James A. Motherwell

James A. Motherwell

James A. Motherwell was a bureaucrat who served as Chief Inspector of Fisheries for British Columbia from 1921 to 1946. During his tenure as Chief Inspector, Motherwell oversaw the federal policy to eliminate Japanese Canadians from the BC fishing industry altogether through race-based restrictions on fishing licenses. When Japanese-Canadian-owned fishing vessels were seized by the navy in December 1941, Motherwell was integral in assembling the Japanese Fishing Vessel Disposal Committee. (Source: Kimura Appendix)
bca_gr_0435_box_48_file_436.pdf ; bca_gr_0435_box_48_file_438.pdf ; bca_gr_0435_box_48_file_439.pdf

Metadata

SurnameMotherwell
ForenameJames A.
Regularized NameJames A. Motherwell

Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.