December issue Bulletin 2020 Field School article
Learn Canada’s Internment History in the Places Where It Happened
Victoria-Vancouver-Hope-Greenwood-Kaslo-New Denver-Slocan Valley
Landscapes of Injustice in partnership with the University of Victoria, Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, NAJC and the Howard Green Foundation are pleased to offer the 2020 Canada’s Internment Era Field School July 12-24, 2020.
Taught by:
Jordan Stanger-Ross, Associate Professor of History and Project Director of Landscapes of Injustice and prominent leaders from the Japanese-Canadian community
One week on the Nikkei National Museum’s renowned bus tour of BC sites of internment
One week in-class at the University of Victoria
Enquire: Michael Abe mkabe@uvic.ca
Check out the website of one of the teacher/student group projects.
https://landscapesofinjus.wixsite.com/mysite
As a teacher, getting the chance to speak with Japanese Canadians who were interned or whose family were interned was an invaluable learning experience. Their honesty and willingness to share how this difficult history impacted their lives and their families will stay with me for a long time. The field school experience also gave me the knowledge and inspired me to teach this history to my students in a way that I think is meaningful and essential for citizenship education.
James M. West Vancouver School District and PhD candidate Curriculum, Teaching and Learning University of Toronto
I would tell a teacher to go for it, even if it is your summer break. Having this first-hand learning experience is really different than anything I have ever seen in a university class. It’s such a great experience to be able to work with the primary sources because we analyze them in class afterwards, but having been there, I think it gives a whole other perspective on the subject matter.
Roxanne C. Joseph-Hermas-Leclerc School Quebec
Kimiko Y. and Natasha S. on the Sites of Internment bus tour
Photo credit: Greg Miyanaga
One of the most valuable parts of this experience was having the unique opportunity to visit sites that were significant to the history of Japanese-Canadian dispossession and internment. Sharing space with those who endured these injustices first hand brought historical experiences to life for me in a way that no textbook or documentary ever could. Historical information, emotional insight, and physical spaces all came together to produce powerful learning. This was made even more meaningful by hearing the memories and perspectives of Japanese Canadians who lived through the experience of internment personally. This deep learning and historical empathy is of vital importance and is something that I want to share with my teaching colleagues as well as my students.
Natasha S. Lester B. Pearson CI, Toronto
As a teacher I always look for ways for my students to learn through personal events and experiences that are relevant to them. The bus tour and in class lessons were exactly that. This was something that had an impact on me emotionally and intellectually. Touring the camps and visiting with people who had lived through internment, left impressions on my heart and mind that I will never forget.
Dawn Tambourine T. St. Thomas of Aquinas Middle School Red Deer AB