❅ ooc: app {1970}
Character Information
Name: Canada (human name: Margaret Williams. Himaruya has never given an official one to any of the Nyotalia nations, but this was mentioned as a possibility and I've grown fond of it. However, Madeline is also incredibly common as an option, so if any of the other characters have referred to her as that already, I can work with it.)
Source Canon: Axis Powers Hetalia: Nyotalia
Age: physically looks between 18 and 20, in actuality she's disputably at least 450 years old (see history, below)
Role In Canon: As far as Canada's role in the Hetalia strips goes, it's a rather minor one. The original male character is generally only brought in to be the butt of a gag or to emphasize the faults of another character (i.e. a three hour speech on all of America's faults, or being impersonated by Sealand at a G-8 meeting). However, being based on history, there is obviously significance to the nation. In addition, the female Canada's dynamic with the other members of the G-8 will be slightly different, simply because of standard gender differences.
Justification: N/A
History: Being the embodiment of a nation, Canada's history as a character is essentially that of the country of Canada. Of course, it's far from cut and dry what exactly this means, as there have certainly been enormous changes to the country over the years. Most of what follows is headcanon and speculation I've compiled through history research in order to have a more solid grasp on the character. Although dates of birth are never specified for either of the North American nations, for the sake of a point of reference in my own head, this embodiment of Canada was a toddler, physically speaking, at the end of the fifteenth century. Her first contact with Europeans was Givoanni Caboto's landing in Newfoundland, circa 1497. However, until 1534, she continued to live and represent only the aboriginal peoples in what is now eastern Canada, notably the Míkmaqs, Maliseets, and Laurentian Iroquois. In 1534, France (by extension of Jacques Cartier) found her, and that was the beginning of Canada as a growing territory in the New World.
While French colonists start to set up, killing natives in the process, a young and extremely shy girl is getting to know France, who she comes to regard as her mother in time. Although there are issues between the colonists and the natives, Canada embraces the French in the New World as her own. That bond between mother and child, France and Canada, is one that will endure through British rule and independence, well into the twentieth century. In 1583, Humphrey Gilbert claimed the island of Newfoundland as a British territory and from there began many years of proof that England and France's rivalry continues even on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean. The 1600's were a period of exploration and growth for the young Nouvelle France, as well as a period of foreshadowing the conflicts to come in her future. As more and more of her land was "discovered" by the French, the more France doted on her. Canada split her time between watching over settlements, a guest of the native people still living nearby, and living with France across the ocean. The Dutch are also exploring around this time, one Henry Hudson leaving the legacy of a river and Canada's beloved Hudson Bay in the north. An incident in 1613 prompts Canada, still a child, to begin questioning the good of Europeans. When members of a Beothuk tribe were spooked by French gunfire, they attacked, killing nearly forty fishermen. The French, in deliberate revolt, gave weapons to the Míkmaqs, creating an unfair advantage in a territory war that had been raging for decades, if not longer. Not even a decade later, her precious Acadie is renamed Nova Scotia by the English monarchy, while French Catholic missionaries settle in. In 1629 came Canada's first stint at being under English rule, having been seized virtually right from under France's nose. This was corrected with the Treaty of Saint-Germaine-en-Laye, in 1632, but it only reinforced young Canada's worry that this was going to be trouble.
The seventeenth century was a time of smallpox and conflict, featuring the Beaver Wars between the French and Iroquois, aided by the Dutch and English. The eighteenth century brought Queen Anne's War (1702-1713) to Canada, which was slightly less bloody but far more disrupting in terms of politics and who had claim on what. By the time of the Treaty of Utrecht, when she is essentially given to England, Canada is physically a little girl. A very angry little girl at that, but brought up to hold her peace and respect her elders, even when those elders are the Europeans causing destruction in her once peaceful land.
Though the years, she continues to grow as a nation and an individual, still carefully under England's rule, but never the favourite one. That would be America, with devastating consequences when she declares independence. The wars surrounding that are particularly difficult on Canada, caught in the middle of it all. While she had a deep-seated respect and admiration for her sister, willingly taken in Loyalist refugees, there was incredibly frustration there, too. Why could this dispute between America and England not be solved with words, was how she saw it. And the answer was simply that they were too stubborn to do anything easily. So people had to die for America's independence; too many of them, Canada considered her own. Any irritated feelings over the whole upset in the British American colonies was simply amplified by the War of 1812. Seeking to gain land and people, America's grand plan had been to simply march on Canada and talk disgruntled Canadians into being Americans. Canadians, however, turned out to be far more loyal than that and, again, after bloodshed, the war came to an end. As both sisters undoubtedly remember, it was not without someone's capital being nearly destroyed by fire and fighting, though. And it wasn't Canada's.
More likely than not, this is when Canada's own plans for eventual independence began to form. Even though the War of 1812 had been fought by the British Empire, England's role was really only that of someone not wanting to lose an asset. It was Canada and her people that made the difference. That had Canada starting to think that maybe, just maybe, she could go just as well without British intervention. As the century progresses, the more England intervenes, the more her people revolt. In the late 1830's, riots are rampant in both Upper and Lower Canada, resulting in some of the populace's exile to Australia. It's around this time that Canadian-Australian relations start to falter. Instead of simply both being vaguely-ignored British colonies, Canada is a collection of territory determined to do things her own way. The drive and intensity of Canadian politicians almost worries Australian ones, for which Canada herself is unrepentantly proud.
It takes a good number of years for proposed constitutions to suit everyone's needs in the land she represents, but finally, happy mediums are found. A bit of pestering and propositioning England and the Queen later, the British North America Act is passed. On July 1st, 1867, the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia join to become a country. There's still a lot of work left to do before independence will be full, but it's easily the happiest day in young Canada's life. Bloodless sovereignty, even only partially, is a dream that feels wonderful for her to realize. The next year, she's allowed an army to call her own, and although she never plans to use it, not really, it's still a wonderful feeling.
Over the next few decades, Canada sees provinces and territories added to her nation, and immigration from around the world. For every wave of new people that settle on her land, she works to learn their language, even if it's only the important phrases. Before long, she speaks more languages than she can count. Canada grows and matures, accepting what British guidance England insists on, but nothing more: she wants to let her people become Canadians, not simply transplanted British.
The First World War starts up; Canada is involved whether she wants to be or not - thank you, England. She walks away from it thankful it's over, optimistic nothing that bad will ever happen again, and immensely proud of her people. For a few years, the world, from where Canada sits, is nearly at peace. The Second World War starts and Canada, defiant and using what power England has granted her, waits exactly a week before declaring war on Germany and beginning to mobilize to go to the aid of her mother countries. It's as much of a declaration of independence as anything else she's ever done and even if not many people comment on it, she knows and she knows her people know. And that's what matters. During the war, Canadians give her more and more reasons to be proud, as she stays in Europe nearly the entire time, never far from the front of the Allied lines. Finally coming out of that, she was disillusioned with the whole world, it would seem. Except for her Canadians, who never failed to make her proud.
Not long after the war came the Révolution tranquille, the secularization of Québec, something Canada completely supported. Her primarily francophone province deserved a little bit of quiet revolution, to get caught up with the rest of North America. This came along with Expo '67, a grand celebration of her centennial and an unexpected success. For a change, there was international focus on Canada and not just because her men knew how to kill. Best birthday present ever. But within three years, the revolution has gone too far. The Front de libération du Québec was steadily moving from simply a socialist party to a full-on terrorist group. They demanded sovereignty, reawakening one of the oldest rivalries Canada knew among her people, between the French and English. Except this was far more complex, the French and possibly the Soviets against Canada and everything she stood for.
On October fifth, 1970, British Trade Commissioner James Cross was kidnapped by members of the FLQ, sending the nation into a state of panic. Five days later, Québec's Minister of Labour, Pierre Laporte, is kidnapped by another cell of the FLQ. On the thirteenth, Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau was asked in an interview just what sort of measures he would take to end this yet-to-be-named October Crisis, how far he would go to ensure a peaceful Canada. His response? "Well, just watch me."
It was then that Canada realized that even though her very small subarctic world felt like it was falling apart, she would always have people like him fighting for her. There was no objection from her when the War Measures Act was implemented for the first time in a time of relative international peace. The very next day, Minister Laporte is killed. It'll be from this time of unresolved crisis I'd like to play Canada from.
See also: Canada, History of Canada, October Crisis, Canada in Hetalia, Nyotalia.
Changes: In Nyotalia, America and Canada have far more different designs than in the original works. That there eliminates the constant mistaking of Canada for their neighbour to the South, making Canada a more distinctive individual, which, honestly, is a major running gag for Canada in Hetalia. Although not much is given by Himaruya concerning her personality, one thing of note is: that her bear and constant companion, Kumarie, is "scarier" than the male Canada's Kumajirou. Canada's generally laid-back, almost ditzy outlook on non-critical issues seems to be reflected in the rather lazy demeanour of Kumajirou. Continuing this connection even with inverse genders, it could very easily imply that while the female Canada and Kumarie have the same mellow and soft appearance, they're actually significantly feistier than their male counterparts. This, in a lot of ways, makes sense. Women are naturally more defensive of their "children" (land and people, in a Nation's case) and considering the strife women have endured for anything resembling gender equality in the Western World, a lady running things would have needed a bit more to her than a man. It should be noted that even in 2011, only one woman has held top office in Canada, politically speaking, and she only lasted 132 days before campaigning faux-pas got her passed over. While the thought it that we're a forward nation as far as women are concerned, there's still obviously a fine line between what is acceptable and what is not. This makes for a very convincing argument that a female Canada would have to have a bit more fire than a male one.
Personality: Almost any first impression of Canada is going to be that she's quiet, shy, and not much of a threat, as far as intimidating Nations go. That first impression would be about one-third right. She's fairly quiet, yes, but never when she has something she needs to say - conservation of words is her speciality, in stark contrast to America's constant mouth - and while she doesn't have much to say at World Meetings, if you catch her in a smaller group, she'll happy chatter or listen for as long as you want her to. She's incredibly friendly, so long as you look like you need or want it. As far as not being a threat goes, she will gladly give you references as to her Ass Kicking Potential and won't that teach you, Miss Cynical Sue?
If you listen to her, really listen, especially if she's in any sort of riled up state, she's got a sharp tongue and even if it's rude and she has to apologize for it later, she will say what's on her mind. Moments like this are rare, but more common with America than anyone else. Growing up sharing a continent has made Canada's neighbour to the south more apt to hear the Great White North than just about anyone else. As Canada is quick to point out when given the opportunity, though, this rarely means that America is listening. Another aspect of this facet of Canada's personality is that while the world is all but free to ignore or offend her as an individual, anyone with negative words or actions towards her country -- be it an offense to indigenous Canadians or recent immigrants from any other nation worldwide, once a human has chosen Canada for a home, she will defend and protect them for all she's worth. And, it should be noted, she's worth quite a lot. This is something England knows, both through colonization and through pulling the young Canada into wars as a vital party in the British Empire. Even disregarding Canada's involvement in wars prior to the twentieth century, her military contribution to the war efforts of her allies is incredibly significant. Many a battle in the Western arena of the World Wars would not have gone as well for the Allies had Canadian troops been absent. The Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic, featuring Germany's advanced submarines featured a significant turnaround as soon as Canadians were put in charge of it; from simply keeping par with the Germans to destroying any that threatened North America. You can ignore Canada all you want, but by god, don't you ever dare to forget about her soldiers and seamen. She is fiercely proud of her people for their involvement and success, even while a more personal part of her will forever be enraged at every European Nation that allowed that much death and destruction just happen. Just because she will never turn her back to someone asking for her help doesn't mean she has to be happy about it, by any means, and the scars she still bears from the fighting are emotional, physical, and still painful.
While entire generations of her people had their youth stolen by battle, much the same can be said for Canada herself. Conflict had been rampant in North America since colonization, of course, but internal struggle makes one grow up in a different way than international struggle does. Despite naming herself a country in 1867, on paper, she was still very much a ward of England until the World War Two. It was the Dominion of Canada, still young and quietly inexperienced, that entered into the fray, but it was the embittered and quietly fierce Canada, no dominion title, that fought and helped win that war. There could be no denying that the things she saw -- as a registered field nurse and a crossdressing soldier in the trenches and on the beaches during critical invasions, and as the voice of the nation at allied meetings -- changed her for better. Her confidence was more apparent following the Second World War, even if it rarely sees chance to manifest. A few ways that this defiant, independent spirit has show through, though, include her refusal to enter in on Britain's side in the Suez Crisis and the commissioning and eventual adoption of a flag unrelated to the Union Jack in 1965. Since, she has been more than proud of her maple leaf flag, and although many aspects of her culture and habits are influenced by years of French and British domination, she's stopped being too quiet to be completely ignored. The notion of peacekeeping proposed and propelled by Lester B. Pearson among the United Nations is a notion associated worldwide with Canada's peacekeeping efforts and she wouldn't have it any other way. She despises war. The fewer people dying over senseless, always avoidable violence, the better a place the world is, in her opinion. It's a stereotypically Canadian philosophy she's got no trouble embodying.
There are a few other stereotypes she projects quite well, of course. The most notable of these is probably her manners, polite almost to the point of annoying. Should she ever do anything warranting an apology -- including tiny things like getting pronunciation in a foreign language wrong or being in someone's way so that they walk into her -- she will apologize. It's generally nothing more than a quick, quiet, "sorry," before she goes on with her life and to some, that may give it an air of insincerity. That's not the case, though: she doesn't apologize for things she meant to do and the guilt would nag at her if she didn't apologize for her errors. The same can be said of her quiet little "thank you." Even if it's just a passing nicety, complimenting her beret or holding the door for her, she appreciates it, and is bound to tell you so. This is a combination of her upbringing -- France and England both know a thing or two about formality and grace -- and a deep-seated faith in "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She likes being thanked. A lot. And she appreciates when her grievances are addressed. Canada can thus only assume it's what everyone else wants, too.
Another stereotype she does not hesitate to embody is the nation's love of hockey. Since the beginning of the game, lacrosse from her natives and shinty from Scottish settlers, she's enjoyed watching and, when she could, playing. Playing with other women was simple enough: she used the name Margaret Williams and this lovely, carefree girl showed everyone how it was done, usually playing a forward position. Other times though, she would tuck her hair carefully up under her helmet, use the "look, I'm your country and you'll do as I say" line on whoever was organizing the reluctantly mixed game, and worked the net. It was easier to be a petite girl playing with a bunch of boys if they didn't know you were a girl, even if she was often older than all of her teammates combined. The absolute joy she gets from hockey - not to mention regional and seasonal variations of lacrosse and ringette - is always a welcome relief from whatever misery the world is throwing at her. Over long winters, she's taken up just about every snow or ice based pastime in history, and generally has fond things to say about every one of them, but mostly, it's the opportunity to interact with her people that she values. She doesn't make a deal out of who she is, neither boasting it or hiding it. On the whole, when people know, it's well receipted. But it still seems humbler, quieter, to her, to use a common name. Her philosophy is that she's just another Canadian, albeit one with more influence and ties to the country than is easy to explain.
Margaret Williams also comes out when Canada wants to do things with her people that are less fun than sports. In both major wars of the twentieth century, she served the Allies as Private Williams, field nurse, with a little bit of paper shuffling involved so it wouldn't be obvious she was the same, and hadn't looked like she'd aged a day. Her personal need to involve herself didn't end there, dressing in men's fatigues on more than one occasion to visit Canadian troops in the trenches or, fatefully, the D-Day landing. Although she suspected at least the other Allies knew she did this, she didn't discuss it with them. This was her people dying, so it was her business what she did to help. Although she'd been in battle before, it was these wars that enraged her, that made her so unspeakably proud of her people that forgiving the powers responsible for getting them killed wasn't entirely an option.
That anger, in the years that followed, will stay, even escalate on occasion. It will take until 1956 before she says anything following the relief of the Armistice, though. Defying both of her mother nations, the two who had both claimed so much of her, she refused to lose more perfectly fine Canadians to a pithy war. And though it was difficult, as the first time any grown child stands up to their parents or elder siblings, it was something she needed to do. It provides her with a greater sense of self, to know where her limits are and that she's capable of expressing them. The strength gained from demonstrations like that are exactly what's keeping the Nation together while Québec tries to almost literally break her in two.
Abilities: As with the other Nations, her well-being is more closely related to that of the country of Canada than her physical form. This can be both good and bad, considering that bad storms tend to result in head colds or flu, and troubles with French separatists affect everything from circulation in her hands to losing hair when it gets to extreme levels. On the upside, she is significantly harder to kill or wound in her physical body.
Sample: This post at dear_mun; this from a musebox RP. If requested, I'm happy to write more, or provide you with links to dressing room RP I've done with a female Canada set in 1949.
[sample/introduction vine post:]
Err... I wonder if there's anyone around that can help me.
[Canada's voice is soft, terribly polite, and featuring R's that curl in all the right way to be French and vowels that swoop just enough to probably be Irish. Maybe Scottish, the harder ones. But she's certainly Canadian, if you're familiar at all with those.]
It's just, the vine seemed awfully friendly and while that's not really impossible to believe, I'm not used to strange places being friendly with me. O-or strange places at all, really. This certainly doesn't look like North America. Or anywhere I've been in the British Isles, so I've definitely wound up lost somehow and that's a problem because I really need to be home right now.
And... [Here, she sounds a little less formal. If you knew her in her youth, it's a meek little "sister pulled my pigtail (and so I may have bit her)" voice. Because, honestly, how many people have to admit to having lost their bear, at her age?] I think I've lost my bear. She's white, medium-sized, not very good at making friends. If you see her, let me know? Thank you.