Open Access
American Research Journal of History and Culture
ISSN (Online): 2379-2914
DOI: 10.46568/arjhc
Analysis on differences in Canada and China’s official attitude and perception on their minority nationalities
Abstract
The government’s perceptions and attitudes of their ethnic minorities are in close relation with the ethnic minorities’ welfare policies, and also
affect the public’s perception of ethnic minorities. Therefore a government’s definition and attitudes are crucial to maintaining national stability.
For instance, Canada is a multi-nation state, comprising multiple ethnic groups in one country, with the two most influential as the French
Canadians and the English-Canadians. French and English Canadians are majority ethnic groups while there are many other minority ethnic
groups such as the First Nations. The People’s Republic of China is also a multi-nation state, although the biggest ethnic group, the Hans, comprise
98% of the entire population.11 Although all nations have their own cultural cognition - common descent, history, culture, and language - both
Canada and China have their own unique definition for their minority nations: Canada’s minority nations are the Aboriginal People of Canada
22, and China’s minority nations are the 55 officially recognized ethnic groups other than the Han people. This essay aims to compare the official
perceptions and attitudes of ethnic minorities in China and Canada, hoping to clarify the relationship between ethnic minorities and mainstream
ethnic groups, and help the general public to understand them, hence promoting harmonious societal development.
