Exploitation Marginalization Injustice It all comes down to…

During the construction of the CPR railroad… The Canadian government was in huge debt… They needed to cut costs and build it as cheaply as possible

During the construction of the CPR railroad… We already know how the government exploited the First Nations people by not giving them the land promised to them in the Treaties, BUT…

Besides the exploitation of the First Nations people, what other minority group was exploited in the effort to cut costs in building the CPR Railroad?

Does anyone recognize this photo?

Who is missing from the picture? The Last Spike- November 7, 1885

Who’s missing? How about the over 17, 000 Chinese workers who came to Canada between 1881- 1884 to work on the railroad? They weren’t even invited to the ceremony…

Chinese CPR Workers They worked in difficult, dangerous and often deadly situations for- you guessed it- $ 1.00 a day …and they still had to buy their food and their camping and cooking gear! Chinese Workers in Kamloops, B.C.

Chinese CPR Workers In 1885, many Chinese workers were arriving in Canada, but the CPR was already finished. So, the government started charging new immigrants a $50 “Head Tax.” The “Head Tax” was supposed to discourage Chinese immigrants from coming to Canada

Chinese CPR Workers In 1900 the “Head Tax” was increased to $100 In 1903 it was increased again to $500 Finally in 1923, the government banned all Chinese immigration to Canada.

“Heathen Chinee: Why you send me offee? "The Heathen Chinese in British Columbia" from the Canadian Illustrated News, April 26, 1879 Caption: “Heathen Chinee: Why you send me offee? Amor De Cosmos: Because you can’t or won’t ‘assimilate’ [become absorbed into the larger society] with us. Heathen Chinee: What is datee? Amor De Cosmos: You won’t drink whiskey, and talk politics and vote like us.”

This cartoon appeared in the “B. C This cartoon appeared in the “B.C. Saturday Sunset” newspaper on August 24, 1907.

Kelowna in early 1900’s Your probably thinking...”Sure, sure, but this would never happen in Kelowna, right?” Wrong! Chinese workers came to Kelowna to work on the Kettle Valley Railway, which is a section of the CPR. Racism against Chinese immigrants was strong in Kelowna too!

Kelowna in early 1900’s Taken in 1905, this picture shows the bustling central Kelowna. Looking down this primitive street, imagine the downtown area of today.

Looking South along Bernard Avenue from Pandosy Street. Kelowna in early 1900’s Looking South along Bernard Avenue from Pandosy Street.

Kelowna in early 1900’s

Kelowna in early 1900’s

Kelowna in early 1900’s

Kelowna in early 1900’s

Kelowna in early 1900’s

Why did the Europeans (white people) think that acting this way was ok?

Eurocentrism Eurocentrism is the belief that Europeans held that they were biologically superior to other races. Therefore, it was considered acceptable to treat others with disrespect.

It all comes down to money… (and racism) In order to keep costs of the railway down, they had to pay their workers small salaries… the Chinese were willing to work for small wages because they had no other options. In the Shadow of Gold Mountain