Abigael Krueger's MRP defence: "Canada’s First National Internment Operation: The First World War and the “Enemy Alien” Experience in Brantford and Hamilton, Ontario."

Abstract:

This study analyzes the experiences of the Turkish immigrants from Brantford and Hamilton,

Ontario who were arrested as part of Canada’s first national internment operation during the First

World War. In total 8579 “aliens of enemy nationality” were interned, including 2009 Germans,

5954 Austro-Hungarians, 205 Turks, 99 Bulgarians, and 312 miscellaneous aliens. More than

half of the Turkish interns were residents of Brantford and Hamilton. As Muslim communities,

consisting of predominantly male sojourners, the Turkish populations of Brantford and Hamilton

were particular targets of Christian Euro-Canadians advocating for the internment of enemy

aliens. After their initial arrest, the interns were transported to a camp in Kapuskasing, Ontario,

one of 24 such camps in Canada. Local newspapers and government files held at Library and

Archives Canada reveal the negotiations between faith and loyalty, and the role of race and

religion, in defining the loyalty and allegiance of Turkish immigrants during the War. A

Christian versus non-Christian categorization of former subjects of the Ottoman Empire divided

Turkish immigrants and resulted in a qualitatively different experience for those who were

Muslim.

Advisor: Kris Inwood

Committee: Cynthia Comacchio (Wilfrid Laurier University)