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Archaeology of Internment at the Morrissey WWI Camp by Sarah Beaulieu M.A., Simon Fraser University, 2015 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Archaeology Faculty of Environment © Sarah Beaulieu 2019 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2019 Copyright in this work rests with the author. Please ensure that any reproduction or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation. Approval Name: Sarah Beaulieu Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Title: Archaeology of Internment at the Morrissey WWI Camp Examining Committee: Chair: Jonathan Driver Professor Ross Jamieson Senior Supervisor Associate Professor Eldon Yellowhorn Supervisor Associate Professor First Nations Studies Lubomyr Luciuk Supervisor Professor Royal Military College of Canada David Burley Internal Examiner Professor Iain Banks External Examiner Senior Lecturer School of Humanities University of Glasgow Date Defended/Approved: July 19, 2019 ii Ethics Statement iii Abstract To date, very little is known archaeologically about First World War-era internment camps, especially in Canada, where this history was actively erased through the destruction of the Federal Internment records in the 1950s. Archaeologists can play a fundamental role in contributing knowledge where oral and documentary evidence is lacking. This can be undertaken through a triangulation of data sets commonly used by conflict archaeologists. This thesis focuses on one of Canada’s twenty-four WWI internment camps: the Morrissey Internment Camp. Through GPR survey and excavation, archival records retrieval, and oral histories, a critical theoretical lens was applied to the stories of the internees—immigrants from the multinational Austro- Hungarian, German, and Ottoman Empires—and their guards at the Morrissey Internment Camp. The material record adds a new line of evidence, contributing to a more nuanced perspective that aids in reducing the gaps in this dark facet of Canadian history. Keywords: modern conflict archaeology; civilian internees; internment archaeology; archaeology of confinement; Morrissey; PoWs; WWI; immigrants; multinational; Austro-Hungarian; German; Ottoman Empire; Ukrainian Canadians; First World War; Canada; War Measures Act; Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund iv Dedication To my children—Kamran, Sophia, and Ava—who will inherit this world and make it a much better place. v Acknowledgements First, I would like to thank my family. I received endless support and constant encouragement from my husband, Brett, who gave me strength in my post-secondary journey and who, in addition to his own career, performed the role of both parents on numerous occasions so that I could research, excavate, and write. You are the ultimate feminist! Your willingness to take paternity leave with each of our children, and sacrifice numerous promotions in your own career to support mine, will never be forgotten. I owe you more than you will ever know, and a lifetime may not be enough time to show my love and gratitude. I am grateful for the perpetual love and patience of my three children—Kamran, Sophia, and Ava—who will finally know a life outside of academe and maybe for the first time in their young lives see the fun side of their mom. These early life experiences will hopefully teach them that they can do anything they set their minds to! I thank my parents, Munawar and Eva, who always encouraged me to follow my passions and pushed me and my siblings to be all that we could be. Their endless love and the strong spiritual and educational foundation that they instilled in us is the reason that I am here today. Your love, support, and advice on this academic journey, along with many home-cooked meals and childcare on numerous occasions so that I could work, has helped to make this PhD possible. I am grateful to my siblings and brothers-in-law, Shamma and Lars, Laila and Mark, and Roxanna, for listening to my endless recitations and excitement about my research. Shamma, a special thank you for looking over my comprehensive exam and application drafts, Laila for always being there to listen when I needed an ear, and Roxanna for all of your endless support with babysitting, and your willingness to travel to the dig sites, not only to help me look after my children but also to coordinate the archaeology volunteers and cook the most amazing meals for the crew. You and I took big risks, leaving our careers behind to begin new ones, and we finally get to cross the finish line together. Andrea Fowler, thank you for your willingness to take Kamran to school in the early mornings and pick him up after school on the days that I had to be at the university. You are right—it takes a community! I am forever grateful to my supervisory committee: Dr. Ross Jamieson, Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, and Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn. Dr. Jamieson, my senior supervisor, had faith in me and graciously opened the door to my PhD career. When I first met with Dr. Jamieson to discuss a future PhD path, Brett had just gone into the hospital for a simple vi procedure that quickly developed dire complications. My son, too emotional for daycare on that fateful meeting day, had come along with me. As we began to discuss the logistics, Kamran pulled out a pen and was about to write on Dr. Jamieson’s office door. Instead of getting upset, he invited my son in, gave Kamran his desk, and provided some paper to draw on. At this moment, I knew that he would be able to support my academic journey, one that would also have to include my responsibilities as a mother. Dr. Luciuk has supported me, patiently responded to every query that I’ve had, and promoted my research beyond what I could have imagined. Dr. Yellowhorn opened the first door that not only began this academic journey but also opened my eyes to the hidden subject of Canada’s internment history. I also thank Dr. Dana Lepofsky, who encouraged me to move beyond a master’s and continue on the PhD path, while providing a wealth of academic advice and support. The research excavations would not have been possible in Morrissey without the unbounded support of many individuals in the local communities of Fernie and Morrissey, many of whom have close ties, as descendants or otherwise, to the internment story. Corlyn, Dean, Kaitlyn, and Anissa Haarstad, you have opened your home to me more times than I can count. Anissa, thank you for looking after my children and giving them the opportunity to play with other little people on difficult dig days. Corlyn, none of this research would have happened without you. You are able to bring a community together like no other. Your support—coordinating volunteers, locating and clearing the sites on numerous occasions with “the beast” prior to the excavations, while keeping us all safe from the surrounding wild fires, cougars, and grizzly bears—will never be forgotten. John and Lynda Gawryluk, you always “knew a guy” who could help with any request that I had. You refused to accept payment for the surveyor who came out to survey and stake-in the site coordinates, and you made the most beautiful map of Morrissey, which will forever remain on my office wall. You also coordinated site clearing and made arrangements for an aerial survey. You and Corlyn have introduced me to so many in the community who forever changed the direction of my research, opening doors to parts of our history that have remained hidden until now. Jim and Adele Dvorak, you have combed the site for many years; thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge, information, and photographs from the site. These have added so much to my research. Cory Dvorak, your keen eye and support with the archives has added more than you will ever know to my dissertation. Jim Rawson, you have been an integral part vii of this experience. I thank you and Jim Dvorak for continuing to conserve and protect the Morrissey cemetery when it had been all but forgotten. Jon Polacik, the tour of the Morrissey mines and surrounding area is one that I will never forget. Your advice was correct: to understand the history of the internment camp, I had to appreciate the location of the surrounding communities and their close ties to the camp. Dan Ste-Marie, my dig partner in crime, and Lisa, you gave up several summers to help excavate and unearth this dark story and shared without question what you turned up from the archives. Thanks to your own research, I’ve been able to add a more nuanced perspective to my own. Your book relating to the Morrissey history will be invaluable to all of us, adding yet another piece to this historical puzzle. Mike Ferrier, fate had you working in close proximity to our site, and John Gawryluk connected you with us. If you ever read this, thank you for clearing the Morrissey site; you have no idea how much time this saved. Lorn and Marilyn Earl, it had always been a dream of mine to conduct an aerial survey and photograph the Morrissey camp from above. Thank you for your willingness to fly me over Morrissey. This Cessna flight is one that I will not forget. Troy and Tara Nixon, thank you for providing a beautiful home and most comfortable stay for me, my family, and the archaeology crew over several summers. I am grateful to the Raging Elk Hostel for hosting my crew, and to Good Grub caterers, who provided many, many delicious home-cooked meals. Richard Klafki, thank you for coordinating our dig on the Nature Conservancy of Canada land.