What Or Who Is A Canuck?

[poki]

I've often heard this word in relation to Canadians...nobody i've talked to knows what or who a canuck is or the name origin...i'd like to know the meaning of the word in case it is an objectionable term since we have many Canadian visitors that i come in contact with and it's always helpful knowing what words/terms to avoid using.
Thanks poki B)  

[sneaky]

I`m Canadian and I`ve been called a lot worse than Canuck so go ahead, I will not be offended. Recently Canuckistani has been used as well.

[NewStrings]

Hi Poki,

Another Canuck here!!  Canadians don't mind the name Canuck, in fact we've even named one of our NHL hockey teams the Vancouver Canucks.  It's my understanding that it is just a nick name like "Yankee" is use to refer to Americans.  

So feel free to call us freezing, snow covered, homeland of Jean Larrivee people "Canucks"!!

NewStrings

[poki]

Thanks for the info folks.  i thought i remember seeing a hocky team named Canucks but we don't follow ice hocky here anymore than Canadians follow surfing...i'm glad to hear Canuck isin't an offensive term...i myself am a Katonk which refers to japanese americans who were born on the mainland US and moved to Hawaii...the story goes when the plane with the japanese americans flew over hawaii they were thrown out of the plane and went KATONK when they hit the ground...when i arrived from the mainland i was allowed to simply walk off the plane like everyone esle so i really can't vouch for the katonk story but i like the name anyway. :D
This Katonk bids all the Canucks Aloha
poki B)  

[Strummenhum]

I'm 'bluegrass-born,' (Kentucky) but does that mean I'm a hillbilly :o ? I have all my teeth, two college degrees and never dated much less married any relatives... I laughed out loud at the KATONK! story and Canuckistani term  

[poki]

I'm 'bluegrass-born,' (Kentucky) but does that mean I'm a hillbilly :o ? I have all my teeth, two college degrees and never dated much less married any relatives... I laughed out loud at the KATONK! story and Canuckistani term

Come to think of it, i've been in Kentucky myself so maybe that would qualify me to be a Hillbilly Katonk...that might explain why i've recently taken a liking to bluegrass music by Allison Krauss and the Union Station Band.  
poki B)