Excerpt from Of Japanese Descent: An Interim Report
Video
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Why do you think this film was made? Who do you think is the intended audience?
THINK
This film is considered a “documentary.” Does that label confirm, or differ from, what you think a documentary is? Explain your thinking.
THINK
Watch this video and the video about Mary Murakami Kitagawa’s experience. How do the descriptions of the internment camps differ between the two?
THINK
Does the film give us the Japanese Canadians’ perspective on forced relocation? If not, what might a film from their perspective look like?
Details
Date August 1945
Materials Transcript
Within the confines of New Denver, a few blocks from the business section, a large settlement has been built on the side of an old orchard and takes its name from it. Life in the Orchard is much the same as in the other spots.
Each small community has a committee to look after many of the details of living. The Orchard committee goes into session in its meeting place in the same building as the post office.
This man is using a Japanese style plane as he builds a boat for use in the lake nearby.
Home improvement work goes on constantly. A pumping station was necessary for fresh water, so effort was expended to make it decorated.
Life isn’t all work in the Orchard.
This is a tense moment in a game of Japanese chess.
As the village was built right on the shore of the Slocan Lake, a fine beach is available for swimming and sunning, with beneficial effects to health.
Relocation has resulted in an improvement in the general health level.
Historical Context
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- At the outbreak of the Second World War, the War Measures Act was invoked.
- A second piece of legislation — the Defence of Canada Regulations — gave the government the power to censor media and ban materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
- This documentary-style propaganda film from 1945 shows the relocation of Japanese Canadians in a favourable light, and reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the War Measures Act was invoked and the Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens.”
The government used the media to spread its messages. The Defence of Canada Regulations gave the government the power to censor the press and to ban, under threat of fines and imprisonment, materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
As with the First World War, people from enemy countries faced significant discrimination. This documentary-style propaganda film, released by the National Film Board of Canada in August 1945, features a favourable take on the forced relocation of more than 21,000 Japanese Canadians. The film reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
A week before Canada entered the Second World War on September 10, 1939, Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced to Canadians that preventative measures had been put in place. The War Measures Act was invoked and the Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens.”
The government used the media to spread its messages. The Defence of Canada Regulations gave the government the power to censor the press and to ban, under threat of fines and imprisonment, materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
When Italy (1940) and Japan (1941) entered the war on Germany’s side, newspapers enhanced fear, prejudice and discrimination against Canadians of Italian and Japanese origin.
This documentary-style propaganda film, released by the National Film Board of Canada in August 1945, features a favourable take on the forced relocation of more than 21,000 Japanese Canadians, which began in 1942. The film reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
- At the outbreak of the Second World War, the War Measures Act was invoked.
- A second piece of legislation — the Defence of Canada Regulations — gave the government the power to censor media and ban materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
- This documentary-style propaganda film from 1945 shows the relocation of Japanese Canadians in a favourable light, and reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the War Measures Act was invoked and the Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens.”
The government used the media to spread its messages. The Defence of Canada Regulations gave the government the power to censor the press and to ban, under threat of fines and imprisonment, materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
As with the First World War, people from enemy countries faced significant discrimination. This documentary-style propaganda film, released by the National Film Board of Canada in August 1945, features a favourable take on the forced relocation of more than 21,000 Japanese Canadians. The film reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
A week before Canada entered the Second World War on September 10, 1939, Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced to Canadians that preventative measures had been put in place. The War Measures Act was invoked and the Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens.”
The government used the media to spread its messages. The Defence of Canada Regulations gave the government the power to censor the press and to ban, under threat of fines and imprisonment, materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
When Italy (1940) and Japan (1941) entered the war on Germany’s side, newspapers enhanced fear, prejudice and discrimination against Canadians of Italian and Japanese origin.
This documentary-style propaganda film, released by the National Film Board of Canada in August 1945, features a favourable take on the forced relocation of more than 21,000 Japanese Canadians, which began in 1942. The film reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
Summary
- At the outbreak of the Second World War, the War Measures Act was invoked.
- A second piece of legislation — the Defence of Canada Regulations — gave the government the power to censor media and ban materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
- This documentary-style propaganda film from 1945 shows the relocation of Japanese Canadians in a favourable light, and reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
Essential
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the War Measures Act was invoked and the Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens.”
The government used the media to spread its messages. The Defence of Canada Regulations gave the government the power to censor the press and to ban, under threat of fines and imprisonment, materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
As with the First World War, people from enemy countries faced significant discrimination. This documentary-style propaganda film, released by the National Film Board of Canada in August 1945, features a favourable take on the forced relocation of more than 21,000 Japanese Canadians. The film reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.
In-Depth
A week before Canada entered the Second World War on September 10, 1939, Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced to Canadians that preventative measures had been put in place. The War Measures Act was invoked and the Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens.”
The government used the media to spread its messages. The Defence of Canada Regulations gave the government the power to censor the press and to ban, under threat of fines and imprisonment, materials that might harm national security or the war effort.
When Italy (1940) and Japan (1941) entered the war on Germany’s side, newspapers enhanced fear, prejudice and discrimination against Canadians of Italian and Japanese origin.
This documentary-style propaganda film, released by the National Film Board of Canada in August 1945, features a favourable take on the forced relocation of more than 21,000 Japanese Canadians, which began in 1942. The film reflects the prejudices of the federal government, and many Canadians, at the time.