Presented by
Welcome to Eating Bitterness: Canadian Journey from Exclusion to Inclusion
Turtle Island, which refers to what is now North America, was the land of the Indigenous
peoples from time immemorial. The land and waters, fauna and flora of this place have
been stewarded by the Indigenous peoples, the beauty and abundance of which we
live with today. Chinese Canadians first came to the West Coast, the land of the Haida,
Tsimshian, Kwakiutl, Nuxalk, Coast Salish and the Nuu-chah-nulth in search of a better life,
and have since made home across Turtle Island. The fact that Canadians can live
freely on both uncededed and Treaty territories should not be taken for granted,
and we stand in solidarity with the sovereignty and rights of First Nations, Inuit, and
Métis peoples.
The title, Eating Bitterness, (吃苦 – chi ku) refers to a Chinese proverb on how the
endurance of hardship can bring great strength. Many Chinese Canadians had to
endure bitter circumstances posed by racial discrimination and public policy
that denied them many civil liberties and equal rights. Many were profoundly
impacted by anti-Chinese immigration laws including the Chinese Exclusion Act,
which kept families separated and isolated many Chinese bachelors. The law
mandated that all Chinese persons living in Canada, even those born here, had to
register with the government or risk fines, detainment, or deportation. Many Chinese
Canadians were barred from entering certain professions, denied the right to vote,
and laboured under unjust conditions.
Despite these barriers, many Chinese Canadians resisted. This resilience of individuals
and communities under difficult circumstances, whose stories are often omitted
from the major canon of Canadian history, is the central focus of our exhibition.
Learning from history, we invite viewers to reimagine a more inclusive future and
learn the lasting social consequences of the Act to the community, such as the
perpetual foreigner stereotype and the hindered civic engagement and leadership
development or representation. This is an invitation to all Canadians to share,
“What would Canada be without me, my family, my community?”