Gold Mountain Diversity Quotes

In the early immigration, the Fraser River gold rush is perhaps the largest event. It was an overall positive event, and the Chinese were a large part of the business of the time. They were entrepreneurial and established themselves selling things that were important to the miners, importing goods, growing food, and building infrastructure. Stores similar to the Wong Toy & Co. one would’ve existed then. The head tax period was obviously dominated by the creation of the Chinese Head Tax, similar to other anti-Chinese taxes throughout the world. This was a major step backwards in Chinese Canadian history, and the backwards thinking of it all was best illustrated as they continued to immigrate along the very railroad they helped build. Canada

In his article, Christopher argue the process and influence of the “1885 Chinese Immigration Act” by talking about the history of Chinese migrants in Canada, how did Canada turn its back on those people, how they were treated in Canadian society and the senators who defense for Chinese Canadians. The author Christopher G. Anderson is a researcher who works Canada’s immigrant history, and the entrance of Chinese is a significant event during late 19th century until early 20th century. In this summary, I will talk about how did Canada betray those people and how did they fight back.

Canada is often referred to as a nation of immigrants, however, for a long period of time these immigrants came from a limited side of the world. Most people who migrated to the Dominion before the turn of the twentieth century left European nations, predominately the British Isles and Western Europe. The pattern of immigration began to shift particularly in the 1890s, as it became more likely for southern and eastern Europeans to make the trip. Additionally, another notable change in the pattern of immigration was the increase in Asian workers beginning to arrive in the first couple of decades after Confederation. As a result of the influx of immigrants entering Canada, racism flourished in a variety of ways from individual acts of

Around the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, British Columbia was in a period of economic explosion. Those who were willing to work hard could find many opportunities. At this time, gold was found in British Columbia and Canada became dependent on workers to finish making the transcontinental railway. Many lumbering, coal mining and fishing business were not experiencing enough growth to match the needs of the society. This portrayed Canada as a place of opportunity and settlement for Asians whose homelands were becoming overcrowded. Sadly, the early pioneer years were extremely difficult for Asian immigrants due to the extensive racism and barriers keeping them from full participation of the Canadian

Canada as nation failed to assimilate the immigrants, minorities and Aboriginal individuals into society. Legislations like the Indian Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Immigration Act, and Multicultural Act were introduced to help reduce the more recognizable forms of racial discrimination. Canada may believe that they are a nation that is justice and diverse however it failed to fix the core issues that made Canada to what it is today. The laws and regulations are a temporary fix to the problem, and Canada national building was originated in a corrupt and immoral way. Each historical events in Canada are linked together that made up Canada`s identity. Though they seem to be unconnected it indicates the hidden agenda Canada

Canada, as we currently know it, is a country that was built by settlers. Through numerous amounts of settlements and constant immigration from locations all over the world, Canada’s populations have quickly become diverse and multicultural. However, while the country presently prides itself on its multiculturalism, there is a history of racism and massive cultural genocide to avoid this acceptance for a multicultural country. This is heavily reflected in Canadian literature throughout different periods of times, beginning with the Aboriginal tribes who were forced to assimilate to European culture. Through the examination of texts that prominently reflects different cultures within Canada, one can understand the beginning rejection of cultures

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” - Thorin Oakenshield, The Hobbit This quote sums up what I hope to find someday over the proverbial rainbow – a world in which everyone does value food and cheer and song, family and community and country, above “hoarded gold” Throughout the pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the lesson learned is that seeking after treasure can end in disaster, if one is not willing to share what he has found. Thorin Oakenshield, a Dwarf King, and his Company of loyal followers, journey to the Lonely Mountain and recover their stolen gold from the dragon

In the early 1900’s immigration to Canada was only granted for those who seemed to suit the Canadian parliament’s view and description of a “Valuable immigrant”. The government’s description on an immigrant with value was: “Someone who was a capable farmer, flexible, hardworking and able to withstand extremes in climate.” However the catch was that people outside of most British nations and people of color, were not welcomed to migrate to Canada. For instance, people of Asian background were charged a “head tax” of $200, while people of south Asian backgrounds weren’t even considered to be looked upon as potential immigrants’. It wasn’t until the Immigration Act of 1976, which granted people permission from around the world to migrate to Canada. This act was directed and created by Canada’s 15th Prime

dating back to the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the late nineteenth century for the CPR railway construction.5 Political and Lobbyist groups such as the WCA (White Canada Association) were formed to “combat the evils” of the Asian population within B.C..6 Politically, using the ‘Asian problem’ as a platform was a easy and strong way to swing votes from racially paranoid and anti-Asian whites in British Columbia. For example, in the 1935 federal election, both the Conservative and Liberal candidates ran smear campaigns accusing the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (which would evolve into the New Democratic Party) of being pro-Asian.7 At the center of the anti-Asian movement in British Columbian politics was the former minister of national defense, now the M.P. for Vancouver Downtown and federal minister of pensions and health, Ian Mackenzie. He openly supported the WCA and its racially charged slogans. Additionally, he strongly supported banning Asian enlistment into the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) and used his personal friendship with the current head of the the Department of National Defense to make sure Asians were barred from military service.8 As B.C.’s senior cabinet minister, Ian Mackenzie played an integral role in the Governments eventual decision to deport and intern British Columbia’s ethnic Japanese.

The period of 1914 to 1939, Canada’s immigration policy got very unfair. Changes were made to the Immigration Act in 1914 that allowed the rejection of anyone from any race that was deemed

Canada is presently known for welcoming many racial groups into the country. However, the Canadian government is not always giving out warm welcomes to different ethnicities. During World War Two, the country rejects many Japanese and Italians who are already Canadian. The treatment of the Japanese and Italians in the Second World War is very unjust. The two groups face being put into internment camps against their own will, the government separates families and force men to work on farms with little pay. The government of Canada also mistreat the Japanese and Italian Canadians because they are full of fear and superstition.

the First Nations were criticized and judged for moving to Canada and keeping their own cultural beliefs. The natives held onto their religion and culture because it was a part of them and their past and they also would not give it up willingly because they have been through too much to give up. “The federal government and most non-native Canadians believed that life for the First Nations people would be greatly improved if they gave up their culture and became part of mainstream, Christian Canadian”(Freeman-Shaw, Hastings-Winner 38). Canadian society was so full of itself that they considered everyone else and their culture to be less than their own. The Canadians thought everyone would be happier if they shared to same religion and beliefs

Over the past decades, Aboriginal people (the original people or indigenous occupants of a particular country), have been oppressed by the Canadian society and continue to live under racism resulting in gender/ class oppression. The history of Colonialism, and Capitalism has played a significant role in the construction and impact of how Aborignal people are treated and viewed presently in the Canadian society. The struggles, injustices, prejudice, and discrimination that have plagued Aboriginal peoples for more than three centuries are still grim realities today. The failures of Canada's racist policies toward Aboriginal peoples are reflected in the high levels of unemployment and poor education.

The Gold Rush in British Columbia (B.C) marked the beginning of Canada’s multicultural society. It saw the mass immigration of foreign workers (particularly those from China and other Asian nations), dispersion of Native Americans, and intrusion of poor and middle class europeans seeking riches in the rumoured “El Dorado”. The exhibit attempted to argue these points through its much anticipated “Scholarly Insight” panel, titled Why study a gold rush? The panel identifies three key themes regarding the outcome of the B.C. Gold Rush: that it connected Canada to the rest of the world through the Pacific-Rim, it sparked mass immigration which caused conflicts amongst different ethnic groups, and the Gold Rush was the event that truly united Canada coast to coast. These points were also explored in Christopher Douglas Herbert’s article, A New Take on An Old Town. Exploring the impact through the Cariboo Gold Rush, many parallels can be drawn between the two events, particularly among the economic importance of the the territory to the nation of Canada.

As a nation, Canada is known to the rest of the world for being thoughtful, polite, and generally very accepting of all ethnicities and people. However, the treatment of Canada’s Indigenous population, Japanese Canadians, African American and Indigenous slaves seems to suggest otherwise. Canada's dark past may not be talked about often, but there are three main events that targeted specific ethnic groups which still affect those people today. Residential Schools led to major negative cultural consequences, as well as psychological and sociological effects. Japanese-Canadian Internment Camps were used to strip Japanese Canadians of their rights because of the World War II bombing of Pearl Harbor. And finally, for two centuries slavery was legal in New France, and in Lower Canada under British rule. Human beings were being held captive and were owned by many people, including governors, bishops, military officers, priests, and blacksmiths. All of these terrible consequences can be accredited to Canada’s imperialistic policies.