From India to B.C.: One family’s journey to a new land

mike hager, vancouver sun 



A national charitable organization that promotes Canadian history is holding an online contest this month to select the six best student-produced mini-documentaries detailing important historical milestones.

For her entry, Delta Grade 4 student Siya Johal decided to chronicle her family’s century-old history in the Lower Mainland.

Johal is hoping to be one of six students chosen by Canada’s History Society to attend this year’s Governor General’s Awards. Votes can be cast online at www.canadashistory.ca/Kids/YoungCitizens.aspx until July 9. Entries were submitted by 150 students from across the country.

Using family photos and passports dating back decades, the 10-year-old traced how her male ancestors journeyed from India to British Columbia to work long hours in manual labour — supporting family members back home who were denied entry. The level of discrimination faced by her ancestors shocked Johal, who said the project made her realize how different things are today.

The Sun spoke to Johal, 10, about her efforts. The interview was edited for length and content.

Q: Why did you make your film project about Sikh migration to Canada?

A: I chose this topic because I wanted to learn a little more about my family. Because me and my family have travelled around the world, I wanted to know how they did it, too.

Q: Can you describe your video?

A: My project is about my family history. My great-great-grandfather was the first in my family to come to Canada in 1907. It also has some information about the first Sikh immigration (to British Columbia).

Q: What do you hope viewers learn from your video?

A: I would like them to learn that, even though the British or the English didn’t want the Indians there, the Sikhs stood up for what they believed in. That’s important to know because I think it encourages people to do the same.

Q: What was the most amazing thing you found?

A: That the English really didn’t want them to be there. They didn’t want the Indians to be there because they wanted to work, because the Indians kept coming to make money so they didn’t want them there because they were harder workers, so they wanted the English to get hired and not the Indians.

Q: Has Canada changed how it treats immigrants?

A: Now Sikhs can get educated as then they couldn’t. They came from India and they didn’t have money.

Q: Do you believe there’s still as much racism in British Columbia’s society?

A: Maybe some, but not that much. Now, Sikhs have an easier life ‘cause they can work and they now can take leadership roles. They can own a business and they can get educated.

