Background Information:

  • South Asian-Canadians include people with origins in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indian diasporas from Africa or the Caribbean 
  • Come from very diverse religious backgrounds, including Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian
  • Most common languages (in addition to English) include Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujurati and Hindi

Use the following sites to identify some of the push & pull factors: 

The 'Continuous Passage' Act 

Historical Thinking Concept

http://historicalthinking.ca/concept/cause-and-consequence

DVD Information

Continuous Journey 
A film by Ali Kazimi 
Questions: 

1)  What are the main issues brought forth in the DVD? 

2)  How was the group in question treated by Canadians back then?  Provide evidence. 

3)  What role did primary source material have in this documentary?  

Extended Reading

  • The following books can be viewed in our classroom library 
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More information available at http://undesirables.ca
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Click for more information about the book and author.

A Moral Dilemma

Back then: 
Did the federal government have a moral obligation to allow British subjects from India to enter Canada in 1914?  Why or why not?  


Now: 
Should the government of Canada today make a full apology and redress for the incident?
If Canada was to offer an apology (then or now), what would they include?   
  1. Summarize the injustice(s) 
  2. List the consequences 

If not, how could the federal government (then or now) justify their decision? 

Does your opinion for answering change when you are considering the government then and now?  Why?