Lesson 1: IMMIGRATION, SETTLEMENT AND ASPIRATION
Landscapes of Injustice tells a story of the loss of home. It is about fear, racism, and measures taken in the name of security that made no one safer. It is also about the resilience of Japanese Canadians confronting injustice.
Visit our TimelineIceberg Activity
What factors compel people to
emigrate/immigrate?
This activity will introduce students to the concept of migration. Here we examine the factors which influence emigration. These factors are commonly considered as push or pull factors. Economic opportunities can pull people in while issues like scarcity of property and political strife might push people out or create displacement. The iceberg activity is designed to not only have students consider the more obvious or visible reason for immigration, but to also understand that there are less obvious reasons that compel people to migrate. Like an iceberg, these are often significant but less visible.
Teaching Instructions
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Distribute Handout 1.1 Iceberg Diagram, one per pair.
- Invite students to share what they know about icebergs (emphasize that what is visible is a small portion of the iceberg).
- In the top half of the diagram have the students note the causes of emigration; allow 3–5 minutes for this step and debrief with the class.
- While debriefing, students may add new information to their own diagram (evidence might include: scarcity of land, political strife, economic opportunity, education).
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Next, students complete the bottom of the iceberg diagram
in pairs or small groups. Here they need to consider
factors that compel people to migrate but are less
obvious. Japanese immigration to Canada was often a by-product
of the desire for land ownership by second and third born
sons who were not entitled to inherit family property or
because of the limited economic opportunities granted in a
highly stratified and class based society such as in Meji
Era, Japan.
- For example: individual aspirations, views of property ownership, struggles to attain degrees, licenses or trades, etc. Debrief with examples from each pair.
- Many of the early immigrants to British Columbia sought out work in fishing, boat works, and farming. To wrap up, pose the following question to the class: What factors influenced Japanese immigration to Canada in the early 20th century? Allow a minute or two, then have the students share out their thoughts. The conversation is meant to bring an understanding of where and why Japanese immigrants primarily settled in areas where fishing, farming, and lumber work was available. Property ownership both in Canada and back home was very important to these early immigrants. As the community grew, a greater need developed for boarding houses, shops, service industries, and other kinds of work.