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Reconciling Nationalist & Non-nationalist Loyalties in

Canada:
A Sikhism WebQuest

Name: ______________

Date: _____________

Last week we evaluated and analyzed the importance of reconciling contending

nationalist loyalties by studying the Oka crisis. By viewing the documentary, you
were able to learn how contending nationalist loyalties to the Canadian nation
and the Mohawk nation created an armed standoff in Quebec in 1990.
Today, we are going to evaluate and analyze the importance of reconciling
nationalism with
non-nationalist
loyalties on a
WebQuest.
You will need a
smartphone, tablet,
or computer for this
assignment.
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/webquest120911212007-phpapp01/95/webquest-2-728.jpg?
cb=1347399018

Curricular Outcomes:
Evaluate/Analyze
the importance of
reconciling
nationalism with
contending nonnationalist
loyalties: religion,
region, culture,
race, ideology,
class, etc.

Step 1) What is Sikhism?

Non-nationalist loyalties can be loyalties to religions, regions, ethnic groups,
and cultures. One such religion is Sikhism, the fifth largest religion in the world.
Please visit Sikhs.org and click on the introduction link at the top of the
page. Use the information provided to fill in the blanks below.
Philosophy & Beliefs of Sikhism
There is only __________God. He is the same God for all people of all
______________.
The soul goes through cycles of __________ and ____________ before it
reaches the human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary
existence so that one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember
________ at all times and practice living a virtuous and truthful life while
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maintaining a balance between their spiritual obligations and temporal
obligations.
The true path to achieving _____________ and merging with God does not
require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a
householder, earning a _______________living and avoiding worldly
temptations and sins.
Sikhism condemns ____________rituals such as fasting, visiting places of
pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
Sikhism preaches that people of different ___________, ___________ or
________ are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full _____________of
men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or
perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.

Step 2) Why do Sikhs need to wear a kirpan?

Visit sikhcoalition.org and enter wearing a kirpan into the search bar.
Click on the first result, then on Sikhism & Sikh Kirpan Fact Sheet.
Use the circle below to record the 5 articles of faith, along with a brief
description of each.

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http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2012/12/22/1226542/347890-a-ceremonialkirpan-knife.jpg

What is the kirpan supposed to

remind Sikhs of each day?

Step 3) What happens when a Sikh is presented with

nationalism and contending religious loyalties?
Visit cbc.ca/archives and enter kirpan controversy classroom into the
search bar. Click on the 1st result that comes up, and watch the television clip
from 1990 in which Sukder Singh Hundal was forced to choose between his
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nationalist Canadian loyalty and his non-nationalist loyalty to Sikhism. This
occurred when his school said his kirpan was a weapon, and that he would be
expelled if he continued to wear it.
Which loyalty did he choose? Why?

Why is the kirpan controversial?

Is it fair that Sukder Singh Hundal had to choose between being loyal to
his country and being loyal to his country? Why or why not?

Step 4) How have Sikhs found reconciliation between nationalism

and their contending religious loyalties?
Visit dictionary.cambridge.org and search
reconciliation. Record the definition, in
your own words, below.
http://www.destination-webmarketing.fr/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/definition-web.jpg

Visit google.ca and enter Sikh dagger school Canada. Click on the
1st result.
Like Sukder Singh Hundal in 1990, Girbaj Singh was told that he could not wear
his kirpan to class in 2001.
In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned this ban.

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What compromises did the court make on the ban that will allow people
like Sukder Singh Hundal and Girbaj Singh to maintain their religious
loyalty to Sikhism? Explain below.

Answer one of the following questions

20-1
As a Sikh man, would this compromise
allow you to reconcile your Canadian
nationalism and religious loyalties to the
degree that you could express them
both at the same time? Why or why not?

20-2
Why is this compromise so important to
reconciling nationalism and nonnationalist loyalties for Sikhs?

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