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Category Archives: Military Heritage
Your ancestor was a Canadian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War?
By Nicole Watier
One of the more complex questions that our Genealogy desk receives is "Where do I begin to find the service records of my relative who served in the Spanish Civil War?"
Canadians might know a little about the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939) through Pablo Picasso's painting of the destruction of the town of Guernica or from reading Ernest Hemingway's popular novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Or perhaps through watching one of the films about Dr. Norman Bethune showing his mobile blood transfusion unit and the Instituto Hispano Canadiense de Transfusión de Sangre.
Canadian Blood Transfusion Unit operating during the Spanish Civil War. Dr. Norman Bethune is at right. (a117423)
The Spanish Civil War began on July 18, 1936, and Canada, like many other countries, did not officially intervene. Although the Canadian government made it illegal for Canadians to serve by passing the Foreign Enlistment Act, more than 1,400 Canadians volunteered to defend the Spanish government. Along with more than 40,000 volunteer combatants worldwide, they fought for the democratic Republican government (supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico) against the Spanish Army officers led by General Francisco Franco (supported by Germany and Italy). The Communist Party of Canada organized the recruitment campaign in Canada.
A variety of reasons make it difficult to determine the exact number of Canadian volunteers and to find trace of them after the war ended.
As more and more Canadian volunteers arrived in Spain, the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion was formed and named after Louis-Joseph Papineau and William Lyon Mackenzie, leaders of the Rebellions of 1837-1838. The battalion was also known as the "Mac-Paps." Canadians also served amongst the other battalions of the International Brigades, such as the Abraham Lincoln Battalion and the Washington Battalion.
Many of those who wished to serve in Spain used various means to leave Canada. Many travelled to New York or other countries to board ships destined for Spain. Some used aliases. There is the usual issue of variations of the spelling of names in records, which always makes research more complicated. Since many of the Canadian volunteers originally came from Europe, some had changed or simplified their names. The lack of detailed recordkeeping on both sides in itself presents a huge research challenge.
To help you with your research, here are a few hints from Library and Archives Canada's (LAC) unique collection. You may be interested in looking at the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion collection (MG30-E-173), which contains material collected by the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, its veterans' organization, and other individuals who worked to compile records. The collection contains a variety of records of Canadians who served in the International Brigades, correspondence with veterans, articles, backgrounders, reminiscences, lists of names, and photographs. This includes some individual photographs of the volunteers, such as Elias Aviezer, a Canadian in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion during the Spanish Civil War, 1936 to 1938, killed at Jarama. Some of these photos are digitized in Collection Search.
Elias Aviezer, a Canadian in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion during the Spanish Civil War, 1936 to 1938, killed at Jarama. (a066954-v8)
LAC also holds the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion fonds (MG10-K2). This fonds consists of copies of selected records on microfilm reels of the International Brigades from the Communist International, or Comintern. This was the Soviet-sponsored agency founded in 1919 to coordinate the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism worldwide. When the Republican forces were defeated and Soviet officials, the commissars, left Spain in 1939, they took their records, including the records of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion. These records include a variety of administrative records, statistics, daily orders, various lists (nominal rolls, wounded, killed, deserted and repatriated), correspondence, and biographies. The original records and more are held by the Russian Centre for the Preservation and Study of Records of Contemporary History, in Moscow, whose permission is required to copy any record.
Other archival records held at LAC that make mention of the Canadian volunteers can be found in a large variety of archival fonds, such as the repatriation of the volunteers starting in February 1939 and the Canadian prisoners of war that followed in the Department of External Affairs (RG25) and the Immigration Branch (RG76). Over 700 returned to Canada, many stayed in Europe, over 200 were killed in action, and some are missing in action.
Some of the volunteers had previously served in the First World War or subsequently served in the Second World War. For Elias Aviezer, killed in action in 1937, we can find his name in the Personnel Records of the First World War database, under the name Elias Achiezer, having previous service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Published sources available at Library and Archives Canada to trace the volunteers include The Daily Clarion, the Communist Party of Canada's newspaper. It includes stories from foreign correspondent Jean Watts, one of the few women in the field. Newspapers all across Canada wrote about the volunteers, and some local newspapers wrote of their departure and their subsequent return to their communities.
In the September 5, 1938, issue of the The Montreal Gazette, page 9, the following article announces the return of James Wilson to Edmonton, and includes his future-telling comments.
"Edmonton Man Returns," The Montreal Gazette, September 5, 1938, p. 9. (OCLC 1035398537).
For further reading, you can search the Aurora catalogue to find books that list volunteers and provide context to events, including
Canadian Volunteers: Spain 1936-1939 by William C. Beaching (OCLC 19517663)
The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion: Canadian Participation in the Spanish Civil War by Victor Howard (OCLC 79017)
"Ukrainian Volunteers from Canada in the International Brigades, Spain, 1936-39: A Profile" by Myron Momryk in the Journal of Ukrainian Studies, volume 16, nos. 1-2 Summer-Winter, 1991 (OCLC 6744531)
Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War by Michael Petrou (OCLC 185078047 [Translation in French available at OCLC 1007098925])
Online indexes of Canadian volunteers and other information can be found at
The Friends and Veterans of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion
Virtual Research Environment on Canadian Cultural History about the Spanish Civil War includes a database created from the research of Myron Momryk, scholar and former archivist at Library and Archives Canada, and Michael Petrou, historian and journalist.
For help on this subject, or other genealogical questions, feel free to contact the Genealogy team by completing the "Ask us a genealogy question" online form.
Nicole Watier is a genealogy consultant with the Public Services Branch of Library and Archives Canada.
Posted in Genealogy & Family History, Military Heritage, Politics and Government	| Tagged "Mac-Paps", Dr. Norman Bethune, Elias Aviezer, Foreign Enlistment Act, Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, Spanish Civil War	| 2 Replies
Tom Cogwagee Longboat's life and legacy
Posted on December 23, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
By Elizabeth Kawenaa Montour
Tom Cogwagee Longboat's name is associated with speed, athleticism, determination, courage and perseverance. His Onondaga name, "Cogwagee," translates as "all" or "everything." Facts, stories and photographs of his life have been collected, published and examined over the past century, in an attempt to capture, recreate and demystify his life.
Thomas Charles Cogwagee Longboat was born to George Longboat and Elizabeth Skye on July 4, 1886 (some sources have June 4, 1887). He was Wolf Clan of the Onondaga Nation from Six Nations Territory and lived a traditional life of the Haudenosaunee (Longhouse). At the age of 12 or 13, Longboat was forcibly sent to the Mohawk Institute Residential School, an Anglican denominational and English-language school, which operated from 1823 and closed in 1970. This experience did not go well for him and his fellow First Nations students, who were forced to abandon their language and beliefs to speak English and practice Christianity. Longboat reacted by escaping the school and running home. He was caught and punished, but then escaped a second time, with the foresight to run to his uncle's farm, where he would be harder to find. This proved successful and marked the end of Longboat's formal education. He worked as a farm labourer in various locations, which involved travelling great distances on foot.
Longboat began racing as an amateur in 1905. He won the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1907, in two hours, 24 minutes and 24 seconds, shaving nearly five minutes off the previous record for the world's most prestigious annual running event. With this incredible race, he brought tremendous pride and inspiration to Indigenous peoples and Canadians. The following article was published the day after he won the marathon:
"The thousands of persons who lined the streets from Ashland to the B.A.A. were well repaid for the hours of waiting in the rain and chilly winter weather, for they saw in Tom Longboat the most marvelous runner who has ever sped over our roads. With a smile for everyone, he raced along and at the finish he looked anything but like a youth who had covered more miles in a couple of hours than the average man walks in a week. Gaining speed with each stride, encouraged by the wild shouts of the multitude, the bronze-colored youth with jet black hair and eyes, long, lithe body and spindle legs, swept toward the goal.
Amid the wildest din heard in years, Longboat shot across the line, breaking the tape as the timers stopped their watches, simultaneously with the clicking of a dozen cameras, winner of the greatest of all modern Marathon runs. Arms were stretched out to grasp the winner, but he needed no assistance.
Waving aside those who would hold him, he looked around and acknowledged the greetings he received on every side. Many pressed forward to grasp his hand, and but for the fact that the police had strong ropes there to keep all except the officials in check, he would have been hugged and squeezed mightily. Then he strode into the club, strong and sturdily." (The Boston Globe, April 20, 1907)
A year after winning that race, Longboat competed in the marathon at the 1908 Olympics in London, England. He collapsed and dropped out at 32 kilometres, unable to finish the 42.2 km race. He then turned to professional running, and in 1909 received the title of Professional Champion of the World at a Madison Square Garden race in New York City.
A page from the 1911 census listing Thomas C. Longboat and his wife Loretta [Lauretta], in York County, Ontario. His profession is listed as "runner." (e002039395)
Private Tom Longboat, the Onondaga long-distance runner, buying a newspaper from a French boy, June 1917. (a001479)
In 1916, Longboat went overseas as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force to fight in the First World War. He employed his natural talent and served as a dispatch runner. Longboat was mistakenly declared dead in the battlefields of Belgium, after being buried in rubble as a result of heavy shelling. His wife, Lauretta Maracle, a Kanienkenha:ka (Mohawk) woman, whom he had married in 1908, believed him to be deceased and remarried. Longboat subsequently married Martha Silversmith, an Onondaga woman, with whom he had four children. He continued his military career, serving as a member of the Veterans Guard in the Second World War while stationed at a military camp near Brantford, Ontario. The Longboat family settled in Toronto. Upon his retirement from employment with the City of Toronto, Longboat moved back to Six Nations. He passed away on January 9, 1949.
In 1951, he received posthumous recognition with the establishment of the prestigious Tom Longboat Trophy. The trophy is awarded annually to Indigenous athletes who exemplify the hard work and determination they put forth in their chosen endeavours. The original trophy remains at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary, with a travelling replica held by the Aboriginal Sports Circle in Ottawa. In 1955, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Indian Hall of Fame.
A Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque honouring Tom Longboat, located at 4th Line Road, Six Nations Grand River Reserve, Ohsweken, Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Parks Canada)
Tributes in recognition of Longboat's achievements continue today in many forms. A Government of Canada plaque was erected in his honour in 1976 at 4th Line Road, Six Nations, Ohsweken, Ontario. In 1999, Maclean's magazine recognized him as the top Canadian athlete of the 20th century. Canada Post issued a stamp in 2000 commemorating his winning time. In Ontario, the Tom Longboat Day Act, 2008 designated June 4 as "Tom Longboat Day." Tom Longboat Corner in Six Nations, a Tom Longboat Trail in Brantford, Ontario, a Tom Longboat Lane in Toronto, and a Tom Longboat Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ontario. There is also a Longboat Hall at 1087 Queen Street West in Toronto, the location of the YMCA where he trained. A statue of Longboat entitled "Challenge and Triumph," created by David General, and an exhibit about him are on display at the Woodland Cultural Centre at Six Nations. Most recently, a children's book about his life called Meet Tom Longboat was published in 2019.
Tom Cogwagee Longboat's life and accomplishments are both fascinating and inspiring. To learn more about him, listen to our podcast, "Tom Longboat is Cogwagee is Everything," which includes additional information. Also check out the Tom Longboat Flickr album.
This blog is part of a series related to the Indigenous Documentary Heritage Initiatives. Learn how Library and Archives Canada (LAC) increases access to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation collections and supports communities in the preservation of Indigenous language recordings.
Elizabeth Kawenaa Montour is a project archivist in the Exhibitions and Online Content Division of the Public Services Branch at Library and Archives Canada.
Posted in Biography and People, Indigenous Resources, Military Heritage, National Identity, Our Collection and Facilities, Sports	| Tagged 1908 Olympics, Aboriginal Sports Circle, Boston Marathon, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, CEF, Cogwagee, First World War, Indian Hall of Fame, Mohawk Institute Residential School, Onondaga Nation, Six Nations Territory, Tom Longboat, Tom Longboat Day, Tom Longboat Trophy, Wolf Clan	| 4 Replies
Inuit soldiers of the First World War: Lance Corporal John Shiwak
Posted on November 11, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
by Heather Campbell
Lance Corporal John Shiwak, First Royal Newfoundland Regiment, c. 1915. Courtesy of Veteran's Affairs Canada
As we remember the sacrifices of the soldiers who fought in the First and Second World Wars, many of us are aware of the First Nations and Métis soldiers who fought for our country. But only a few of us may know about the Inuit soldiers who also fought alongside Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. My great-great-uncle, Lance Corporal John Shiwak, was one of those men. Due to his skills as a hunter, he became a sniper—"one of the best in the British Army," according to a fellow officer.
My uncle hailed from Nunatsiavut, the Inuit region in northern and central Labrador, which was part of the British Dominion of Newfoundland in 1914. When the call came for Newfoundland men to enlist, it also made its way up the north coast of Labrador to the Inuit men of these settlements. Inuit culture was, and still is, largely a non-confrontational culture. Many of these young Inuit men were encouraged to enlist by people in positions of authority, such as Dr. Harry Paddon, a physician for the International Grenfell Association. Regardless of their motivations, approximately fifteen Inuit men enlisted and set sail for England in the summer of 1915.
Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador, 1913. Credit: Edith S. Watson (e010791418)
What a culture shock it must have been for these men who, like my uncle, were all from tiny, isolated communities of a few hundred people at most. In addition to the size, hustle and bustle of European towns and cities, the worldview was very different. Although Inuit hunt for survival, we respect each life we take and are taught from a young age to not cause an animal pain or distress. When we take a shot, we want to be certain it is precise and effective. Especially during the early 20th century, when the cost and scarcity of ammunition meant that every bullet had to count. Sometimes that meant going home empty handed.
I imagine those Inuit soldiers felt exactly the same way when they discharged their firearms in war. It must have been a huge adjustment for them to fire in haste, knowing they may have wounded someone. However, they knew that the men on the other side of the trenches had to be stopped for others to live, just as animals in Labrador had to die for their families to live. I imagine it was the only way to reconcile themselves with the horrors of war.
Hudson's Bay Company Buildings, Rigolet, Labrador, September 1926. Photo Credit: L.T. Burwash (a099501)
The story of my great-great-uncle Lance Corporal John Shiwak is unique because in addition to his traditional activities as a hunter, trapper and fisherman, he was also a writer, poet and artist. He wrote many letters from the front lines to his friend Lacey Amy, a journalist and author from Ontario. Mr. Amy wrote the article "An Eskimo Patriot" in the July 1918 issue of The Canadian Magazine, telling of their friendship and some of Uncle John's feelings during the war.
The duration of the war was wearing on him. He had no close friends, none to keep warm the link with his distant home. In September he lamented: "I have no letters from home since July. There will be no more now till the ice breaks". And in his last he longed again for the old hunting days. Labrador, that had never satisfied his ambitions, looked warm and friendly to him now… That was in mid-November. A month later an official envelope came to me. Inside was my last letter. On its face was the soulless stamp. "Deceased".
Every year on Remembrance Day, our family would talk about Uncle John with a quiet reverence, remembering the deep grief experienced when he did not return home. I have yet to meet a Labradorian living elsewhere who does not long to return to Labrador. The connection that we have to the land is difficult to express. We see firsthand how the land provides us with everything that we need to survive. Many generations of history are embedded in not only the community, but also each fishing spot, trapline, woodcutting path, hunting ground and berry-picking spot. This creates a special bond between people and the land. To be away from Labrador is to be disconnected from a piece of ourselves.
When I first visited the Canadian War Museum, I was drawn to the recreation of a First World War trench. Visitors can walk through it and put themselves in the shoes of soldiers on the front lines. As I slowly made my way through the trench, it affected me deeply. Tears streamed down my face as I imagined Uncle John huddled in the mud, writing in his journal or sketching images of the land and animals, longing for the peace and solitude of his ancestral home. A home that he would never see again.
Raillencourt British Cemetery near Cambrai. Shiwak was not buried in this cemetery, but was equally far from home. (a004409-v8)
During the battle of Cambrai on November 20, 1917, an exploding shell killed Uncle John and six other soldiers. Eighty-eight years later, in 2005, my cousin, Jason Sikoak (formerly written as Shiwak), took part in the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey. In this journey, a group of Indigenous people travelled to Europe to honour Indigenous soldiers. Jason told me that during this journey, Uncle John's spirit visited him in a dream. We hope that he followed Jason back to the shores of Rigolet and that he is at peace.
A point of land seen from a distance with Hudson's Bay Company buildings along the shoreline and boats anchored in the cove. Rigolet, c.1930. Photo credit: Fred. C. Sears (e010771588)
Heather Campbell is an archivist in the Public Services Branch at Library and Archives Canada.
Posted in Biography and People, Indigenous Resources, Military Heritage, National Identity, Our Collection and Facilities	| Tagged First World War, Hopedale, Inuit, John Shiwak, Rigolet, Royal Newfoundland Regiment	| 1 Reply
Recognition and Remembrance: A Métis soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1917–1918
Posted on November 9, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
By David Horky
The Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) maintains a list of over 5,000 individuals whose names are engraved on the National Métis Veterans' Memorial Monument in Batoche, Saskatchewan. Unveiled in 2014, the monument serves to recognize, remember and honour veterans from across the Métis Nation Homeland who have served Canada throughout history. The list of Métis veterans (PDF) provides the veteran's name, service number, enlistment (the war or activity), and the location of their inscription on the monument (by column and row).
The GDI list has been invaluable for my own personal research about one of my distant relatives who fought and died in the First World War. I recently discovered Métis branches on my own family tree on the Métis Genealogy section of the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) website, and it was while doing this research that I found the digitized military service file of a distant relative, Private Arthur Carriere.
Searching the GDI list, I was proud to find an entry for a Private Arthur Carriere, confirming that he was indeed among the many names engraved on the National Métis Veterans' Memorial Monument. I realized in the process that the service number on the GDI list—2293697—corresponded to the regimental number referring to the same soldier on the LAC website. This simple example demonstrates the great value of the GDI list to relatives and researchers interested in identifying Métis veterans from the 600,000 digitized service files in the Personnel Records of the First World War database.
Being able to access a digital copy of Arthur's First World War service file—a tangible record of his involvement in the war—was a very personal way for me to pay my respects to one of my kin in remembrance of his service and sacrifice to our country. Despite the brevity of much of the information recorded on the various forms and documents in the file, they collectively provide a story, impressionistic to be sure, about Arthur's brief and tragic wartime experience.
The Attestation Paper from Arthur Carriere's digitized service file. (Library and Archives Canada, CEF 2293697)
Although there weren't any explicit references to Arthur's Métis heritage recorded in the file, I thought I could detect traces or clues in some of the records, especially the Attestation Paper, which provides basic information about his background at the time of his enlistment—age, occupation, residence, name and address of next of kin, etc. Born in 1893 in St. Adolphe, Manitoba, Arthur was 24 years old, single, and a farmer living in St. Vital, Manitoba at the time of his enlistment. His next of kin is his mother, A. (Angèle) Carriere, of Ste. Rose, Manitoba. The communities in particular struck my attention—all are Franco-Manitoban with strong and continuing Métis roots. The next of kin information is often very useful to trace Métis roots, as ethnic origin is not usually stated in the file.
The Attestation Paper also indicates the circumstances of Arthur's enlistment—the most obvious being that he did not volunteer, but was drafted under the provisions of the Military Service Act. He reported for medical examination on November 14, 1917 in Fort Frances, Ontario, and was called up on January 11, 1918 in Winnipeg for active service as a private with the Lord Strathcona Horse (Royal Canadians), a regiment of mounted rifles.
The casualty form from Arthur Carriere's digitized service file. (Library and Archives Canada, CEF 2293697)
The Casualty Form—Active Service record provides us with a very brief outline of Arthur's activities following his enlistment. Leaving Halifax on April 15, 1918 on the S.S. Melita, the Lord Strathcona Horse (Royal Canadians) arrived in Liverpool, England on April 28, 1918. On August 20, 1918, shortly after arriving in France), Arthur joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre where troops were held before being sent to reinforce existing units. A couple of weeks later on September 13, 1918, he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD), a regiment assigned to the Canadian Cavalry Brigade but that mainly played an infantry role throughout the war. Less than a month after joining the RCD, Arthur's life was tragically cut short. On October 10, 1918, he is simply reported as "killed in action." This is one month and a day short of the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918 that ended the First World War.
The entry for Arthur Carriere in the Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War.
A few more details about Arthur's death is provided by another military record, the Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War, which the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF) used to report the cause of a soldier's death, where and when it occurred, and the soldier's final resting place. The entry for Private Arthur Carriere indicates that on October 10, 1918 "while acting as a medical orderly at Brigade Headquarters in Troisvilles, he was killed by an enemy shell." The location of his final resting place is given as Grave 8, Plot 11, Row C in the Highland British Cemetery, recorded in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Register as being one mile south of Le Coteau, France.
The Commonwealth War Graves Registers, First World War entry for Arthur Carriere
Too many to list here, there are other First World War records held at LAC, as well as external sources of information that can provide valuable additional details about WWI soldiers and the various CEF units serving overseas in France and Flanders.
The medal card from Arthur Carriere's digitized service file. (Library and Archives Canada, CEF 2293697)
The Memorial Cross card from Arthur Carriere's digitized service file. (Library and Archives Canada, CEF 2293697)
Arthur's story does not end simply with his death. The medals he garnered, such as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, indicated by crossed-out capital letters "B" and "V" on the medal card along with the Memorial Cross, Scroll and Plaque, were dutifully given by a grateful nation to his mother in mourning.
The Franco-Manitoban Métis community of St. Norbert also felt the loss of Arthur's death. Shortly after the end of war, they erected the St. Norbert War Memorial in recognition of the ultimate sacrifice paid by Arthur and 12 other local residents.
In this light, one can see in Arthur's story a tradition of recognition and remembrance of the services rendered to Canada by veterans of Métis Nation communities that stretches back from the memorial erected in St. Norbert at the end of the Great War all the way to the present-day National Métis Veterans' Memorial Monument in Batoche. The GDI acknowledges that there are probably many unknown Métis veterans who deserve our recognition and remembrance. Using the GDI form, you can submit the names and military service information of additional Métis veterans to engrave on the National Métis Veterans Historic Monument and ensure that they receive the recognition and honour due them from Canada and the Métis Nation.
David Horky is a senior archivist at Library and Archives Canada, Winnipeg office.
Posted in Archived, Biography and People, Discover/How to, Genealogy & Family History, Indigenous Resources, Military Heritage, National Identity, Our Collection and Facilities	| Tagged Arthur Carriere, Batoche, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, First World War, Franco-Manitoban Métis, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Metis Genealogy, military records, Military Service Act, National Métis Veterans' Memorial Monument, St. Norbert, Troisville	| Leave a reply
Mighty Indigenous Warriors: From Egypt to the First World War
By Elizabeth Kawenaa Montour and Sara Chatfield
When First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation were recruited in 1914 to fight in the First World War, enlistees were not aware of the new reality of 20th-century warfare. As a prelude to the First World War, in 1884, approximately 56 Kanienkenha:ka (Mohawk), 30 Ojibway and 19 Métis men were recruited for Britain's six-month Nile expedition in Egypt totalling 400 men. The men were chosen for their strength, endurance, and skill in handling boats and rafts—qualities that were needed to navigate up the numerous cataracts and rapids of the Nile River. They did not see active battle, as they arrived two days after the city of Khartoum, Sudan had fallen, and British Major Charles G. Gordon had been killed. The expedition returned with the loss of 16 men and stories of what they had seen. Along their journey on the Nile, they saw monolithic temples and statues carved out of hillsides at Abu Simbel, the Sphinx of Giza, the pyramids, exotic markets and Egyptian life in Cairo.
Canadian voyageurs in front of the Parliament Buildings, a detail from the "Canadian Nile Contingent," 1884. (c002877)
Three decades later, their next involvement in an overseas military expedition was with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF) in the First World War. It was an opportunity for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation soldiers to see the world, and to prove their courage and combat skills. Soldiers were facing a major change in combat style and warfare. The new reality of war involved the use of chemical warfare, machine guns, fighter aircraft, armoured vehicles, and trench warfare.
Our latest Co-lab challenge, Correspondence regarding First Nations veterans returning after the First World War, illustrates some Indigenous peoples' experiences during the war, touches upon how their communities coped during their absence, and gives information about their lives after they returned home. These documents provide us with information that the Personnel Records of the First World War may not. They offer information such as what the solider planned to do after the war, if he owned land or farm animals, or if he was suited to farming. There is also information about whether the soldier suffered any lingering disabilities, who they lived with, and if they had any dependants.
Created by the former Department of Indian Affairs, these records are unique in that an overseeing federal "Indian Agent" included personal information and comments on the returning First Nations soldiers. In contrast, this was not the case for non-Indigenous soldiers, as no similar sets of records exist for the rest of the CEF.
Document from RG10 Vol 6771 file 452-30 sent to Duncan Campbell Scott from T.A. Stout on February 14, 1919, providing information about John Besito. (Image found on Canadiana)
This personal information became part of the federal government files in Ottawa. The records are also unique in that the "Indian Agents" delved into the soldier's post-service life. The information that was collected included gratuitous private information and personal judgements about the veterans and the civilian lives they returned to. For example, the "Indian Agent's Office" notes dated February 1919 for Private John Besito from Saugeen Agency, Ontario, state, "He has a location of fifty acres in the Reserve. He has a house and some improvements on his location."
As well as administrative information, such as CEF regimental numbers and membership in First Nation agencies and bands, these records also give us genealogical information. For example, the names of three deceased soldiers are listed in a letter to the Department of Indian Affairs dated February 12, 1919, written by the "Indian Agent" of the Griswold Agency in Manitoba. The letter states that the deceased soldiers are from Oak River and Oak Lake Reserves. The letter also includes the CEF regimental number of one of the deceased, Private John Taylor, and that the Department of Indian Affairs paid a pension to his wife and two children. Other correspondence informs us that Private Gilbert Moore, who was killed in action on March 24, 1918, left behind parents in poor circumstances and that they applied for a pension; and that Private Thomas Kasto left a mother who received a pension.
Photograph of Canadian Expeditionary Forces soldier Michael Ackabee. (e005176082)
As well as providing information about the soldiers who fought with the CEF, these files make reference to women in First Nation communities who provided funds to help with the war effort to organizations such as the Red Cross, the Girls Overseas Comfort Club, and the Canadian Patriotic Fund. Women in the communities knitted socks and made shirts to add to the "comfort boxes" that were mailed to the men overseas. They also fundraised by making beadwork, woven baskets, and quilts to sell at box socials and fairs.
Indigenous soldiers who survived the war often returned home changed, both positively and negatively. Sapper Peter Taylor, a Kahnawake soldier, suffered the rest of his life with complications from mustard gas poisoning until he passed away in 1955. Private Tom Longboat, the Olympic long distance runner from Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, returned home from his duty overseas in France to find his wife had remarried after receiving word that he had been killed.
Private Tom Longboat, the Onondaga long distance runner, buying a newspaper from a French boy, June 1917. (a001479)
Many who returned home were affected mentally and physically. We give our gratitude for their sacrifices and service, and they will be forever acknowledged, honoured, and respected.
Elizabeth Kawenaa Montour is a project archivist and Sara Chatfield is a project manager in the Exhibitions and Online Content Division of the Public Service Branch at Library and Archives Canada.
Posted in Indigenous Resources, Military Heritage, Our Collection and Facilities	| Tagged Canadian Nile Contingent, CEF, Department of Indian Affairs, Duncan Campbell Scott, First Nations, First World War, Inuit, Kanienkenha:ka, Khartoum, Major Charles G. Gordon, Métis, Mohawk, Ojibway, Private Gilbert Moore, Private John Besito, Private Michael Ackabee, Private Peter Taylor, Private Thomas Kasto, Private Tom Longboat, trench warfare	| 1 Reply
Top 5 topics addressed by our Reference Archivists
Posted on August 29, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
By Rebecca Murray
Reference archivists receive a lot of questions. In 2018 alone, our reference archivists responded to over 1,200 written reference requests about archival records held at Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Here are the top five subjects that we address on a regular basis.
Train cars off the tracks at Strachan Avenue, Toronto, December 19, 1916. Photograph by John Boyd. a070106
1. Transport accident reports
Our country's vast expanses require frequent transportation from A to Z and points in between. Occasionally, civil or military aircraft, trains and ships are involved in accidents that range from minor occurrences to major wrecks that make the national news. LAC holds the archival fonds of the federal departments, agencies and boards that are tasked with investigating and reporting on transportation accidents.
Check out previous blog posts: Railway Accident Records at LAC, Tips for Aviation Accident Research part 1 and part 2.
If you're interested in a marine accidents, use Collection Search and various combinations of keywords to narrow down potentially relevant records within the Department of Transport fonds (RG12). Type in RG12, the name of the boat, the location of the accident, and then filter your results by date.
You can also find published material on accidents. For aircraft accidents, check out Published Sources for Aviation Accident Reports. To find other published reports about transportation accidents, enter relevant keywords in Collection Search and select "library" from the dropdown menu.
91st Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, April 7, 1916. e010932335
2. Military operations and units
Many researchers ask for information regarding specific military operations or units. It is helpful to have a date range to narrow the scope of the request. Start with a keyword search in Collection Search for records within the Department of National Defence fonds (RG24/R112) and choose "archives" from the dropdown menu to narrow your search.
For example, if you are interested in Operation Overlord, the codename for the Second World War Battle of Normandy (1944), you could try "RG24 operation overlord" and then filter results to archival material from the 1940s. Use the same steps if you're interested in a specific military unit. Perform a keyword search for the unit's name or number along with archival reference number "RG24."
Land patent confirming title to land, granted to David Patterson in Haldimand County, June 8, 1856. (RG68 volume 231, file EO, page 172)
3. Land sales and holdings
This is a very popular topic—especially interesting as our country's land use has changed and evolved over time. Record keeping and shifting government responsibilities have made this type of research a challenge. There are several blog posts to guide researchers through the preliminary phases of their research:
Crown Land Patents: Indian Land Sales
Pre-Confederation Land Patents Issued by the Registrar General
Post-Confederation Land Patents Issued by the Registrar General
LAC also maintains numerous databases related to land holdings including:
Treaties, Surrenders and Agreements
Land Petitions of Lower Canada, 1764–1841
Gaspé Land Commission—List of Names of Claimants, 1819–1825
Land Grants of Western Canada, 1870–1930
Land Grants to Veterans
Most researchers inquire about land they currently own or that was granted to their ancestors. The following information helps us respond to your request more efficiently:
Date of grant (or sale/transfer)
Location of land (specific legal description or general)
Name of patentee (group, corporation or individual)
St. Eugene Indian Residential School—Kootenay, main building looking south, Cranbrook, B.C., September 11, 1948. (e011080318)
4. Residential or day school attendance
Our reference services receive many requests related to attendance at residential or day schools. Most residential school records are in the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds (RG10/R216).
In Collection Search, type in various combinations of the following terms for a broad search: the name of the school, archival reference number RG10, and keywords such as pupil, student, nominal, attendance, admission or discharge.
Refine your search results using the tabs across the top of the results page or the filters in the left menu. For example, you can limit your results to Archives (unpublished materials) and a specific date range. The goal is to identify and compile a list of complete references for potentially relevant files.
For links to digitized records organized by school, refer to School Files Series—1879–1953.
Post Office, Renfrew, Ontario, 1910. a055863
5. Information about historic federal buildings
Are you an architecture buff? Maybe you live or work in a historic building (train station, post office, customs house)? There are many reasons for researching historic buildings.
In Collection Search, start with the building type and location (e.g. Post Office Renfrew). Filter your results as needed—perhaps you are looking for photographs or contract specifications for a mid-century renovation. Filtering by date or type of document (e.g. maps) is often the best first step.
Use clues from the results page to conduct further keyword searches, perhaps using more specific terminology (like street names). Or widen your search using broader geographical terms (like the name of the province or region).
We love getting your questions and will always help you while following our Reference Services Charter. While we cannot do your research for you, Ask Us a Question and we will do our best to help you advance your research on any topic!
Rebecca Murray is an archivist in the Reference Services Division.
Posted in Archived, Discover/How to, Military Heritage, Our Collection and Facilities	| Tagged aircraft accidents, architecture, land patents, marine accidents, military units, Residential Schools, transport accident	| Leave a reply
A selection of records about D-Day and the Normandy Campaign, June 6 to August 30, 1944
Posted on July 4, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
By Alex Comber
With part 1 of this post, we marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day and commemorated Canada's participation in the June 6, 1944, invasion of northwestern Europe, and the Normandy Campaign, which ended on August 30, 1944. In part 2, we explore some of the unique collections that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) holds about these events, and highlight some records that are the most accessible to our clients online. Through outreach activities, targeted and large-scale digitization, DigiLab and our new and Co-Lab initiatives, LAC is striving to make records more easily available.
A frame of Canadian Army Newsreel No. 33, which includes a sequence of film from the Canadian D-Day landings on June 6, 1944
LAC staff receive many reference requests about our collections of photos. Canadian Film and Photo Unit (CFPU) personnel went ashore 75 years ago, on D-Day, filming and photographing as they landed. During the Normandy Campaign, they continued to produce a visual record that showed more front-line operations than official photographers had been able to capture in previous conflicts. Film clips were incorporated into "Canadian Army Newsreels" for the audiences back home, with some clips, such as the D-Day sequence above, being used internationally.
Photographers attached to the army and navy used both black-and-white and colour cameras, and the ZK Army and CT Navy series group the magnificent colour images together.
A British Centaur close-support howitzer tank assisting Canadians during the Normandy Campaign (e010750628)
Some of the most iconic imagery of the Canadian military effort in Normandy was incorporated into the Army Numerical series; by the end of hostilities, this had grown to include more than 60,000 photographs. The print albums that were originally produced during the Second World War to handle reproduction requests can help in navigating this overwhelming amount of material. Researchers at our Ottawa location refer to these volumes as the "Red Albums," because of their red covers. These albums allow visitors to flip through a day-by-day visual record of Canadian army activities from the Second World War. LAC has recently digitized print albums 74, 75, 76 and 77, which show events in France from June 6 until mid-August 1944.
A page from Army Numerical print album Volume 74 of 110, showing the immediate aftermath of the landings (e011217614)
LAC also holds an extensive collection of textual records related to the events of June–August 1944. One of the most important collections is the War Diaries of Canadian army units that participated in the campaign. Units overseas were required to keep a daily record, or "War Diary," of their activities, for historical purposes. These usually summarized important events, training, preparations and operations. In the Second World War, unit war diaries also often included the names of soldiers who were killed or seriously injured. Officers added additional information, reports, campaign maps, unit newsletters and other important sources in appendices. Selected diaries are being digitized and made accessible through our online catalogue. One remarkable diary, loaded in two separate PDF scans under MIKAN 928089, is for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, the first Canadian soldiers in action on D-Day, as part of "Operation Tonga," the British 6th Airborne Division landings.
Daily entry for June 6, 1944, from the War Diary of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, detailing unit objectives for Operation Overlord (D-Day) (e011268052)
War diaries of command and headquarters units are also important sources because they provide a wider perspective on the successes or failures of military operations. These war diaries included documents sourced from the units under their command. Examples that are currently digitized include the Headquarters of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, from June and July 1944.
War Diary daily entries for early June 1944, including the first section of a lengthy passage about operations on June 6, 1944 (e999919600)
LAC is also the repository for all Second World War personnel files of the Canadian Active Service Force (Overseas Canadian Army), Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force. The service files of approximately 44,000 men and women who died while serving in these forces from 1939 to 1947 are open to the public. These records include the more than 5,000 files of those who died in operations during the Normandy Campaign. As the result of a partnership with Ancestry.ca, a portion of every open service file was digitized. This selection of documents was then loaded on Ancestry.ca, fully accessible to Canadians who register for a free account. To set up a free account and access these files on Ancestry.ca, see this information and instruction page on our website.
These records have great genealogical and historical value. As the following documents show, they continue to be relevant, and they can powerfully connect us to the men and women who served in the Second World War, and their families.
Private Ralph T. Ferns of Toronto went missing on August 14, 1944, during a friendly-fire incident. His unit, the Royal Regiment of Canada, was bombed by Allied aircraft as soldiers were moving up to take part in Operation Tractable, south of Caen. Sixty years later, near Haut Mesnil, France, skeletal remains were discovered. The Department of National Defence's Casualty Identification Program staff were able to positively identify Private Ferns. The medical documents in his service file, including this dental history sheet, were important sources of information. Ferns was buried with full military honours at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in 2008, with his family in attendance
Private Alexis Albert, serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, was killed in action in France on June 11, 1944. Four years later, his father, Bruno Albert, living in Caraquet, New Brunswick, requested the address of the family that was tending his son's grave at Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France, to thank them. The Director of War Service Records, Department of Veterans Affairs, provided this response, which helped to connect the grieving family in Canada with French citizens carefully maintaining the burial plot in Normandy.
These are only a few examples of LAC records related to the Canadian military effort in France from June 6 until the end of August 1944. Our Collection Search tool can locate many other invaluable sources to help our clients explore the planning and logistical efforts to sustain Canadian military operations in France, delve deeper into the events themselves, and discover personal stories of hardships, accomplishments, suffering and loss.
Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, which includes the graves of 2,000 Canadian soldiers who died during the early phases of the Normandy Campaign (e011176110)
Alex Comber is a Military Archivist in the Government Archives Division at Library and Archives Canada.
Posted in Archived, Discover/How to, Military Heritage, Our Collection and Facilities, Photography	| Tagged 75th anniversary of D-Day, 75th anniversary of the Normandy Campaign, Allied Forces, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Canadian Army, Canadian Film and Photo Unit, CFPU, D-Day, Genealogy, Military Service Files, Normandy, Normandy Campaign, photographs, RCAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, Second World War, War Diaries, World War II, World War Two	| Leave a reply
The founding of New Brunswick
Posted on June 18, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
By Valerie Casbourn
On June 18, 1784, British authorities ordered that the colony of Nova Scotia be divided in two. As the American Revolution ended in 1783, some 30,000 Loyalists (American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown) travelled north to flee persecution in the United States. Almost half of these Loyalists settled in the region west and north of the Bay of Fundy. This dramatic influx of settlers prompted the British to create the new colony of New Brunswick.
A new and accurate map of the province of Nova Scotia in North America from the latest observations [1781] (e007913197-v8)
Changing population: The arrival of the Loyalists
New Brunswick is part of the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), the Mi'kmaq and the Passamaquoddy First Nations. Prior to the Loyalists' arrival, the region had about 5,000 inhabitants. This included First Nations, Acadians, and small numbers of settlers from the American colonies and from Great Britain.
In 1783–1784, after the end of the American Revolution, about 14,000 Loyalist refugees arrived in this region. The Loyalists included Americans of British or other ancestry, Black Loyalists and people who remained enslaved (sometimes identified as "servants" in colonial records). Some were civilians, while others had fought for the British during the war, either in various Loyalist regiments (often known as Provincials) or as members of the regular British military forces.
British authorities promised the Loyalists and British military veterans land grants. As such, the British surveyed the land for settlement and some Loyalist associations travelled ahead to scout the land. When the Loyalists arrived, they began to claim land and establish farms and settlements, particularly at Saint John and along the Saint John River Valley.
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) holds a variety of records related to the Loyalists' arrival. You can search for the names of individual Loyalists in LAC's four Loyalist databases. The Ward Chipman (senior and junior) fonds (MG23-D1) is especially relevant to the story of New Brunswick. Many records from the Ward Chipman fonds are available on the Héritage Canadiana website as digitized microfilm reels.
The new province of New Brunswick
Influential groups of Loyalists who settled in the Saint John River Valley did not wish to be governed from faraway Halifax and asked for the colony of Nova Scotia to be divided. This demand for a separate province began even before some Loyalists left the United States and it continued to grow. Loyalists found support for their campaign in London, England, and New Brunswick was created on June 18, 1784.
The first page of a two-page letter of thanks to Edward Winslow from representatives of Saint John River Loyalists, dated June 19, 1784. (MG23-D1 volume 11 page 524, microfilm reel C-13151)
The second page of a two-page letter of thanks to Edward Winslow from representatives of Saint John River Loyalists, dated June 19, 1784. (MG23-D1 volume 11 page 525, microfilm reel C-13151)
LAC holds copies of the British Colonial Office's correspondence about Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Loyalists' arrival. Of particular importance are the 1783–1784 records in the series "CO 217. Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, Original Correspondence" (MG11-CO217NovaScotiaA). The correspondence is described in the Report on Canadian Archives, 1894, and the Héritage Canadiana website has transcribed copies on digitized microfilm reels.
As large numbers of Loyalists settled on lands in New Brunswick, they encroached on the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), the Mi'kmaq and the Passamaquoddy. The First Nations lost the use of much of their territory, which was essential to their traditional way of life, as they were displaced by rapidly expanding colonial settlement.
Try using LAC's Collection Search to explore other documents, maps and images related to New Brunswick. The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick holds many resources, including records of land grants in the province.
The Loyalists' arrival in 1783 had a deep and lasting effect on the land and peoples of the Maritimes, and triggered the creation of the province of New Brunswick the following year. As time passed, the people of New Brunswick built up settlements, farms and fishing, timber and shipbuilding industries in the province.
The City of Saint John was incorporated in 1785. "View of the City of St. John, New Brunswick." No date, Peter Winkworth Collection of Canadiana. (e002291761)
Loyalists (resources at LAC)
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
Wabanaki Collection
University of New Brunswick: The Loyalist Collection
Images of New Brunswick now on Flickr
Do you have ancestors of Black heritage?
The United Empire Loyalists—Finding their Records
Valerie Casbourn is an archivist based in Halifax with Regional Services at Library and Archives Canada.
Posted in Exploration and settlement, Immigration, Maps and Plans, Military Heritage, Our Collection and Facilities	| Tagged Acadians, American Revolution, British North America, Early Settlers, immigrants, Loyalists, Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, New Brunswick, Passmaquoddy, Wolastoqiyik	| 4 Replies
D-Day and the Normandy Campaign, June 6 to August 30, 1944
Posted on June 6, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
Infantry landing craft at D-Day, June 6, 1944. (e010777287)
On this day 75 years ago, Canadian soldiers, sailors, pilots and aircrew were fighting in France in one of the largest military operations in history. Operation Neptune, or "D-Day," was the first phase in the overall ground operations in Normandy, code-named "Operation Overlord." Soldiers of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division conducted an assault landing on a stretch of French coast, in the massive Allied effort to establish a new theatre of operations in Western Europe. Canadian units were tasked with creating a beachhead on a section of coast code-named Juno Beach. The assignment for Canadian forces was considered an honour, as the other four beaches, code-named "Utah," "Omaha," "Gold," and "Sword," were earmarked for landings by units of the powerful Allied members of the United States and Great Britain.
Lieutenant R.R. Smith briefing the non-commissioned officers of the Regina Rifles with a sketch of their objective, Courseulles-sur-Mer, France. (e011084119)
Senior Allied commanders and military planners at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force had learned from previous operations, such as the failure at Dieppe two years before, and the successful landings in Sicily in July 1943. This effort to open a new front in the war would benefit from a coordinated approach between land, sea, and air forces, along with comprehensive planning, attention to logistics, a massive build-up of equipment and personnel, feints and decoys to keep the enemy guessing, and a steady flow of accurate intelligence about enemy strengths and dispositions.
An armada of naval vessels escorted the invasion forces across the English Channel, while the airspace was controlled by squadrons of Allied aircraft. A vast array of specialized landing craft transported personnel, tanks, and artillery. In the Canadian sector, craft deposited men and equipment near the villages of Courseulles-sur-Mer, Bernières-sur-Mer, and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer.
Canadian infantry going ashore at Bernières-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. (e010750646)
Tanks of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade struggled ashore and began supporting the advancing infantry soldiers by firing on reinforced enemy positions, while some units of the Royal Canadian Artillery had already been bombarding enemy positions from their landing craft on the final approach. Hours earlier, paratroopers of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion had been dropped deep behind enemy lines as part of Operation Tonga, the airborne landings by the British 6th Airborne Division. Their mission was to destroy bridges, secure strongpoints, support a nearby attack by British paratroopers, and generally create chaos and hamper enemy efforts to counter-attack.
Private Tom J. Phelan, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, who was wounded at Le Mesnil on June 16, 1944, rides his airborne folding bicycle at the battalion's reinforcement camp, England, 1944. (a204971)
Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière moving through Bernières-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 1944. (a131436)
The fighting on the ground was accompanied by more involvement from Canadians serving in other forces. Pilots and aircrew flying with many Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force squadrons provided air cover for the naval operation and ground fighting, patrolled the coasts, attacked enemy troops and armour, provided photo-reconnaissance, and served on bombing missions to support the landings.
RCAF 440 Squadron members pose with a Hawker Typhoon in Normandy, France. (e010775786)
On D-Day, Royal Canadian Navy personnel served in more than 70 naval vessels (landing craft, destroyers bombarding the coast, and minesweepers clearing the way for the invasion forces). In early July, a naval Beach Commando unit went ashore to direct forces and maintain order on the invasion beaches.
Personnel of W-2 Party, Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commando "W" outside a German fortification in the Juno sector of the Normandy beachhead, France, July 20, 1944. (a180831)
The first Canadian boots on the ground in France would be joined by an entire army in mid-July. The First Canadian Army would become the largest formation of men and women in uniform in Canadian history. Bitter fighting continued as the Allied ground forces resisted counter-attacks and pushed inland. Canadian army units would gain objectives in operations at Carpiquet, around Caen, and advancing towards Falaise, but at great human cost.
Approximately 350 Canadian military personnel were killed during the D-Day landings. By the end of August, Canadian land, sea, and air forces had suffered about 5,000 fatalities as a result of operations in France, while many more were wounded. Operation Overlord closed in late August, as opposition crumbled in Normandy and surviving German units withdrew to regroup.
German personnel captured on D-Day embarking for England. (a132474)
Check back on July 4th to read Part two of LAC's 75th Anniversary of D-day series, which will explore some of the unique collections LAC holds about these events.
Posted in Archived, Military Heritage, Our Collection and Facilities, Podcasts	| Tagged Allied Forces, D-Day, Juno Beach, Normandy, Operation Neptune, Operation Overlord, Photograph, Second World War, World War Two, WWII	| 1 Reply
Join us in celebrating our 1,000th blog post!
Posted on May 30, 2019 by Library and Archives Canada Blog
The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Discover Blog has hit an important milestone! We have published 1,000 blog posts! For the past eight years, the blog has showcased our amazing documentary heritage collection, let researchers know what we are working on, and answered frequently asked questions.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, we are looking back at some of our most popular blog posts.
1940 National Registration File
Sample of a questionnaire for women, courtesy of Statistics Canada.
Year after year, this early blog post has consistently been at the top of our list of views and comments. It is not surprising that a genealogy themed post took the top place; what is surprising is that the 1940 National Registration File is not held at LAC, but can be found at Statistics Canada. Either way, it is a great resource and very useful to genealogists across the country.
Want to read more blog posts about genealogy at LAC? Try the post, Top three genealogy questions.
Do you have Aboriginal ancestry? The census might tell you
Aboriginal man and woman [Alfred and Therese Billette] seated on the grass with two children [Rose and Gordon] outside their tent (e010999168).
Another popular post is the 2016 blog explaining how Canadian censuses could help you examine your past and research your unknown ancestral lineage to Indigenous heritage. Canadians might search for their Indigenous heritage to resolve questions of self-identity, or to know if they may participate with Indigenous organizations, or get Indigenous benefits.
Want to read more blog posts on how to research your Indigenous heritage? Try one of these posts, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development records: Estate files or The Inuit: Disc numbers and Project Surname.
The Grey Fox: Legendary train robber and prison escapee Bill Miner
Reward notice for the recapture of Bill Miner that was sent to police departments, publications and private detective agencies (e011201060-210-v8).
This exciting post tells the story of Bill Miner, who was nicknamed "The Grey Fox" and "The Gentleman Bandit." Bill Miner was a legendary criminal on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border. Although he committed dozens of robberies and escaped from multiple prisons, many saw him as a generous folk hero who targeted exploitative corporations only. LAC holds many documents, publications, sound and video recordings, and other materials relating to Miner, and hundreds of these documents are now available on our website as a Co-Lab crowdsourcing challenge.
Want to learn more about records from the B.C. Penitentiary system? Try the post, British Columbia Penitentiary's Goose Island: Help is 20 km away, or 9 to 17 hours as the pigeon flies.
Samuel de Champlain's General Maps of New France
Carte geographique de la Nouelle Franse en son vray meridiein Faictte par le Sr. Champlain, Cappine. por le Roy en la marine—1613 (in french only) (e010764734).
This popular 2013 post combines two aspects of Canadian interest: cartography and explorers! This article gives an overview of Champlain's maps of New France held in the LAC collection. Also included in the post is a "suggested reading list" so researchers can learn more about Champlain's cartography and travels.
Want to read more about the history of New France? Try the post, Jean Talon, Intendant of New France, 1665-1672.
Journey to Red River 1821—Peter Rindisbacher
Extremely wearisome journeys at the portages [1821] (e008299434).
This popular blog post describes the work of Peter Rindisbacher. Rindisbacher was 15 years old when he immigrated to Selkirk's Red River settlement in 1821. Already an accomplished artist when he arrived in North America, he produced a series of watercolours documenting the voyage to Rupert's Land and life in the settlement. His watercolours from the Red River area are among the earliest images of western Canada. Rindisbacher is considered the first pioneer artist of the Canadian and the American West.
Want to learn more about Peter Rindisbacher? Try the podcast, Peter Rindisbacher: Beauty by commission.
The Persons Case
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating the five Alberta women whose efforts resulted in the Persons Case, which established the rights of women to hold public office in Canada (c054523).
This blog post illuminates the history of women's fight for political equality in Canada. The Persons Case, a constitutional ruling that established the right of women to be appointed to the Senate, began in 1916 when Emily F. Murphy was appointed as the first female police magistrate in the British Empire. Undermining her authority, lawyers challenged her position as illegal on the grounds that a woman was not considered to be a person under the British North America Act, and therefore she was unable to act as magistrate. Murphy enlisted the help of Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie Mooney McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney, and Irene Marryat Parlby—now known as the "Famous Five"—who were engaged politically and championed equal rights for women.
Want to learn more about women's rights throughout Canada's history? Try the post, A greater sisterhood: the women's rights struggle in Canada.
The Canadian Expeditionary Force Digitization Project is Complete!
A page from Allan "Scotty" Davidson's digitized service file describes how he was killed in action (CEF 280738).
The last post on our list is an impressive one! The blog announcing the completion of LAC's 5-year project to digitize all 622,290 files of soldiers who enlisted in the First World War was well-received by many researchers.
Want to learn more about how the Canadian Expeditionary Force digitization project started? Try the post, Current status of the digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Personnel service files.
We hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane. You may also be interested in blogs about Canada's zombie army, the Polysar plant, LAC's music collection, historical French measurement standards, or the iconic posters from the Empire Marketing Board.
Posted in Archived, Art, Digitization, Genealogy & Family History, Indigenous Resources, Maps and Plans, Military Heritage, Our Collection and Facilities, Politics and Government	| Tagged 1940 National Registration, Bill Miner, CEF, Famous Five, Indigenous heritage, Persons Case, Red River	| Leave a reply


text:
package com.autonomy.abc.selenium.find.application;

import com.autonomy.abc.selenium.find.BIFindService;
import com.autonomy.abc.selenium.find.numericWidgets.NumericWidgetService;
import com.autonomy.abc.selenium.find.save.SavedSearchService;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;

public class BIIdolFind extends IdolFind<BIIdolFindElementFactory>{

    public NumericWidgetService numericWidgetService() {
        return new NumericWidgetService(this);
    }

    public BIFindService findService() { return  new BIFindService(this);}

    public SavedSearchService savedSearchService() {
        return new SavedSearchService(this);
    }

    @Override
    public void withDriver(final WebDriver webDriver) {
        setElementFactory(new BIIdolFindElementFactory(webDriver));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


4th Newbury (St. Johns) Scout Troop is currently flourishing in Newbury. We have 30 regularly attending members on most Monday evenings. I'm afraid that does mean that at the moment we are unable to accept new members who are not already in our Cub Pack.
Meetings take place every week, during term-time, on a Monday evening, usually starting at 7.30pm and finishing at 9.15pm.
The Troop runs a varied programme with numerous different activities depending upon the time of year and weather. In the last 12 months we've hiked, climbed, sailed, canoed, abseiled, dry-stone-walled, rafted, camped, cooked, crafted as well as many other activities. We try to get out and about as much as possible during the lighter evenings and run a full and varied indoor programme during the long winter nights.
In previous years, the Scouts have been challenged to submit a Scout promotion poster for inclusion on this site, entries received are all listed below.
This will help them towards completion of their Creative Challenge. Details of all the badges available to members of the Scout Troop can be seen at ScoutBase UK.
Every year, the Scout programme is geared towards preparing for our Summer Camp in August. In 2011 we enjoyed the sunshine on the Isle of Wight, in 2012 we enjoyed the beach in Jersey and in 2013 we're heading for Taunton, Somerset!
Emails are regularly sent out to Scouts and parents regarding the Scout programme and activities, if you are not already subscribed to the mailing list you are missing out on important information. Please contact the Scout Leader Team to be added to the list.


We are right on the river so lots of walking, fishing, canoeing and swimming.
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text:
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (arr Sharp)
Edward Pola
Edward Pola (arr. Chris Sharp)
3 Errata
6 State Ratings
Duration: c. 2:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $80.00 | Score Only (print) - $6.00
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Electric Bass (optional)
Piano (optional)
Percussion, including:
None discovered thus far.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a popular Christmas song written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that year by pop singer Andy Williams for his first Christmas album, The Andy Williams Christmas Album.
The song is a celebration and description of activities associated with the Christmas season, focusing primarily on get-togethers between friends and families. Among the activities included in the song is the telling of "scary ghost stories," a Victorian Christmas tradition that has mostly fallen into disuse, but survives in the seasonal popularity of numerous adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Other activities mentioned include hosting parties, spontaneous visits from friends, universal social gaiety, spending time with loved ones, sledding for children, kissing under the mistletoe, roasting marshmallows, sharing stories about previous Christmases, and singing Christmas carols weather.
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
State Ratings
Central Jersey (Milltown) Wind Ensemble (Nick Santoro, conductor) - 10 December 2022
Piedmont Wind Symphony (Winston-Salem, N.C.) (Mark A. Norman, conductor) - 6 December 2022
Mid America Freedom Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor) – 12 December 2021
Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (John Goforth, conductor) - 20 December 2020
Hanover Wind Symphony (Whippany, N.J.) (Matthew Paterno, conductor) – 8 December 2019
Peninsula Concert Band (Williamsbrg, Va.) (Ronnie Tong, conductor) - 11 December 2018
University of South Alabama (Mobile) Wind Ensemble (William Petersen, conductor) – 6 December 2018
Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, Calif.) Concert Band (Greg Orwell, conductor) – 2 December 2016
Ventura County (Calif.) Concert Band (Julie Budd, conductor) – 31 January 2016
Milton (Ga.) High School Wind Ensemble (Joey Glaeser, conductor) – 2012
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (arr. Moss) (1963/1994)
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (arr. Sharp) (1963/2009)
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (arr. Story) (1963/2007)
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (arr. McMillen) (1963/)
Marching Along Together
Old Mister Whiskers
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Wikipedia. Accessed 23 January 2016
Retrieved from "https://www.windrep.org/index.php?title=It's_the_Most_Wonderful_Time_of_the_Year_(arr_Sharp)&oldid=404120"
Grade IV

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Studies suggest women more satisfied with silicone implants and brachytherapy produces better cosmetic outcomes.
Women diagnosed with breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy and breast reconstruction report somewhat higher satisfaction with silicone implants than with saline implants. These findings were published in CANCER, the journal of the American Cancer Society.
Following mastectomy, women undergoing reconstruction with implants may choose between implants that are filled with saline (salt water) or silicone gel. Both types of implants are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While safety and effectiveness have been and continue to be important concerns about implants, patient satisfaction and quality of life following reconstruction are also significant considerations.
To compare patient satisfaction among women who received silicone implants with those who received saline implants, researchers evaluated questionnaires completed by 472 women. One hundred seventy-six of these women had received silicone implants, and 306 had received saline implants.Women who had received silicone implants tended to report greater satisfaction with their reconstructed breasts than those who had received saline implants. Women in both groups who had received radiation therapy following their mastectomy were less satisfied with their reconstruction.
As well, all women reported reduced satisfaction with their reconstruction over time.The researchers concluded that women who received silicone implants tended to be more satisfied than those who received saline implants. They add, however, that patient satisfaction with reconstruction following mastectomy is generally high and that variables in addition to implant type affect satisfaction. Patients may therefore be confident that good outcomes are possible with either type of implant.
For women with early-stage breast cancer a lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy (placement of radioactive "seeds" in the breast) appears to be effective and to provide better cosmetic outcomes than lumpectomy followed by whole-breast radiation therapy.
For women with breast implants, whole-breast radiation therapy can result in the formation of scar tissue around the breast implant (a condition known as capsular contracture). This can be painful and can also distort the appearance of the breast. As a result, women with breast implants and breast cancer often undergo mastectomy with implant exchange rather than breast-conserving therapy. Because brachytherapy provides radiation to a more targeted area of the breast, it may reduce the risk of capsular contraction and allow more women with breast implants to undergo breast-conserving therapy.
To evaluate the effects of lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy, researchers conducted a study among 65 women with small, early-stage breast cancers and breast implants. After lumpectomy, the women were treated with brachytherapy in two doses per day over a five-day period.
All of the study participants had good or excellent cosmetic outcomes.
None of the study participants experienced capsular contracture.
McCarthy CM, Klassen AF, Stefan J. Cano SJ, et al. Patient satisfaction with post mastectomy breast reconstruction: a comparison of saline and silicone implants. Cancer [early online publication]. November 8, 2010.
Poggi MM, Danforth DN, Sciuto LC, et al. Eighteen-year results in the treatment of early breast carcinoma with mastectomy versus breast conservation therapy: the National Cancer Institute Randomized Trial. *Cancer.*2003;98(4): 697-702.
Kuske R. Breast brachytherapy improves cosmetic outcome and reduces the risk of capsular contracture in breast conservation therapy for women with breast cancer in the presence of augmentation mammoplasty. Presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Presentation SSC19-02.


Hospitality Industry continue to feel pressure from contracting economies and reduced leisure and business travel across much of the world. To address this issue, the industry requires optimized workflow support. Hospitality industry is challenged to do a better job of managing technology. Specifically, the industry must align technology investment with business objectives, address aging and inadequate infrastructure; and learn to better utilize technology in marketing to guests, utilizing personnel resources, and meeting customer requirements.
HSC is a suite of Hospitality applications which bridges the gap between optimizing guest services and lowering costs at the same time.
as a result and part of Your Hotel "Green Initiative" our solution will help to consume less time, energy and labor resources.
Hospitality Service Center identifies efficiency and service as the keys to excellent performance in the hospitality industry. It works like a conventional switchboard, except that it allows your service attendant to control call flow easily on the PC. Traffic is controlled in much the same way as at a call center. All telephony services are fully integrated too.
A service tracking module monitors every single service request from the moment it is submitted to the time it is fulfilled. Guests merely press a single button to trigger a request which – thanks to the integrated system – is passed straight to the most appropriate service runner who is available. The service is completed and the data is passed back to the HSC.
Hotels can use this (and other data) to analyze their own performance. Room for improvement in specific areas can be identified thanks to key performance indicators. In other words, HSC can help a hotel continually improve both service and efficiency – and hence customer satisfaction and its own bottom line – in the long term.
HSC is being developed as an open system. In basic configuration system already supports most important integrations (PBX integration, PMS integration, High Speed Internet Access systems integration, Building automation systems ...). Other integrations are easily possible due to extremely open system architecture.


text:
Podcast / April 29 2020
Joy Buolamwini: Artificial Intelligence For All
Artificial intelligence has as much racial and gender bias as the people who create it. Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and digital activist at the MIT Media Lab, talks with host Nelufar Hedayat about how to build artificial intelligence systems that don't perpetuate social inequalities.
Note: We encourage you to listen to the audio if you are able, as it includes emotion not captured by the transcript. Please check the corresponding audio before using any quotes.
[PERCUSSIVE SYNTHESIZER MUSIC]
NELUFAR HEDAYAT, HOST:
This is Course Correction from Doha Debates. I'm Nelufar Hedayat. Each episode, we'll look at one big global issue…and meet the people who are actively working to fix it.
We're not just a podcast — we make a bunch of wondrous digital films and create stuff for our socials. We also put on a series of big live debates, with speakers who have inspiring ideas about how to change the world.
The goal of our live debate series is to build bridges between experts with different perspectives, not pit them against one other. We are looking for what connects us, rather than separates us. And we want to focus on the solutions.
In a recent live debate in our hometown Doha, we discussed artificial intelligence — its promises and its problems. AI might seem like sci-fi fantasy, but forms of artificial intelligence are already changing our everyday lives, from Google Translate, Siri and Alexa to mass surveillance. But we're only seeing the beginning of the artificial intelligence boom.
[FUTURISTIC XYLOPHONE MUSIC]
NELUFAR: In the future, what if we can teach machines to make judgments? To make perceptions in a way that can outpace the human mind? Machine learning has the potential to alter the course of human existence. AI would make it possible to fight wars without soldiers, or find any human on Earth in real-time. But it could also deepen racial discrimination and put lives at risk.
At the debate, each of our speakers presented their views on the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence.
[ARCHIVAL AUDIO]
MAN WITH SWEDISH ACCENT:
AI is not just one more cool technological advance, not just one more interesting gadget.
WOMAN WITH KENYAN ACCENT:
AI is and will continue to provide us the opportunity to rewrite our future. And from where I stand, this is a future that is filled with a strong African voice.
MAN WITH BRITISH ACCENT:
Here's something that actually does concern me a lot more than those potential Russian robots: And that's the fact that most politicians are generally quite bad at making decisions about technology.
WOMAN WITH AMERICAN ACCENT:
AI can compound the very social inequalities its champions hope to overcome. AI magnifies the flaws of its makers — us.
NELUFAR: That last speaker is Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and digital activist at the MIT Media Lab. She's the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, which fights racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence.
Joy is also an artist. She describes herself as a poet of code, who tells stories that make "daughters of diasporas dream and sons of privilege pause."
I sat down with her to talk more about what it means that facial recognition technology doesn't always work on black faces, and what the consequences of that are.
NELUFAR: "Buolamwini," is that right?
JOY BUOLAMWINI:
So I always say "bowl of lamb weenies." So bowl, lamb, weenie.
NELUFAR: Buolamwini. Perfect. There we go.
So how do you, as a young black girl, become interested in this incredibly male, possibly white space?
JOY: Yeah. So for me — well, I'm 29 now, but I guess I'm still a young black girl, which is cool.
NELUFAR: Younger than me!
JOY: So I'm the daughter of an artist and a scientist and I, when I was little, my dad would take me to his lab. I would feed cancer cells, he would be running some sort of analytics on his computers. He had these huge silicon graphics computers that would render protein structures. So when I was little, I would go with my dad, and he's working on computer-aided drug design. Right? So like — that's just how I grew up. And we had, we had a computer lab in my house. I didn't know this wasn't normal. Just —
NELUFAR: OK! It was your normal.
JB: My normal was being surrounded by computers and being in an environment that encouraged me to be curious and to explore. I would break apart computers, set up networks, and it was just like, "Have fun!" It never felt foreign to me, or something that I couldn't do.
NELUFAR: I just want to ask you very quick, basic questions: What is artificial intelligence?
JOY: So artificial intelligence, broadly speaking, is trying to see if we can have machines make judgments the way humans might make judgments, perceive the world. So you can think of computer vision or you can think of voice recognition. And also how we might navigate the world. So think of self-driving cars. There have been many different approaches to artificial intelligence. And the one that's working very well right now is something called supervised learning. So you're teaching the AI to learn patterns. So for example, if you want to teach an AI to recognize a face, instead of, in the past, trying to code every single thing that might make up a face too complicated, what you do instead is say, "Here is an example of a data set of what faces look like. And also here's some examples of things that aren't faces. Just so you know, right? Faces, not a face. Faces, not a face." So eventually you can create a system that can figure out the pattern of a face. The problem can come in, is if all of that training data — let's say you only ever saw white faces.
So at the point I was really frustrated, I was working on this project. I thought I had the facial recognition code right, or the face detection code. But it wouldn't get my face. So the first thing I actually did was I drew up a face on my hand, and it detected the face on my hand. So I was like, wait, now if it can detect the face on my hand, what else do I have in my office? So I had a white mask in my office, 'cause it was close to Halloween, and we had a party. And so I put it, I put the white mask — and I was just, I was first surprised 'cause I was like there's no way. Right? OK, the hand, but the white mask? So literally I was just, I was bemused. And then I was like wow, Fanon already said it: "Black skin, white mask." I just started thinking of all of these other references of what it means to change yourself to fit a system or society that wasn't designed for you.
NELUFAR: Do you not just feel subhuman at that moment? Like this, this thing that — this world that you are helping to create does not accept you for who you are?
JOY: What I realized was, these assumptions that we were making about the progress of AI weren't true. So for me, it was saying, OK, I'm reading all of these articles that says we've arrived in the age of automation, and my own experience is showing me that there are serious shortcomings. So it wasn't that I felt less than, I felt the AI was less than.
NELUFAR: You mentioned a lot "the coded gaze" in your work. Can you tell me what the coded gaze is and how it affects artificial intelligence?
JOY: Sure, so some people might be familiar with terms like the male gaze or the white gaze, which is essentially saying the identity you have, your position in the world, influences what you perceive and how you perceive it, including what's important. So when I talk about the coded gaze, I'm talking really about power. And the coded gaze also reflects our prejudices. So that's why I came up with the term, because I was realizing, just like you have the male gaze or the white gaze, which might manifest itself in the kind of media that we're seeing, the kind of news stories we hear, this thing is also going on in the technology we're building.
NELUFAR: It's a very useful term. If the coded gaze is predominantly white, predominantly male, what is causing this? What is the, what is the cause of this very, very restricted gaze? Is it the data sets that we're feeding into the algorithms? Is it the people that are translating or making sense of the data, or is it the software itself? Who is being malicious here?
JOY: Well, the interesting thing is no one has to be intentionally malicious for the coded gaze to manifest. The coded gaze is a reflection of who holds power. So we were talking earlier about facial recognition, it can be biased and so forth. So my question was, well, we have all these, you know, smart people working on this tech. How did we get to this point? And so I started doing the research, and I looked at some of the key data sets that were being used by other researchers, and even a key data set that came from the National Institute for Standards and Technology. This is supposed to be the gold standard data set. So I looked at that gold standard data set. And then I found out it was 75 percent male and 80 percent lighter skin. And if you looked for women of color — less than 5 percent. The way they collected it is they thought, "Let's collect public figures." So now if you look at who holds power in the world, and you're saying, let's do a convenience data collection, and you're doing public figures, you're going to reflect the patriarchy. So in some ways you can say society is to blame, but you can also say specifically those people who were developing the data sets, not being explicit in checking to make sure what they were creating was actually representative of the world, was a problem.
NELUFAR: So these engineers, these coders, these large organizations and tech companies, by having a laissez-faire attitude, by saying, "Well, we're just collecting the information that's out there to create these data sets." You have a problem with that inherently?
JOY: Oh, absolutely. Because the problem with convenience sampling is, again, if you're not intentional about being inclusive, what you will do is reproduce existing inequalities. And that's what's happening. So tech companies have a responsibility to say, "We can't just say we're going to do convenience sampling," right? "We have to be more rigorous."
NELUFAR: What does the coding community look like?
JOY: Kind of like the white mask, really. You know, not particularly diverse at the moment.
In most large tech companies, less than 20 percent of the technical workers are women. And if you look at people of color, you're closer to more of the 2 percent range, right? So if who's designing these systems isn't that diverse, we can run into some issues. Then there's also the actual development process. How are these systems being built? What data's being used to train this?
NELUFAR: You, you talk a lot about transparency when it comes to the AI community at large. What is transparency like in the community and what are you hoping to see more of?
JOY: So there needs to be transparency during the design, development and deployment of AI systems. So when we're thinking about design, we have to think about who's designing in the first place. Like many other computer scientists, we kind of use off-the-shelf parts — code libraries, right?
NELUFAR: Right.
JOY: So instead of having to build everything from scratch, I'm like, look, let me grab this part, let me grab that part. But if we don't have transparency in how the system was trained or what the limitations are, you're going to use it hoping or assuming it works well for everybody, but that might not be the case.
NELUFAR: Who should be responsible of making sure that that is reflected — you and I, as people of color, as women — that we should be reflected more accurately in the technology that's designed for us to use?
JOY: Well, it's an interesting conversation about the governance of AI, because even if you make these tech systems more inclusive, it can be used for surveillance. So now you have a situation where I have highly accurate facial recognition. Now let's put that highly accurate facial recognition on a drone — with a camera and a gun. So now this conversation is more than, "Was I included in the data set?" Maybe you don't want to be in that particular data set.
NELUFAR: That's so interesting! I'd never thought of it in that way. The more the artificial intelligence and data can recognize you —
JOY: Yeah.
NELUFAR: You are now involved.
JOY: You are. And so I call this a cost of inclusion, but there are also costs of exclusion. There is a recent study that came out from researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology, and they were looking at pedestrian-tracking systems, trying to see if I can see a person on the street, because if you have a self-driving car, you don't want people to get hit. So this is what they found out: They tested these systems and found they were less accurate for people with darker skin as compared to lighter skin. So now this is a cost of exclusion, right? If I'm not included and you have autonomous vehicles all over the place, that's also going to be a problem. So you have cost of inclusion: I end up in mass surveillance. Cost of exclusion: Maybe I get hit.
NELUFAR: How do we eradicate these anomalies, and these exclusion and inclusion costs, when it comes to artificial intelligence?
JOY: Absolutely. I think the first thing we have to keep in mind is, people need to have a choice in whether or not AI is being used. Affirmative consent is not a current pattern in the way we develop these systems. It's just assumed that hey, you walk in the street, you might get hit, right? Or if I log into a particular service, they're going to harvest my data, and this is what it takes to be part of the connected digital world. But that's actually a design choice. It doesn't have to be the case that just by entering a place I can automatically take your face information. So I think that's the first thing — making sure people actually have a choice.
The other thing is meaningful transparency. If I'm going to a job interview that's using facial analysis technology to infer my emotional engagement or my problem-solving abilities — and there's a company, HireVue, that claims to be able to do this —
NELUFAR: Wow.
JOY: — I need to know. We've gotten bias in the wild, reports about companies like this, where somebody will say, "It's only after the fact I found out they were even using this kind of technology in the first place." So if you don't have meaningful transparency, you can have no due process. If something goes wrong, how can you contest, right? So affirmative consent, meaningful transparency and then also continuous oversight.
In the UK, they started piloting facial recognition technology, but made the requirement that the police had to report the performance metrics. When they reported the performance metrics —
NELUFAR: Oh, goodness.
JOY: Ninety percent — over 90 percent — false positive match rates. This was May 2018. More than 2,400 innocent people being mismatched with criminal suspects. So even if these technologies went through certain checks or you're saying, "Yes, the police is using this tech, right? There's transparency there." You still have to check how it's impacting society. It's something continuous, this is something you have to keep an eye on.
NELUFAR: Online, some of the critics say that actually you put a social justice spin on data sets and technology that has no bias inherently. What do you say to people who charge you with this?
JOY: Well, I say check the data set. So here's a gold standard data set that's meant to be reflective of the world. It's 75 percent male, it's 80 percent lighter skin. So I don't — like, the skew in the data set is empirical.
NELUFAR: But the point being, that this is a human fault, not the fault of artificial intelligence. And by putting this kind of spin, they say, onto it, what you're doing is, you're turning, you're making AI, you're vilifying artificial intelligence or coding or these algorithms —
JOY: I hear what you're saying. AI is all ultimately a reflection of humanity. So all of these critiques are about the people who are creating the technology. In fact, this is a point I try to make, because some people will be like, "Oh yeah, the machine is biased but we're not so" — like where do you think the machine is getting the bias from? As far as the social justice spin, I think there is no greater purpose for me in doing the work than making sure that the gains made with the civil rights movement or the women's movement or the labor movements are not undermined by machines because we assume they're neutral. So yes, you can call it social justice, etc. We have the empirical, peer-reviewed research, you know, so regardless of my own leanings, what we're showing is true. AI systems can produce sexist results, they can produce racist results. There are also issues when it comes to age. So if you're somebody who's going to age in this world or encounter AI, we all have to be vigilant.
NELUFAR: You did a beautiful spoken-word piece in which you, you kind of tied in your artistic side and your very artificial intelligent machine-learning coding side. And it was about facial classification software that wasn't able to properly classify first lady Michelle Obama as a woman and wasn't able to identify the first black congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, as a woman, either.
NELUFAR: I mean, it was ridiculous. And you talk about it in the piece.
JOY: Even Serena Williams was being labeled "male."
NELUFAR: But not to be, but it was other things — like for example, it couldn't recognize an Afro and thought it was a toupee.
JOY: Right. Or a coonskin cap.
NELUFAR: Wow. I don't even — or, or, or it wouldn't recognize — oh, let's say that – these women had walrus mustaches.
JOY: That was epic.
NELUFAR: That was astonishing to me!
JOY: I was just like, wow.
NELUFAR: I mean —
JOY: IBM.
NELUFAR: Is that motivation for you to continue to do what you do? I want to understand your drive and your passion, 'cause it's palpable in every word you say. Like where do you get this drive?
JOY: Well, for me, it's understanding that it's not just about facial analysis technology. AI is trying to decide if you get a job, right? AI is deciding if you have access to medical treatments. And if we get that wrong, it's more than just saying, "Oh, your Afro looks like a toupee." You have real-world consequences. And that's what drives me, knowing that so many of the advances people before me have fought for, in terms of equality. All of that can be erased because we introduce AI that's biased, and we're not checking. And so then it seems like, "Oh. well these decisions are objective because they came from a machine." And while we would like to believe that, because we're using machine learning that's learning from data that we have created that reflect structural inequalities, it's not going to always be fair if we're not intentional. So that's what drives me — because real lives are at stake.
NELUFAR: Wonderful. Thank you so much.
JOY: Thank you.
NELUFAR: Before we go, I asked Joy to recite a bit of my favorite of her poems. It's called "AI, Ain't I A Woman?"
JOY: My heart smiles as I bask in their legacies
Knowing their lives have altered many destinies
In her eyes, I see my mother's poise
In her face, I glimpse my auntie's grace
Can machines ever see my queens as I view them?
Can machines ever see our grandmothers as we knew them?
NELUFAR: That is all for the show today. To watch the full live debate, go to YouTube and search for "Doha Debates artificial intelligence." You can see all of the speakers' proposed solutions, and tell us what you think. How are you affected by bias in artificial intelligence? And what would you do to fix it? I want to hear from you. Tweet us at @DohaDebates. Or get in touch with me at @nelufar.h.
Course Correction is written and hosted by me, Nelufar Hedayat. The show is produced by Doha Debates and Transmitter Media. Doha Debates is a production of Qatar Foundation. Special thanks to our team at Doha Debates — Japhet Weeks, Amjad Atallah and Jigar Mehta. This episode was mixed by Dara Hirsch. If you like what you hear, rate and review the show. It helps other people find us. Join us for the next episode of Course Correction wherever you get your podcasts.
Course Correction
Ghanaian American computer scientist and digital activist
Nelufar Hedayat
Doha Debates correspondent & host of Course Correction and #DearWorldLive


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