However, by way of introduction, I will point out how the history of the ``Canayens'', who became French Canadians-before a group of them became Quebecers-is one of being torn between the will to survive and the daily heroism that is impossible and that explains assimilation when it takes place rapidly, and this heart-
J'aurai cependant un mot d'introduction pour souligner combien l'histoire des Canayens devenus Canadiens français-avant qu'une portion d'entre eux deviennent Québécois-est tiraillée entre la volonté de survivance et l'héroïsme quotidien qui est impossible et qui explique l'assimilation quand elle est rapide, et d'autre part, ce