[BCMA] Britannia Mine Museum Pays Tribute to Japanese Canadians With Special Exhibit to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of WWII Internment

Wed Feb 29 14:15:42 PST 2012

For Immediate Release
February 29, 2012

Britannia Mine Museum Pays Tribute to Japanese Canadians With Special
Exhibit to 
Commemorate 70th Anniversary of WWII Internment

Stolen Lives: Remembering the Japanese Canadian Internment

Joint Initiative with Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre Special Photo
Exhibit Runs until April 6

Britannia Beach, BC  The Britannia Mine Museum has introduced a special
photo exhibit to pay tribute to the thousands of Japanese Canadians who were
interned during World War II. 2012 marks the 70th Anniversary of the
internment when in 1942, after the Pearl Harbor attack, the War Measures Act
in Canada forced thousands of people ³of Japanese racial origin² to leave
their homes, including people who lived at Britannia. Through striking
photos and subtle artefacts, ³Stolen Lives: Remembering the Japanese
Canadian Internment² is a joint initiative with the Nikkei National Museum &
Cultural Centre and will run until April 6, 2012.

³The Britannia Mine plays an important role in BC¹s history and it is
crucial for us to honour those who sacrificed their livelihoods in our past,
especially during WWII,² says Diane Mitchell, Curator of Education &
Collections at the Britannia Mine Museum. ³Our Stolen Lives: Remembering the
Japanese Canadian Internment exhibit is a tribute to all the Japanese
Canadians who were interned during WWII, including the families who lived
and worked at Britannia. This is something we all Canadians should remember
in order to create awareness and prevent it from happening again in the
future.²

The exhibit at the Britannia Mine Museum also includes two original art
pieces created especially by Arleigh Wood. Wood¹s grandmother lived in
Britannia when she was younger before moving to Vancouver and was interned
at Greenwood, British Columbia, where Wood¹s mother was born.

In addition, during spring break between March 10  15, the Museum will have
interpreter-led activities at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The family friendly
programs during spring break will be themed around Japanese culture to
support the ³Stolen Lives: Remembering the Japanese Canadian Internment
exhibit. Kids will be able to learn how to make traditional Japanese
origami, Japanese kites, and watch special drumming performances by the
Sansho Taiko drumming group.

History of Japanese Canadian Internment:
Before World War II, Japanese Canadians faced racism and discrimination. In
1942 during WWII, after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the War Measures
Act in Canada forced almost 22,000 Canadians of Japanese descent outside a
100-mile protected area on the British Columbia coast. This came, despite no
evidence to suggest they were a threat to national security.

They were forced to leave behind their friends, jobs, homes, savings,
businesses and most of their possessions. These were later sold off by the
Government for a fraction of their worth. Innocent men, women and children
were uprooted and sent inland to internment camps throughout British
Columbia. Many families were separated when the men were sent to road camps,
or to work in the Prairies, due to a labour shortage.

Living conditions were appalling, and people suffered from poverty, hunger,
overcrowding and the harsh elements for at least four years. The conditions
were so poor that the Red Cross sent provisions and even donations from
war-torn Japan arrived for those in the camps.

Years later, people were gradually released from camps if they agreed to
move east of the Rocky Mountains. However, they encountered severe hostility
from the public. Some of them were deported back to Japan as part of a
repatriation campaign by the Canadian government.

It wasn¹t until 1988 that the Canadian government announced a Redress
Settlement to acknowledge and apologize for the injustices against Japanese
Canadians during and after World War II.

³The history of Japanese Canadians vividly reminds us all that human rights
can not be taken for granted, even in a democracy like Canada. Although 70
years have passed since the Japanese Canadian internment, the effects of
displacement continue to resonate within the community and subsequent
generations,² says Beth Carter, director and curator of the Nikkei National
Museum & Cultural Centre. ³We are pleased to work together with the
Britannia Mine Museum to honour the perseverance and dedication of the early
pioneers. Through remembering, we hope that such events will never happen
again in Canada.² 

The Britannia Mine Museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
with guided tours throughout the day. For tickets and information, visit
www.britanniaminemuseum.ca <http://www.britanniaminemuseum.ca> .

About the Britannia Mine Museum:
The Britannia Mine Museum, which is both a National Historic Site and a BC
Historic Landmark, was established in 1971 to celebrate the contributions of
mining and minerals to society, the history of the storied Britannia Beach
community and the ideas and practices of environmental renewal and
sustainability. It is a premier, non-profit organization that promotes
mining awareness through entertaining, experiential education programs,
important historic collection preservation and insightful public engagement.
Governed by the Britannia Beach Historical Society, the museum provides
visitors with a unique blend of experience, serving as a tourist
destination, an adventure attraction and education venue that allows guests
to leave with a better understanding of mining in BC; past, present and
future. www.britanniaminemuseum.ca <http://www.britanniaminemuseum.ca>

About the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre:
The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is an incorporated non-profit
and charitable society which is community-based and primarily volunteer-run.
Its mission is to preserve and promote Japanese Canadian history, arts and
culture through vibrant programs and exhibits that connect generations and
inspire diverse audiences. In addition to public programs and exhibits,
Nikkei Centre provides community services, weekly cultural programs,
produces several publications, and makes our facilities available for public
use and special events. www.nikkeiplace.org <http://www.nikkeiplace.org>

-30-
Media contact:

Yvonne Chiang, Publicist
Britannia Mine Museum
604-880-5090
E: yvonne at blueskycommunications.ca <mailto:yvonne at blueskycommunications.ca>
W: www.britanniaminemuseum.ca

T: www.twitter.com/BritanniaMine
F: www.facebook.com/BritanniaMineMuseum
<http://www.facebook.com/BritanniaMineMuseum>

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