Racism in Racism in CanadaCanada

Canada in the 1920Canada in the 1920’’ss

RacismRacism

• What is What is ‘‘RacismRacism’’??– ““The belief that race accounts for The belief that race accounts for

differences in human character or differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is ability and that a particular race is superior to others.superior to others.””

• Racism is type of Racism is type of ““discriminationdiscrimination””..– unfair treatment of a person or group unfair treatment of a person or group

on the basis of prejudice on the basis of prejudice

Immigration in CanadaImmigration in Canada

• We saw that immigration was one of We saw that immigration was one of Sir Wilfrid LaurierSir Wilfrid Laurier’’s policies for s policies for prosperity in the 1900prosperity in the 1900’’s.s.

• By 1919, more than 20 percent of By 1919, more than 20 percent of CanadaCanada’’s population was composed of s population was composed of immigrants.immigrants.

• Recall that after WWI, Canada entered Recall that after WWI, Canada entered a recession, and jobs were scarce.a recession, and jobs were scarce.

• A public backlash against immigrants A public backlash against immigrants developed.developed.

Immigration Act of 1919Immigration Act of 1919

• In 1919, the government responded In 1919, the government responded by instituting the Immigration Act, by instituting the Immigration Act, which allowed Canada to restrict which allowed Canada to restrict undesirable immigrants.undesirable immigrants.

• The act set a preference for white, The act set a preference for white, English speaking Britons and English speaking Britons and Americans.Americans.

An Ox cart belonging to a Doukhobor family (Russian Christians)

• Immigrants who had Immigrants who had ““peculiar peculiar customs, habits, modes of living and customs, habits, modes of living and methods of holding propertymethods of holding property”” were were classified as undesirable. classified as undesirable.

• In 1923, Chinese were banned from In 1923, Chinese were banned from entering Canada, and Japanese were entering Canada, and Japanese were limited to 150 per year.limited to 150 per year.

• All black Americans were also turned All black Americans were also turned back.back.

The Chinese Immigration Act was passed by the federal government. This comprehensive piece of legislation was designed to exclude Chinese people from entering the country and regulate those already living there.

The Railway Agreement The Railway Agreement (1925)(1925)

• Despite this, between 1919 and Despite this, between 1919 and 1929, over 1.3 million immigrants 1929, over 1.3 million immigrants came to Canada.came to Canada.

• In 1925, the government passed the In 1925, the government passed the Railway Agreement.Railway Agreement.

• This allowed the Canadian Pacific This allowed the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway and Canadian National Railway to recruit immigrants Railway to recruit immigrants themselves.themselves.

Cheng Ging Butt -- 1858 to 1930: the CPR labourer, Yale store owner, temple president, orchardist and merchant, after whom Canadian Pacific Railway named an interchange in Kamloops, B.C., May 27, 2005.

Canadian Pacific Railway presents a plaque to Kevan Jangze, descendent of

Cheng Ging Butt

The Cheng Family (from left to right): Back row: William, Harry, Edward (Ted), and Henry. Front row: Timothy, Maurice, Mother (Lena Jang) and Cecil (on her lap), Father (Cheng Ging Butt) and Beatrice, Ellen, and Bevan. circa 1928Ref. Cheng Family photo supplied by Kevan Jangze.

The Native The Native ‘‘ProblemProblem’’

• Soon after Soon after confederation, Canadaconfederation, Canada’’s s first Prime Minister, first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald John A. Macdonald stated that the stated that the governmentgovernment’’s goal was…s goal was…– ““to do away with the tribal to do away with the tribal

system and assimilate the system and assimilate the Indian people in all Indian people in all respects with the respects with the inhabitants of the inhabitants of the Dominion, as speedily as Dominion, as speedily as they are fit to change.they are fit to change.””

• "I want to get rid of the "I want to get rid of the Indian problem. Our Indian problem. Our object is to continue object is to continue until there is not a until there is not a single Indian in Canada single Indian in Canada that has not been that has not been absorbed. They are a absorbed. They are a weird and waning weird and waning race...ready to break race...ready to break out at any moment in out at any moment in savage dances." savage dances." – Duncan Campbell Duncan Campbell

Scott, Deputy Scott, Deputy Superintendent of Superintendent of Indian Affairs from Indian Affairs from 1913-19321913-1932

Duncan Campbell Scott at home, May 10, 1927Ottawa (Ont.)

M. O. Hammond Black and white negative Reference Code: F 1075Archives of Ontario, I0001663

• To accomplish this, the government To accomplish this, the government developed the following policies:developed the following policies:– Any existing Native self-government was Any existing Native self-government was

not recognized by the Canadian not recognized by the Canadian governmentgovernment

– Native cultural expressions were banned. Native cultural expressions were banned. For example, PotlatchesFor example, Potlatches

– Aboriginal clothing and traditional dances Aboriginal clothing and traditional dances were forbidden at fairs and stampedes.were forbidden at fairs and stampedes.

– Residential schools Residential schools ‘‘preparedprepared’’ Native Native children for assimilation. children for assimilation.

PotlatchesPotlatches

• Potlatches were social occasions Potlatches were social occasions given by a host to establish or given by a host to establish or uphold his status position in society. uphold his status position in society.

Residential SchoolsResidential Schools

• The government was obligated to The government was obligated to provide schools, but they had the provide schools, but they had the church run them to save on costs.church run them to save on costs.

• The number of residential schools The number of residential schools peaked at 80 in 1931.peaked at 80 in 1931.

• The government made it compulsory The government made it compulsory for Native children aged 7 – 15 to for Native children aged 7 – 15 to attend the schools.attend the schools.

No contactNo contact

• Once in the schools, children were Once in the schools, children were not allowed contact with their not allowed contact with their communities. This supposedly communities. This supposedly increased the chances of assimilation.increased the chances of assimilation.

• In reality, after leaving the school, In reality, after leaving the school, students were still not accepted in students were still not accepted in Canadian towns, but now they were Canadian towns, but now they were no longer accepted in their own no longer accepted in their own communities.communities.

No languageNo language

• Students were prohibited from Students were prohibited from speaking their own languagespeaking their own language

• They were also prohibited from They were also prohibited from wearing their own clothing.wearing their own clothing.

• Native parents had no say over how Native parents had no say over how the school was run.the school was run.

St. Paul's Indian Industrial School, Middlechurch, Manitoba

DisciplineDiscipline

• Schools were often under-funded, but Schools were often under-funded, but the government did not change this.the government did not change this.

• In 1921, one incident was reported In 1921, one incident was reported where boys were strapped and then where boys were strapped and then chained to a bench.chained to a bench.

• Duncan Campbell Scott wrote a Duncan Campbell Scott wrote a directive forbidding this, but it had directive forbidding this, but it had no effect.no effect.

What Are We Doing What Are We Doing Now?Now?

• There are 80 000 people alive today There are 80 000 people alive today who attended who attended ““Residential SchoolsResidential Schools””..

• Many suffered trauma from their Many suffered trauma from their experiencesexperiences

• Much of aboriginal culture was lostMuch of aboriginal culture was lost• Educational opportunities were lostEducational opportunities were lost• Many faced Many faced ““forcible confinementforcible confinement””• Poor conditions in residential schoolsPoor conditions in residential schools

IRSRCIRSRC

• The government has created the The government has created the Department of Indian Residential Department of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada (IRSRC)Schools Resolution Canada (IRSRC)

IRSRCIRSRC

• Since May, 2006, the IRSRC has settled Since May, 2006, the IRSRC has settled with many former residents of residential with many former residents of residential schools and compensated them for the schools and compensated them for the injustice. See the injustice. See the settlement summary

• On June 11, 2008, the Prime Minister and On June 11, 2008, the Prime Minister and the leaders of the opposition parties all the leaders of the opposition parties all made formal apologies to the former made formal apologies to the former residents of residential schools in the residents of residential schools in the House of Commons. House of Commons. See video.. (Watch beginning; (Watch beginning; then go to 7:00)then go to 7:00)