1939-1952

Lesson 4: LEGACIES OF DISPOSSESSION

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.

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Memory Game Activity

In this, and subsequent activities, we explore the question of why and how we should remember the uprooting, internment, dispossession, and displacement of Japanese Canadians. We begin by investigating the role of memory and sites of memory in remembering the past. Research into eyewitness testimony suggests that it is flawed and often inaccurate. Our view of the past is much like this because we depend on individual memories and interpretations of those memories for our understanding of past events. How would your memory of an incident compare with others witness to the same event?

SUGGESTED TIME: 30 MINUTES

Teaching Instructions

  1. In advance of this activity prepare to have someone (a teacher or a student) come into your class. Let’s call this person, “X”. Attempt to have their entry appear completely normal or routine. X should plan on doing several things in class such as:

    - Change the time on the clock

    - Take a book and put it in a bag

    - Erase the chalkboard

    - Close a window

    - Talk to someone

  2. Before X comes into the room, have students working or reading at their desks. When X comes into the room, most of the students will be curious about what he or she is doing. After X leaves the room, have the students write down all the things that happened. (You can do this immediately after X leaves or sometime later). Once everyone has finished writing, find out what everyone remembers and what they did not.
  3. What details do they recall? What did X wear? How long was X in the room? What book did X take? Who did X talk to? What did X say? You may even ask some leading questions to influence memory. For example, if X was not wearing a hat, ask, “What color hat was X wearing?” Compare how everyone’s memory was the same and different.
  4. Provide students with Handout 4.7 How We Remember. Have them complete the questions and debrief with the class before proceeding to the next activity.

Handouts