Japanese Canadian Internment | Narrated by David Suzuki
Summary
TLDRIn 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, over 22,000 Japanese Canadians faced escalated anti-Asian racism and were viewed as enemies. The Canadian Pacific Railway and other industries fired Japanese Canadian employees, and their properties were seized. Men aged 18 to 45 were interned in camps, and later, all Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to camps with harsh conditions. They were forced to pay for their own imprisonment and lost their property without consent. Writer Muriel Kitagawa highlighted the injustice and suffering. It wasn't until 1988 that Prime Minister Brian Mulroney formally apologized and a comprehensive redress settlement was reached with the National Association of Japanese Canadians, aiming to rectify the wrongs and reconcile the community with their country.
Takeaways
- 📅 In 1941, there were 22,000 Japanese Canadians living in British Columbia, facing decades of anti-Asian racism that intensified after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- 🔍 Post-Pearl Harbor, Japanese Canadians were viewed with suspicion and hostility, leading to the loss of jobs and confiscation of property like fishing boats and radios.
- 🇨🇦 The Canadian government's fear of Japanese soldiers led to the internment of Japanese Canadian males between 18 and 45 in camps within the BC interior.
- 📉 Ian McKenzie, a federal cabinet minister, advocated for stricter measures against Japanese Canadians, reflecting the prevailing sentiment at the time.
- 🧳 In 1942, 21,000 Japanese Canadians were ordered to pack a single suitcase and were relocated to livestock barns, then to camps and towns across Canada.
- 💼 The working and living conditions in these camps were harsh, with low pay, and Japanese Canadians were even forced to pay for their own imprisonment.
- 🏡 On January 19, 1943, the federal government passed a law allowing the sale of all seized Japanese Canadian property without the owner's consent.
- 📝 Muriel Kitagawa, a writer at the time, captured the sentiments of fear and outrage among Japanese Canadians, highlighting the depth of their suffering.
- 🚨 The internment and property seizure of Japanese Canadians represented the largest mass exodus in Canada's history.
- 🙏 In 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney formally apologized to Japanese Canadians for their wartime internment and property seizures.
- 💼 A comprehensive redress settlement was reached with the National Association of Japanese Canadians to address the wrongs and grievances of the past.
Q & A
How many Japanese Canadians were living in British Columbia in 1941?
-There were 22,000 Japanese Canadians living in British Columbia in 1941.
What significant event happened on December 7th, 1941, that affected the perception of Japanese Canadians?
-The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, led to many viewing Japanese Canadians as enemies.
What actions were taken against Japanese Canadians by the Canadian Pacific Railway after Pearl Harbor?
-The Canadian Pacific Railway fired all Japanese Canadian employees within days of the Pearl Harbor attack.
What was the impact of the Pearl Harbor attack on Japanese soldiers and Canadian troops stationed in Hong Kong?
-After Pearl Harbor, Japanese soldiers overran Hong Kong, resulting in the death of 800 Canadians and brutal conditions for the remaining troops in Japanese prisoner of war camps.
What measures were taken by the Canadian government against Japanese Canadian males between the ages of 18 and 45?
-On January 14th, Japanese Canadian males between the ages of 18 and 45 were taken to camps in the BC interior.
What was Ian McKenzie's stance on the treatment of Japanese Canadians during World War II?
-Ian McKenzie, a federal cabinet minister from BC, called for stricter measures against Japanese Canadians.
What happened to Japanese Canadians' property after they were taken to camps?
-On January 19, 1943, the federal government passed a law authorizing the sale of all seized property without the owner's consent.
What was the living condition like for Japanese Canadians in the internment camps?
-The living conditions in the internment camps were harsh, with low pay and poor working conditions.
How did Muriel Kitagawa describe the government's actions towards Japanese Canadians?
-Muriel Kitagawa condemned the government's actions, stating that they could never measure the depth of hurt and outrage dealt to those who loved the land.
What was the significance of the redress settlement reached with the National Association of Japanese Canadians in 1988?
-The redress settlement in 1988 was a formal apology and compensation for the internment and seizure of property faced by Japanese Canadians during the war, aiming to put things right between the community and the country.
What was Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's statement regarding the apology to Japanese Canadians?
-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrongful incarceration, property seizure, and disenfranchisement of Japanese Canadians, emphasizing the difference between regret and a formal apology, and the need to put things right.
Outlines
😔 Japanese Canadians' Plight During WWII
This paragraph details the hardships faced by Japanese Canadians in British Columbia after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. With a population of 22,000, they were subjected to anti-Asian racism that escalated into hostility and violence. The Canadian Pacific Railway and other industries fired Japanese Canadian employees, and their fishing boats were seized along with their radios. The government feared they might aid the enemy. Japanese soldiers' actions in Hong Kong led to the deaths of 800 Canadian troops, further fueling anti-Japanese sentiment. Japanese Canadian males aged 18 to 45 were interned in camps, and later, 21,000 Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to livestock barns, then to camps with harsh conditions. The government also passed a law allowing the sale of their seized property without consent. The narrative includes personal accounts from Muriel Kitagawa, highlighting the emotional and financial toll on the community.
🏛️ Apology and Redress for Japanese Canadians
The second paragraph outlines the formal apology and redress process for the internment and property seizure of Japanese Canadians during WWII. Muriel Kitagawa is quoted expressing the depth of the community's hurt and outrage. The apology came almost 50 years later from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, acknowledging the wrongful incarceration, property seizure, and disenfranchisement. Mulroney emphasized the importance of facing historical facts and the difference between regret and a formal apology. The government sought to settle with the Japanese-Canadian community to rectify the injustices and announced a comprehensive redress settlement with the National Association of Japanese Canadians. This marked an effort to reconcile with the community and its descendants, allowing them to move forward without the burdens of past wrongs.
🎶 Unspecified Content
This paragraph appears to be a continuation of the narrative with musical interludes and laughter, but the content is not detailed. It seems to be a transition or an intermission within the video script, possibly indicating a shift in tone or topic in the subsequent parts of the video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Japanese Canadians
💡Anti-Asian Racism
💡Pearl Harbor
💡Internment
💡Canadian Pacific Railway
💡Ian McKenzie
💡Property Seizure
💡Lemon Creek
💡Redress Settlement
💡National Association of Japanese Canadians
💡Brian Mulroney
Highlights
In 1941, there were 22,000 Japanese Canadians living in British Columbia.
Anti-Asian racism had been prevalent for decades prior to World War II.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Canadians were viewed as enemies by many.
Within days of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Canadian Pacific Railway fired all Japanese Canadian employees.
Japanese Canadian fishing boats were seized, and radios were confiscated by the government.
Japanese soldiers overran Hong Kong, leading to the death and suffering of Canadian troops.
Japanese Canadians experienced increased hostility and acts of violence.
On January 14th, Japanese Canadian males aged 18 to 45 were taken to camps in the BC interior.
Ian McKenzie, a federal cabinet minister, called for stricter measures against Japanese Canadians.
21,000 Japanese Canadians were ordered to pack a single suitcase and were relocated to livestock barns.
Japanese Canadians were sent to camps and towns with harsh working and living conditions.
Ian McKenzie's slogan 'No Japs from the Rockies to the seas' reflects the sentiment of the time.
Yukiharu Misuyabu and his family were sent to Lemon Creek, where they faced forced payments for their own imprisonment.
On January 19, 1943, a law was passed allowing the sale of seized property without owner's consent.
Muriel Kitagawa described the hardships and the anticipation of further suffering.
The movement of over 22,000 Japanese Canadians was the largest mass exodus in Canada's history.
Muriel Kitagawa condemned the government's actions and the violation of rights of Japanese Canadians.
In 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney formally apologized for the internment and property seizure.
A comprehensive redress settlement was reached with the National Association of Japanese Canadians.
Transcripts
[Music]
oh
[Music]
in 1941 there were 22 000 japanese
canadians living in british columbia
there had been anti-asian racism for
decades but after the attack on pearl
harbor on december 7th they were now
viewed by many as enemies
yesterday
december 7th
1941
[Music]
a date which will live
in infamy
united states of america
was suddenly and deliberately attacked
by naval and air forces of the empire of
japan
within days the canadian pacific railway
fired all japanese canadian employees
other industries followed
twelve hundred fishing boats were seized
radios were confiscated the government
fearful that they might be used to
communicate with the enemy
immediately after pearl harbor japanese
soldiers overran hong kong where 2 000
inexperienced canadian troops were
stationed
800 canadians died and the rest suffered
brutal conditions in japanese prisoner
of war camps
when the news arrived in canada
japanese canadians felt the brunt of it
[Music]
muriel kitagawa a writer was 29 years
old at the time and a mother of two
we have been tempered for the
anti-japanese feelings these long years
she wrote to her brother it is only
intensified into overt acts of
unthinking hoodlumism like throwing
flaming torches into rooming houses and
bricks through plate glass
[Music]
on january 14th japanese canadian males
between the ages of 18 and 45 were taken
to camps in the bc interior
ian mckenzie a federal cabinet minister
from bc
called for stricter measures
[Music]
six weeks later twenty one thousand
japanese canadians were told to pack a
single suitcase and were taken to
livestock barns where they were
photographed and fingerprinted
eventually they were sent to camps and
towns in the bc interior and other parts
of canada and put to work
the pay was low and both working and
living conditions often harsh
let our slogan be for british columbians
ian mckenzie said
no japs from the rockies to the seas
yukiharu misuyabu and his family were
sent to lemon creek bc where 1700
japanese lived in small cabins
we were forced to pay for our own
imprisonment out of our own pockets a
requirement not even imposed on hardened
criminals
on january 19 1943
the federal government passed a law
authorizing the sale of all seized
property without the owner's consent
[Music]
muriel kitagawa wrote
we are tightening our belts for the
starvation to come the diseases
the twisting of our souls
death
would be the easiest to bear
[Music]
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
[Music]
[Music]
the movement of more than 22 000
japanese canadians was the largest mass
exodus in the country's history
muriel kitagawa condemned the
government's actions
you who deal in lifeless figures files
and statistics could never measure the
depth of hurt and outrage dealt out to
those of us who love this land it is
because we are canadians that we protest
the violation of our birthright
in 1988 almost 50 years after the fact
prime minister brian mulroney formally
apologized to japanese canadians for the
internment and seizure of property they
faced during the war
right honourable prime minister
mr speaker
nearly half a century ago
in the crisis of wartime
the government of canada
wrongfully incarcerated seized the
property
and disenfranchised thousands of
canadians of japanese ancestry we cannot
change the past
but we must as a nation have the courage
to face up to these historical facts
there is a world of difference between
regret
and a formal apology
canadians of japanese origin had their
rights trampled upon
the reputation of this country
was besmirched
since then mr speaker
the present government has sought
a settlement with the japanese-canadian
community to put things right
between them and their country
to put things right with the surviving
members of the japanese canadian wartime
community of some 22 000 persons
to put things right with their children
and ours
so that they can walk together in this
country burdened neither by the wrongs
nor the grievances of previous
generations
it is fitting
that representatives of the national
association of japanese canadians are
present in the visitors gallery on this
solemn occasion because today
mr speaker i have the honor to announce
on behalf of the government of canada
that a comprehensive redress settlement
has been reached with the national
association of japanese canadians
[Laughter]
uh
[Music]
do
[Music]
that's
[Music]
[Laughter]
uh
you
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