From the Editor

This special issue of JAF on Canadian folklore was conceived several years ago, when Pauline Greenhill and Peter Narváez began discussions with former JAF Editor Jack Santino. Thus, as with several other recent issues of JAF, this issue began with Jack but arrived at the JAF office at Missouri late last year. In many ways, this issue begs for response and dialogue.

While it is probably accurate to claim that "recent Canadian folklore/ethnology scholarship has been much more extensive in its recognition of bordercrossing than its American counterpart" ("Afterword," p. 283, this issue), the fact that JAF has published eight issues on Canadian folklore (according to Greenhill and Narváez, "Introduction," this issue), certainly points toward a sustained JAF interest in and respect for both the subject matter of Canadian folklore and for Canadian folklorists' work.

Although the introduction and afterword are more historical than reflective of this particular issue, we felt it was appropriate for the special editors to state their own interpretations of the Canadian relationship with AFS and JAF by providing their chronology of Canadian folkloristics and their views about how Canadian scholarship has been represented in the pages of JAF. Furthermore, the information provided here on the academic centers of folkloristics in Canada seems relevant for JAF readers, scholars, and students. Inheriting these articles as we did, we are pleased with the breadth and depth of the Canadian scholarship in this issue. Readers will find in these pages examinations of Chinese publications in Canada, dance, Canadian sports (lacrosse and hockey), folksong, food, and, throughout, a passion concerning Canadian identity and identity politics. The framing of this issue is bold and even confrontational, challenging readers on Canadian terms. Just as the opinions expressed in these pages are serious and heartfelt, we invite readers to respond in equally serious dialogue with the articles in this special issue. As always, responses will be considered for publication in the "Dialogues" section of JAF.