Definition of a Nation

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Many people have different perspectives on the definition of nation. Some believe that a nation is a territory with borders that is managed by its own government. Others may believe that a nation refers to a group share the same language, culture, and way of life. Overall, ones definition of a nation is shaped by many different factors. From some perspectives, being considered as part of a nation is as simple as participating and showing pride in nationalist loyalties. Source one shows an aboriginal girl from BC standing in front of a totem pole which is an expression of her culture. It also shows an Aboriginal boy dancing at a powwow. Both people are from different regions of Canada but they both belong to the Aboriginal nation. This shows that a nation does not necessarily have to have borders. Neither of them live in the same territory but both are a part of the Aboriginal nation because they feel a sense of belonging through participating in aspects of Aboriginal culture and living a similar way of life. In source two, Ernest Renan talks about how a nation exists when a group of people share the same legacies and have a will to live together. Renan believes that a nation deals more with the people that are considered a part of it rather than the region or territory they are in. He thinks that a nation is a collective where people have a connection through common remembrances, values, and heritage. He is saying that people belong to a nation when they share the same mindset as others and are willing to live side by side. A nation in this case must consist of people of the same ethnicity who are able to coexist peacefully. Those who believe Canada should be considered a nation would most likely agree with a definition similar to Pierre Trudeau’s. In source three, Pierre Trudeau says that a nation refers to a group of people, regardless of their ethnicity,

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