacket. We put on all that just to keep warm and we have heaters at our houses. Think about how Europeans settlers, vikings, and Aboriginal people survived Canada's dreadful winters.
The Aboriginal people, vikings and European settlers are all considered as immigrants to Canada. The Aboriginals were the first to find Canada and the first ones to settle there. It is believed that Aboriginals arrived from Asia about 30 000 years ago by way over of a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska after the last ice age. When they reached Canada they all spread across Canada forming colonies such as the Huron, Algonquian and etc. Vikings were however the second to arrive to Canada but they did not make permanent settlements. They stayed in Lance aux Meadow for about 25-30 years and most of them went back to there homeland. Europeans were the last ones to settle in Canada but not the last immigrant in Canada. After the vikings, European Explorers from England, France, and Spain came to Canada. They did not expect to find new land, they set sail to the west just to find silks, spices and other Asian goods. After awhile, the countries were competing over new land. Each country sent people to claim the land and possibly start a settlement there. That's how immigrants started coming to Canada.
As the new area opened for settlement, most settlers were facing some serious problems. These problems include:
- building houses
- providing themselves with basic needs
- diseases/ viruses such as cholera and smallpox
- COLD WEATHER
The cold weather and diseases were probably the main and serious problem they had. To begin with, diseases wiped up a lot of European and aboriginal populations. Due to the weather which most Europeans were unprepared for led them to lack of food and water. It also led them to a disease called scurvy which killed most Europeans. To face all these hardships and problems the aboriginals helped them a lot. If it weren't for the Aboriginals, the Europeans wouldn't have fur for clothes to keep them warm during winter, a cure for scurvy, and probably some really good hunting areas to hunt for food. The Aboriginals survived by using what the environment provided them with, such as:
- wood from trees for houses
- animals such as buffaloes for food and clothing.
- water from lakes/rivers to drink.
- the soil to grow vegetables, wheat for bread, barley, and oats.
The Europeans also farmed and grew most of there food, they traded with the aboriginals which provided with other needs.
Immigrants decided to leave their homeland and move to Canada, they even probably decided to stay there despite the cold weather because of the following reasons:
-They were not allowed freedom of worship.
-The government had control over their way of life.
-Men were forced to serve in the army.
-There were no jobs or the jobs were low-paying jobs.
-Many were poor and barely made enough to survive.
-Farmers wanted to own their own land.
-Cities were overcrowded, dirty and polluted.
Some of the reasons listed above are some of the reasons why my parents decided to move to Canada. First of all, the country we used to live in had a lot of crimes going on such as kidnapping. Second of all, people there did not have as much human rights as they should have. Third of all, my parents wanted their children to have better education.
My family and I were totally new to snow and cold temperature. In the country I used to live in had snow but the chances were once or twice in three years. We actually didn't face a lot of hardship because we had other family members living in Canada and they told us about the cold. So we were sort of prepared for upcoming hardships we may face. Therefore, the dreadful winter in Canada did not effect my family and most of the immigrants because of the technology we have right now and also because we are aware of what we may face. Unlike the Europeans who were not only unprepared but they had no experience of the cold. In other words, they were unaware.
Three new information i learned from this assignment:
From the http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/premierescommunautes/jeunesse/021013-2051.6-e.html I learned that " Even tough life was hard in New France, it was way better than what they would expect in France". I also learned exactly why there is a lot of immigrants in Canada from the following site, http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/premierescommunautes/jeunesse/021013-2051.6-e.html
href="http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/history&people/aboriginals.html">http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/history&people/aboriginals.html
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/premierescommunautes/jeunesse/021013-2051.6-e.html
Posted by Froher.A at 2:11 PM 1 comments