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Let Them in but Keep Them Out: Liminality and Islandness of the First born Chinese Islanders By Laura Lee Howard BA University of Prince Edward Island 1993 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS In Island Studies ©Laura Lee Howard 2008 University of Prince Edward Island August 2008 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author Library and Bibliothèque et Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l'édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-49834-7 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-49834-7 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, électronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protège cette thèse. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformément à la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privée, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont été enlevés de cette thèse. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. 1^1 Canada SIGNATURE PAGE ii REMOVED Ill Abstract Let Them In, But Keep Them Out: Liminality of the First-born Chinese Prince Edward Islanders It is important for Prince Edward Islanders to he aware that if they are not Mi’kmaq, then they descend from immigrants. All immigrants go through similar processes in integrating. According to this research, this process can be more intense and more difficult on an Island. Fifteen participants (the children of the original Chinese settlers) completed a semi-structured interview process that focused on the participants’ experiences of growing up on Prince Edward Island. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an iterative process grounded in the data, and informed by themes of islandness including boundedness, particularism, and migration. A model emerged which became titled “Circle of Community Storytelling and Island Connectivity”. It suggests how these themes of islandness interplay with the concepts of liminality, resilience and integration to inform and encourage locally grown sub-national island jurisdiction immigration policy. The first Chinese person to arrive on Prince Edward Island came in 1851. Over one hundred and fifty years later, this community remained hidden in the shadows. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, through the process of storytelling, this community transitioned from liminality to their rightful place in the Island story. Listening to the voices and stories of the first-born Chinese Islanders provides an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of those who are not of the majority ancestry group. The research also provides information that may assist government to formulate policy that works well both for those who choose to come to the Island, and for Prince Edward Islanders. IV Acknowledgements The first acknowledgement goes to the fifteen participants who were willing to share their experiences so that others may learn and benefit from your words. Thank you. The ability to exchange ideas with international experts in island studies at UPEI is remarkable. Through MAIS course offerings, special lectures and international scholarly conferences, I would like to extend appreciation to these particularly generous scholars: Denbeigh Armstrong, Godfrey Baldacchino, Eric Clark, Peter Hay, Phillip Hayward, Chris McMurray, and Owe Ronstrom. Traveling through the program with Fellow MAIS colleagues Faiz Ahmed, Laurie Brinklow, Carol Home, and Kathy Stuart made the journey infinitely more interesting and enjoyable. Generous support from Dean of Arts Richard Kurial and Director of Island Studies and Sub-node II: Social Economy Irene Novaczek eased the financial burden, as well as expanded opportunities to attend national and international conferences. This kind of project piles up debt like snow in the hedgerows. Friends Jacinta and Michele, Alan, Charlotte and Roseanne were there for childcare, fun, support and questioning until the model evolved. Thank you! Mom and Mark and my siblings Pauline, Peggy, Clara Jean, Tom and Bryon, I thank you for your constant support. To my husband David and children, Adrienne and Simon: We all stretched in so many ways throughout this project, and now all of us can cook a favourite dish. Thanks for your patience and growing and learning with me. Down to the wire thesis team included Andrea and Vicky for assistance in formatting, editing and moral supporting. Thanks to Margie Carmichael, for sharing her fabulous song “Not An Islander”. I thank Dr. Hung-Min Chiang, who served as an inspiration from before the beginning, and a mentor and guide throughout. Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie, I thank you for sharing your skills in striving for academic excellence, and your generous, respectful, strong spirit. You are a motivator. Dr. Chris McMurray and Dr. Jessie Lees, thank you for being willing to take the time to read and comment on this paper. Dedication This work is dedicated to my children, Adrienne and Simon and the children and grandchildren of the participants of this study, two of whom were born during this project’s life. May you laugh, love and live confidently and enjoy ably together on “The Island.” VI Table of Contents A bstract ....................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ iv Dedication................................................................................................................................. v Table of Contents................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Integration and Adaptation...............................................................................1 Concept of Liminality.......................................................................................................2 Historical Background......................................................................................................3 Chapter 2: Inherent Tension...............................................................................................10 Islandness Framework ....................................................................................................10 i) Islands are bounded ......................................................................................................12 ii) Particularism................................................................................................................14 iii) Migration....................................................................................................................19 iv) Sub-national Island Jurisdictions ............................................................................. 20 Concepts To Consider.........................................................................................................23 i) Liminality .................................................................................................................... 23 ii) Resilience................................................................................................................... 25 iii) Integration................................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 3: Methodology.......................................................................................................28 Participants...........................................................................................................................28 Participatory Action Reseach............................................................................................. 28 Data Collection................................................................................................................... 29 The Interview Guide ........................................................................................................... 30 Procedure............................................................................................................................

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