Immigration

Immigration can be a fairly dull topic in Socials 10 if you stick to the textbook platitudes. Students are supposed to learn about why people were immigrating to the area in the 1800's and how our immigration policy was initially shaped when Canada became a country.

There are two ways to make this more interesting and relevant.
1) Personal immigration stories. When each person in the class shares about how their family immigrated to Canada, it makes for a greater appreciation for the event. I will do another post later about the project I do in class.
2) Curent events and debate. Immigration is always a current issue. In previous years, there have been stories of "boat people" or "disguised old men" to spark discussion of immigration. Currently, the Globe and Mail is running a series on the issue with some ideas for discussion. I haven't read through it all, but looks like there are some good discussion ideas.

I fund that students are generally unaware that Canada allows some immigrants and not others or why.. It generally sparks good classroom discussion.

Emigrant Sifter

HAND PICKED ONLY

JACK CANUCK: I want settlers, but will accept no culls

Clearly some people at the time (this cartoon was published in 1907) realized that there was something afoot with Canada's immigration policy. In this cartoon, you will notice Jack Canuck (a caricature of the stereotypical Canadian) sifting out emigrants (likely based on race).

Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):

Great Canadian political cartoons, 1820 to 1914

Doukhobors

WELCOME TO THE DOUKHOBORS!

Jack Canuck - Welcome to happy homes in the freest land on earth, and may you all live long and prosper!

I like the details included in the background: "Adamzad the Suicide - Shedding his own best blood"

The history of Doukhobors in Canada is very intriguing, but perhaps a little off-topic for Socials 10. It is a chance to talk about an example of immigration from Eastern Europe in general or about the Russian Revolution that led to emigration of religious minorities from the area. It is interesting to note which immigrants Canada encouraged and why...

Of course, what students will usually fixate on with this cartoon is "Jack Canuck". They often only associate "Johnny Canuck" with the Vancouver Canucks hockey team, and don't realize it was based on a caricature of the stereotypical Canadian.

Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):

Great Canadian political cartoons, 1820 to 1914

Casualties of National Policy

SIR JOHN: (les pieds sure les Métis et le drapeau français): Allons, messieurs les sauvages, Voue êtes rendus au bout de mon territoire. Vous allez sauter dans l'eau du Pacifique ou travailler avec le reste des colons. Choississez.

Looking at what happened to the Métis and First Nations people in the settlement of Canada is not simply an exercise in historical revisionism. Not simply putting our current values and expectations and sense of justice on people of the past and blowing things out of proportion. Obviously someone (at the very least the author of this cartoon) realized that some injustice was transpiring in 1885.

The people of Québec sympathized with the Métis, as people who shared a common language and religion. (religion was likely the stronger of the two binds) The cartoon seems to indicate that the Métis got a worse shake than First Nations. They were trampled on, while the First Nations were simply displaced. But then asks the question of how far they can continue to be displaced before they are also eliminated...

Looking at political cartoons is valuable exercise in class. It allows you to discuss
- caricature and stereotype (in this case, John A MacDonald's nose)
- inferencing (in this case, the French flag and CPR in background)
- political events (in this case, National Policy)
- authorship and bias (this one was published in Québec)
- what people were thinking at the time (some people realized injustice was occurring at some level)
- French review (I get to practice my French accent)
etc.

Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):

Great Canadian political cartoons, 1820 to 1914