Moving forward on Internment restitution

(UCCLA) CANMORE, Alberta The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association held its fifth annual conclave, here on September 20-22. Delegates from across the country who belong to this non-profit educational group, which articulates and represents the interests of Canadas Ukrainians, addressed many issues in the tightly packed two-day agenda. Topics included securing an acknowledgment and restitution for Canadas first national internment operations (1914-1920) and dealing with the partiality of federal denaturalization and deportation procedures.

Delegates approved a united Ukrainian Canadian community position on recognition and restitution, based on a document crafted by representatives of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and UCCLA over the past several months. It will now be co-signed by UCCLA chairman, John B Gregorovich, and UCC president, Eugene Czolij, and forwarded to the government of Canada, as a first step toward initiating the negotiation of a Ukrainian Canadian Redress Settlement, based in large measure on MP Inky Marks Bill C-331, the Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act, now before Parliament.

CBC crews filmed portions of UCCLAs meeting and camera crews journeyed out to the Castle Mountain internment camp to film a brief commemorative service there, including a wreath laying. After a minutes silence, Maria Dunns new song, In the Shadow of the Rockies was played, lending thoughtful ambiance to the ceremony. CBC-TV later broadcast several news reports about UCCLAs efforts to persuade Ottawa to right a historical injustice.

Guests at the years conclave included Lesia Szwaluk, executive director of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, and Anne Sadelain, daughter of the late Walter Doskoch, an internee. Mrs. Sadelain described her current efforts aimed at organizing a group to represent internees descendants. A major new undertaking, the Roll Call Project, was also unveiled. Starting in early November, over 40,000 Canadian families will receive a postcard from UCCLA asking if they are descendants of internees held in Canadian concentration camps between 1914-1920, while also inviting them to join in the communitys united effort to secure redress, based on Bill C 331. As well, UCCLA members will continue with plaque unveiling projects and additional educational undertakings having to do with the protection of human rights and civil liberties in Canada.

Commenting on this years reports and next years plans, Mr Gregorovich said:

"Since UCCLAs inception, which we date from 15 March 1985, considerable progress has been made on securing acknowledgment and a restitution of the internees confiscated wealth, to be used for various educational and commemorative efforts. Now that our community has one united position on this matter there is no reason why Ottawa should not now negotiate a settlement. We hope that the Prime Minister will see that, as part of his legacy, a redress settlement concluded while some survivors are still alive would be both timely and honourable. Prime Minster Chretien is a great admirer of an earlier prime minister, Laurier, who not only questioned the internment operations but was a determined opponent of the denaturalization of enemy aliens. The secretary of state for multiculturalism, the Honourable Jean Augustine (MP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore), has come out in favour of Bill C 331. Given the prime ministers 1993 promise to support redress and his pledge that the Liberal Party of Canada would do so, we hope Mr Chretien will take this opportunity to resolve our claims, just as the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney did with our friends in the Japanese Canadian community at the end of his tenure in office. That would indeed constitute part of a truly admirable legacy".