Won Alexander Cumyow

Won Alexander Cumyow was born and raised on the traditional territory of the In-SHUCK-ch Nation (Harrison Lake, BC). He was fluent in Cantonese, Hakka, English, and Chinook, the Indigenous trade language. Even though he was well respected and educated, he faced systemic
racism. Although trained as a lawyer, he was not permitted to practice law. BC and federal legislation barred him from voting, and one could only pass the bar if they were on the voters’ list. He first voted in 1898 in the provincial election of Westminster. In 1899, Cumyow and his brother
were able to register to vote in the municipal election as Canadian-born citizens, but it is unsure whether they actually voted in that election. Cumyow was not able to re-register in 1902.

Fifty one years later, in 1949, at the age of 88, he finally voted again in the federal election, following a lifetime of struggle and resistance against systemic racism. Cumyow was a founder of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) in Victoria. Up to the present, the CCBA has been the main advocacy organization of the Chinese community. It was the first public institution formed to support the community, acting like a local government for the Chinese. It helped those in conflict with Canadian authorities, settled internal disputes within the commu-
nity and founded social services including the Chinese Public School. In 1922, in conjunction with the Chinese Canadian Club (see Joe Hope), it organized the fight against the Victoria School Board’s segregation of Chinese Canadian students, leading to a year-long students strike. Cumyow led the first delegation that protested to the school board.

In 1924, Cumyow had to register under the Chinese Exclusion Act, waiting until the last day to do so. At the time, he was the official Chinese
and Chinook interpreter of the Vancouver Police Department, a member of the Anglican Church, and well known as one of the oldest settlers born in BC.