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The First World War began in 1914 and lasted for four years. The war raged on between two regimes, which were made up of several European countries and the United States of America. The Allied Powers consisted of the nations of France, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, the Russian Empire, the United Kingdom, and later on during the course of the war, America became part of this alliance. Austria-Hungary, Germany, Japan, Bulgaria, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire formed their own alliance called the Central Powers. As the war progressed many Europeans immigrated to North America, namely Canada.
Ukrainians from Austria-Hungary were moving to Canada since before the war. In fact, by 1914 there were approximately 171,000 Ukrainians living in Canada. About sixty percent of this population was made up of naturalized citizens. With Canada's Parliament siding with the Allied Powers, though, all Ukrainian Canadians were labeled "enemy aliens". These 'enemy aliens' were treated differently from other Canadians and as the war advanced their situation became even worse. They were separated from the rest of the Canadian population and eventually forced to live and work in Internment Camps which were set up across the country. Ukrainian homesteaders gradually lost all their rights as citizens after their political loyalties were deemed suspect. They were deprived of their "freedom of mobility and association, and their properties and valuables often were confiscated". They became "second-class prisoners" and were transported to camps far form their homes and often separated from their families. According to records found after the camps were destroyed, over 5,000 Ukrainians were sent to the 26 different camps constructed beforehand. More than 88,000 were mandated to register as enemy aliens. Those living in the camps were forced to work under harsh conditions. According to many accounts they were also subjected to brutality from the guards appointed to control and supervise them. Under these conditions many prisoners who grew downhearted and depressed either committed suicide or tried to escape. |
Those who even attempted to release themselves from confinement perished. By 1918 all Ukrainian-Canadian and Ukrainian-language media and organizations were completely suppressed.
Nick Chonomond, Ukrainian Canadian that experienced the internment camps, says that his confinement was unjust. He proclaims that he was homesteaded in Alberta, Canada and later on became a naturalized citizen. He went on to marry a Canadian-born woman and even tried to enlist in a regiment in Canada. Instead of being treated as a loyal citizen he was interned at one of the camps where he was taken away form his life, as he knew it. How come the Canadian Government was allowed to carry out such atrocious acts? The War Measures Act drawn up as a "proclamation of Her Majesty", states that the "Governor in Council may do and authorize such acts and things, and make such orders and regulations, as he may by reason of the real or apprehended war, invasion, or insurrection deem necessary or advisable for the security, defense, peace, order and welfare of Canada shall extend all matters coming within the classes of subjects and hereinafter enumerated, that is to say: · (1) Censorship and the control and suppression of publications, writings, maps, plans, photograph, communications and means of communications; · (2) arrest, detention, exclusion and deportation; · (3) appropriation, control, forfeiture and disposition of property and of the use thereof." After the Canadian government in 1920 finally shut down the camps, just two years after the war had ended, the internees thought they were thoroughly liberated. Contrary to their belief, many who were herded into the camps during the beginning of World War I were then deported after being released from confinement. Others received no sort of aid to embark on the lives they had to rebuild outside of the camps. |