A Narrative Inquiry Into the Discourse of Conflict Among the Doukhobors and Between the Doukhobors and Government
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A Narrative Inquiry into the Discourse of Conflict among the Doukhobors and Between the Doukhobors and Government by Gregory James Cran Dip., Public Sector Management, University of Victoria, 1989 M.A., Leadership & Training, Royal Roads University, 1998 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment o f the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the School of Public Administration We accept this dissertation as conforming to the required standard Dr. F. Cassidy, Supervisor (School of Public Administration) __________ Dr. A.E. Molzah«,J2gpartmental M ^ber (Faculty of Human and Social Development) Dr. T. Alfred, pe^^lment^l Member (Faculty of Human and Social Development) " Dr. E. W. Sager,^Outside Member (Department of History) ________________________________________________ Dr. R. Anderson, External Examiner (School of Communication), Simon Fraser University © Gregory James Cran, 2003 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This dissertation may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopying of other means, without the permission of the author. 11 Supervisor: Dr. Frank Cassidy ABSTRACT In 1899, a group of Russian peasants called the Doukhobors immigrated to Canada, after suffering centuries of persecution in Russia. Soon after their arrival, conflict emerged between these new immigrants and the state over such issues as land ownership, refusal to register births and deaths, and to send their children to school. As positions hardened, a group known as the Sons of Freedom emerged that used nudity, arson, and bombings as their means of protest and retaliation. These practices continued on for the better part of a century. Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to address the conflict, ranging from commissions of inquiry to child apprehensions for truancy. Finally, in 1985 an accord was reached among the groups and government that marked the beginning of the end to violence. What enabled this intervention to succeed was the focus of this study. This study applies a narrative approach that examined the discourse of the Doukhobor groups, government and others to learn how certain perceptions and meanings led to bombings and arson and how co-constructing competing narratives into a new narrative provided a means for change. The analysis is based on transcripts of the proceedings, along with the narrative renderings and epiphanies of those who played a key strategic role in helping the groups reach an accord. Resulting from this study were findings that challenged conventional conflict resolution practices, particularly when applied in an ethnopolitical context. 11 : Examiners: Dr. F. Cassid^^Dcirvisor (School of Public Administration) ____________ Dr. A.E. M' eoartm imber (Faculty of Human and Social Development) Dr. T. Alfred, D^M^dental Member (Faculty of Human and Social Development) _Dr,E.JE. W.W. &ger,%ger, (Olitside Member (Department of History) Dr. R. Anderson, External Examiner (School of Communication), Simon Fraser University IV Acknowledgement This is a project that started 25 years ago when I first began working with the Doukhobor communities in the West Kootenay and Boundary regions of the Province. These past five years have been spent making sense of it all. There are some who I wish to thank for having challenged and inspired my thinking along the way, these include Hugh Herbison and Tom McGauley, who introduced me to Castlegar life and Doukhobor lore thirty-four years ago, Dr. Joseph Schaeffer, whose work in community and communication is truly insightful and cutting edge, and Dr. Marie Hoskins who helped me realize that the narrative constructed postmodern world we live in isn’t as scary as some make it out to be. There are others who I wish to thank because their support and encouragement over the past five years has been extraordinarily helpful. These are my committee members Dr. Anita Molzahn, Dr. Eric Sager, Dr. Taiaiake Alfred, my supervisor Dr. Frank Cassidy, and Dr. Robert Anderson, my external examiner from Simon Fraser University, for his keen interest and probing questions. Also, I would like to extend a special thanks to Fred Makortoff, Jim Popoff and Steve Lapshinoff and many others in the Doukhobor community for opening their world to me by sharing their stories, their meanings and their perceptions. And, to Jack McIntosh, Derryl White, Dr. Mel Stangeland, Dr. Mark Mealing and Ron Cameron who dedicated eight years of their time as KCIR members and to the late Robin Bourne who kept us all in line. Finally, I wish to thank my two sons - Rob, who spent endless hours reading my early drafts, and Joel, both of whom kept me going with their humor, their discoveries and their patience when I needed space or time to be alone. And, to my dear wife and fiiend Katherine whose endless support helped me realize that tall mountains are climbable once you have them in your sights. VI Table o f Contents Abstract.........................................................................................ü Acknowledgement.................................................................... iv Table of Contents...................................................................... vi Chapter 1 Introduction................................................................................. 1 Historical Overview.................................................... 1 Crux of the Turmoil...................................................... 13 Previous Role as Government Representative 14 Role as Researcher........................................................ 14 Objectives of the Study ................................................ 15 Limitations of the Study ............................................... 15 Diseourse Narratives of Others................................... 16 Organization of the Study............................................ 16 Significance of the Study............................................. 17 Chapter 2 Methodology ............................................................................... 18 Partieipant Interviews................................................... 19 Ethical Considerations................................................. 20 Use of Narratives.......................................................... 21 Crisis of Representation............................................... 23 Crisis of Limitation...................................................... 24 Chapter 3 Deconstructing the Literature................................................... 27 Philosophical Base of the Study................................. 30 Discourse of Culture..................................................... 34 Discourse of Conflict.................................................. 37 Conflict Theories.......................................................... 38 Frustration-Aggression Theory...................... 38 Social Identity Theory ..................................... 39 Self-Categorization Theory............................ 40 Human Needs Theory ...................................... 41 Summary of Culture and Conflict Discourses 43 Conclusion..................................................................... 44 Chapter 4 Auto-Narrative........................................................................... 45 Getting Started.............................................................. 45 Expanded Kootenay Committee on Intergroup Relations..................................................... 52 Conclusion..................................................................... 54 vu Chapter 5 Competing Narratives............................................................. 58 Finding an Audience.................................................. 60 Alter-N arratives.......................................................... 62 Cryptic and Symbolic Language .............................. 65 Doukhobor Lands....................................................... 69 Retaliation for Peter “the Lordly's' Death.............. 70 Curse of Seven Generations..................................... 72 Intimidation................................................................ 73 Intimidation Between Sessions............................... 75 Refurbishing the Historical Record........................ 76 Creating Dissonance to Effect Change................... 80 Speeches of Peter P. Verigin................................... 86 Negotiating Stephen Sorokin's Participation 91 Stephan Sorokin - The Hawk................................. 92 Other Sons of Freedom Leaders............................. 93 Conclusion................................................................. 94 Chapter 6 Constructing a New Narrative............................................... 97 Crafting Language and Meaning............................. 110 Negotiating an Accord............................................... 112 Signing the Interim Accord...................................... 113 Conclusion.................................................................. 115 Chapter 7 Capturing Experiential Meaning.......................................... 117 Reconstructing Childhood........................................ 118 Politics of Education................................................. 120 Sons of Freedom Rite of Passage............................ 122 In Search of Identity .................................................. 125 Blurring of Identity .................................................... 125 Introducing Stephan Sorokin.................................... 126 Influence of the Soviets............................................