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Land, Indigenous peoples, settlers, and today’s communities.

Since time immemorial, Ancestors of the people called K’ómoks today consisting of the Pentlatch, Ieeksan (eye-ick-sun), Sasitla (sa-seet-la), Xa’xe (ha-hey) and Sathloot (sath-loot) people have been the caretakers of this land, which they called the “Land of Plenty.” This Land of Plenty stretched from what is known today as Kelsey Bay in the north, down to Hornby and Denman Island in the south, and included the watershed and estuary of the Puntledge River, also acknowledging that these boundaries and place names are colonial constructs.

The K’ómoks First Nation refer to the lands between the bays of Comox and the Beaufort mountain range as the path between, it was a travel and trade route to the Alberni corridor and a connection to the indigenous communities on the western side of the island.

Land agreements included the 1884 Settlement Act stripped these lands for its caretakers. At the Museum we acknowledge that we are a colonial created institution, and I would like to thank Charlene Everson, Emily Shopland and Violet Williams for guiding the museum in early discussion on what reconciliation could mean for our organization and how we could create actionable steps; in maintaining a positive dialogue with a forward focus, sharing contemporary K’omoks narratives, and incorporating First Nation languages where they felt it appropriate. Their time and guidance helped us gain insight and learn how to best support their voice in our museum’s walls. This is an ongoing process and we have so much more to learn.

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Photo of Foon Sien Wong at desk, 1940s
Photo of Wong Foon Sien at writing desk (2017.038.011)
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Resistance & Resilience

Wong Foon Sien

A Bridge to the Western World

Wong Foon Sein was instrumental in the fight for reunification of Chinese families and lobbying for equal opportunities and rights for Chinese Canadians.

They (Orientals) cannot be assimilated. They will always exist as a foreign element in our midst…The races are fundamentally different. Their morals are different, and language, heredity, religion, and ideals will militate against and prevent even sociological assimilation."

W.G. McQuarrie (May 8, 1922)

Poster on Chinese Immigration [textual record]
Poster Regarding The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923. (190281)

The Controller shall have authority to determine whether an immigrant, passenger or other person seeking to enter or land in Canada or detained for any cause under this Act is of Chinese origin or descent and whether such immigrant, passenger or other person, if found to be of Chinese origin or descent, shall be allowed to enter, land or remain in Canada or shall be rejected and deported."
The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923. Ottawa. SC 13-14 George V, Chapter 38:. Pg. 306

C040-130i
Street scene of Chinatown, Cumberland B.C. 1930’s (985.044.005)

After decades of widespread anti-Chinese attitudes, the Chinese Immigration Act became law on July 1, 1923.

Commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, it virtually barred all Chinese immigration to Canada. Only university students, clergy, Canadian-born Chinese returning from study in China, and diplomatic and consular officials were allowed entry.

Its devastating effects rippled through every part of the Chinese Canadian community.
Between 1924 and 1947, less than fifty Chinese immigrants were admitted to Canada, while 62,213 departed, most returning to China. Gradually Chinatowns across the country shrunk. The residents who remained were old men who would never see their families again. Wives and children remained in China, dependent on the money sent by husbands and fathers who continued to live and work in Canada.

In the years of exclusion, members of the Chinese Canadian community actively fought to repeal this law, finally succeeding in 1947. By degrees, over several years, restrictions were lifted. In 1949 Chinese Canadians were allowed to sponsor children under 18 and parents over 60 to come to Canada. In 1957 punitive laws barring fiancees from entering the country were removed. Families that had been separated for decades were finally able to reunite.

In 1967 less discriminatory immigration policies were introduced. A points system removed some of the racial bias, prioritizing immigrants based on market needs and skilled and unskilled labour requirements.

The Call to Action

One of the most influential lobbyists at the forefront of this fight for justice was Wong Foon Sien.

Born in Guangdong, China between 1899 -1902, Wong Foon Sien arrived in Canada in 1910, travelling to Canada with his mother and older brother.

While immigrants from Europe were met with open arms, a smile and a handshake, those from China were met with hostility. Wong Foon Sien along with his fellow Chinese passengers were thrown into an ‘immigration detention shed.’

Called a ‘pig’ by the guards, he had his long braid of hair cut off. This “queue" was worn by all Chinese males as a sign of loyalty to the emperor. Foon Sien’s father was forced to travel down from Cumberland and bribe the interpreter who had refused to translate that the family were merchant class and therefore exempt from paying the $500.00 per person “head tax”.

Portrait of Foon Sien Wong
Photo of Foon Sien Wong 1940’s (2017.038.010)

A warm welcome to Canada then…
Did this experience shape the man that he grew to become, motivating him to save his fellow Chinese immigrants from the same treatment?

His father owned the Qwong (or Kwong) Mee Lung Company, which was a general store that also sold herbal goods. As a youth, Foon Sien would help around the store.

"When I was just a small little boy, my family ran a store in Cumberland and at Chinese New Year, we closed the store for two weeks and we decorated it with candles and scrolls and banners and we served our friends drinks and sweetmeats inside…Oh yes, those were the good old days."
Wong Foon Sien as quoted in John Kirkwood, “Chinatown honors Foon Sien” The Province, August 13, 1971.

His parents hoped that he would return to China to pursue traditional Chinese studies, but fate had other plans for Foon Sien.

Business Registration for Quong Me Lung Ying Lee Store in Chinatown, Cumberland B.C.
Business registration for Quong Me Lung Ying Lee Store in Chinatown, Cumberland B.C. (2017.038.019)

The Saviour

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s visit to Cumberland in February 1911, lit a flame in Wong, inspiring him to study law. After finishing high school with Honours in Cumberland, he became one of the first five Chinese students to attend the University of British Columbia.

Foon Sien Wong Collection
Honour roll certificates from Cumberland Public School to Foon Sien (2017.038.006)

No Chinamen or Indian shall have his name placed on the register of voters of the province of British Columbia may not make application to have their names inserted in any list of voters for any electoral district, or be entitled to vote at any election of a member to serve in the Legislative Assembly of this province.”

Canada, British Columbia. Qualifications and Registration of Voters, 1875. Victoria. Victoria, Chapter 66:, pg. 181

B.C. Legislation prohibited non citizens from being licensed to practice many of the professions, including law.

Undeterred, Wong persisted.

His ability to speak fluent English, Cantonese and Mandarin and read and write Chinese characters allowed him to keep his dream alive, and in 1924 Attorney-General, A.M. Manson employed Wong as an official court interpreter.

Although not a practicing lawyer, Foon Sien had managed his way into the province's courts.

Shortly afterwards, he established the Kwong Lee Tai Company. Employing Chinese interpreters, the company handled both civil and criminal cases with occidental people.

Job Confirmation Letter for Interpreter Position with Provincial Police (Foon Sien)
Job confirmation letter for interpreter position with Provincial Police (Foon Sien) (2017.038.029)

A passionate member of the Chinese community, Foon Sien had personally experienced racial injustice and discrimination. His involvement in translating for the white kidnappers of the Chinese servant Wong Foon Sing brought him to national prominence during the Janet Smith trial in 1925. There was an arrest, torture, kidnapping and scandal, but charges were eventually dropped against Foon Sing for lack of evidence and there were no lasting repercussions for Foon Sien.

While Foon Sien advocated for Chinese rights in BC’s courtrooms, tensions between China and Japan grew. Things reached a breaking point in 1937, marking the beginning of the second Sino-Japanese war. The Chinese Benevolent Association turned to him to help raise awareness of the conflict to Canadians.

As the CBA’s Publicity agent, Foon Sien campaigned in support of China. Vancouverites, British Columbians, Canadians were prompted to buy Chinese made products to support the country’s economy. He published ads in the Vancouver Sun and spearheaded a successful campaign to halt exports of scrap metal to Japan.

His fierce fight to support China in the Sino-Japanese war from across the Pacific led to the Japanese government labeling Wong as ‘Japan’s No.1 enemy in North America.’

During the Second World War, the Department of National War Services recruited his help to censor mail and telegraphs from China to ensure the protection and safety of the country's war efforts.

Foon Sien’s focus had always been in promoting equality for his countrymen and women. He worked to break down barriers, both socially and constitutionally, that had restricted their opportunities in Canada.

In 1944 Wong petitioned for Chinese Canadians’ right to vote in British Columbia’s elections.

In 1947, after three years of sustained pressure, Chinese Canadians finally gained the right to vote in federal elections. As accurately forecasted by Foon Sien, they were granted a voice in BC elections in 1949.

CC_TX_279_007ii
Petition to the government of B.C. and the dominion of Canada (CC_TX_279_007)

His focus now shifted to the Chinese Exclusion Act.

It would be a great boon to aging Chinese Canadians if they could bring youngsters to Canada to give them the advantages of a better standard of living and way of life here. Not only would this make up in part for the sacrifices these men have made in being separated from their families for so long, but it would provide Canada with a fine new type of Chinese citizens who would rapidly assimilate the culture and traditions of this country."

Wong Foon Sien, “Around Chinatown,” Chinatown News, 3 June 1955.

The racist act that targeted Chinese peoples, impeded family reunification, community development, economic equality and social integration was finally repealed in 1947.

The repeal placed Chinese immigration under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Act in the category of Asian immigration. Asian immigration as a whole was limited to spouses and unmarried children aged 18 or younger of men already living in Canada.

Why did this movement mean so much to Foon Sien?

He was a man of contradictions. Not traditional enough with his North American education and upbringing, but not modern enough for Chinese Canadians who had been born here, he walked a fine line to prove himself. For all his prominence as an interpreter and bridge between the Chinese and white communities, most of the positions held by Foon Sien were not salaried and did not provide enough money to support his family.

He was an idealist, and practicalities such as paying rent or buying food were not his priority. Raised and supported as a merchant’s son, money was not important to him. He relied on the kindness of friends and family to deal with day to day expenses. His first wife Chan Shee died in 1930 and left two young children for him to raise. His second marriage was outside the Chinese community, to Joan Champney, a white woman. They didn’t live in Chinatown, further removing Foon Sien from the Chinese he represented.

In 1948 he became the co-chairman of the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA). Foon Sien lobbied for greater rights for Chinese Canadians and the removal of the punitive immigration restrictions placed upon prospective Chinese immigrants.
He journeyed across Canada to Ottawa eleven times between 1948 and 1959 to lobby Federal politicians. Foon Sien was articulate, vocal and outspoken, often appearing in the media promoting the CBA’s cause.

For many years Foon Sien would host VIPs he was courting in the Chinese and white communities at restaurants in Vancouver Chinatown like the W K Gardens, owned by the Lim brothers from Cumberland. Most of his meals were at restaurants in Chinatown and it was understood that the meals for Foon Sien and any guests were complimentary, part of the cost of doing business. Restaurant owners happily obliged to ensure Foon Sien was able to advocate on their behalf. Meanwhile, Joan had a menial factory job that paid the bills at home. Joan was also often at events that navigated white and Chinese social settings, representing Foon Sien in 1953 as part of the B.C. delegation invited to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

60589
Wong Foon Sien accepting award (60589)

We are frankly the victims of discrimination. Since 1950, less than 20,000 Chinese have been admitted to Canada. In that same period, approximately 1.8 million immigrants from other countries have found peace and refuge and inspiration in this country."

Wong Foon Sien

His persistence resulted in steady improvements in immigration laws and lifted restrictions placed upon Chinese Canadians and Chinese immigrants.

In 1955, the age restriction for dependents was increased from 18 to 25, enabling further family reunifications.

In 1957 Wong was instrumental in shifting the imbalance of Chinese men and women by persuading the government to allow Chinese men who had lived in Canada for two or more years to sponsor fiancees and marry in Canada.

But suspicion against Chinese immigrants continued. In 1959 the RCMP and the Canadian Immigration Department investigated an alleged racketeering operation by members of the Chinese Canadian community. It was alleged that Chinese immigrants were being illegally smuggled into Canada.The RCMP raided homes and businesses, seizing over 30,000 passports, visas and other crucial documents. Foon Sien’s home in Kitsilano was also raided, due to his involvement in immigration sponsorships.

They (the police) are checking every man, woman and child. In my mind, I think it is destruction of human rights and dignity, and, to us, a loss of civil liberty."

Wong Foon Sien as quoted in Wong, Larry, “The Life and Times of Foon Sien”, British Columbia History 38 (3), 2005. pg. 8.

Barrages of systemic racism didn’t deter Wong, and he continued to push for his fellow countrymen and women in their fight for justice.

No similar barriers are erected against any other nationality!"

Wong Foon Sien

Foon Sien’s fight for justice led to hundreds of family reunifications after decades of separation.

The experience of a small boy locked up in a cell, bullied, taunted and threatened with deportation and the fear of losing connection with his own parents all those years ago, had shaped his entire working life.

In 1960 Wong retired from his position as the co-chairman of the CBA, leaving the fight to younger members of the Chinese Canadian community.

Our idea was to ask the government to put a more humane concept into its immigration laws to allow Chinese to enter Canada on almost the same terms as European immigrants. This is not the same as asking for complete equality. We do however; feel that relatives such as direct descendants should be allowed in the country irrespective of age."

Wong Foon Sien as quoted in Larry Wong, “An Era Comes to an End.” Chinatown News, 3 February 1960.

He was a complex and controversial man. A poet, a visionary, a dreamer and a man dedicated to his community. He had his detractors, but after Wong Foon Sien passed away on the 31st July, 1971, hundreds of people lined the streets in Vancouver to honour him.

Newspaper Clippings on Wong Foon Sien’s death
Collection of newspaper clippings regarding the death of Foon Sien (2017.038.009)

[T]housands of Chinese Canadians were able to join their families and take up residence in Canada today, thanks to a tenacious fighter named Foon Sien."

Bill Kan, Chinatown News (1971).