124 British Columbia Women’s Institutes

By Mary M. BrouGHTon, Convener

Ethnic

Nationalities of many countries—principally English, Scotch, American,
Scandinavian—mixed to produce British Columbia as it is today.

Possibly best publicized are the English residents of Vancouver Island.
There the British settlers were given tracts of land and built their homes
and developed their living and recreation in typical English fashion. Gov.
James Douglas invited the unfortunate victims of the American Civil War
to settle undisturbed in a land of racial freedom. Many colored people
were happy to accept this invitation and settled on the warm Gulf Islands.

With the coming of the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1886, titled and
wealthy Englishmen settled in the Okanagan.

People from eastern Europe, seeking freedom of religion and expression
sought refuge in British Columbia in the beginning of the Century. Most
notable of these were the Doukhobors who settled in the south Kootenay,
and formed an integral part of our society. A Doukhobor Women’s Institute,
organized among a group of the Sons of Freedom sect who had moved
to Hilliers on Vancouver Island, was active for a time. A group of Mennon-
ites spent five years in the Arrow Lakes District, before moving on to more
permanent quarters in the Prairie Provinces.

A familiar type of coastline seems to have attracted Scandinavians to
our B.C. coast. A great number of Japanese settled on our Pacific Coast
to work mainly in canneries and do commercial fishing. During World
War 2, after Pearl Harbor, these people were evacuated from the coastal
area for security reasons and were placed in the West Kootenay in Green-
wood, Kaslo, Slocan City and Silverton, New Denver and Sandon where
housing was available in the old mining towns. From these centres the
Japanese eventually dispersed, some to Ontario and Alberta, some back to
the Coast, and many have stayed on in their environment, where they have
blended into the rural community life.

Many Dutch and German immigrants came, sponsored by British
Columbia between 1945 and 1955. The skilled German craftsmen and the
Dutch Agriculturists have made a good contribution to their communities.

The native Indians live on the reserves throughout the Province, and
in 1941 the firsts Homemakers Club was formed among the women on the
reserves. ;

The Chinese came to work in the Coal Mines on Vancouver Island in
the very early days, and their attempts at gold mining in the old placer
diggings, abandoned when the miners left for richer fields, is a matter of
gold mining history.

A National group which seems to adjust itself to Canada is that of the
Ukranians. They have retained their customs of joyful feasts and dancing
at Christmas, New Year and Easter. Older members of the group still wear
their national costume with head shawls, lavishly embroidered, and blouses
and full gathered skirts, all very colorful.