Dr George W Foty for New Pathway.
Dear Mme Joly.
My great Uncle, Ivan Fokij (born Yvan Fotij or Ivan Foty) arrived in Montreal from Bukovina, Ukraine (then part of Austro Hungary) as a young man, possibly in 1908, shortly after marrying Paraska in Bukovyna, for a ‘better future' and a new life. After finding work in the CN Rail yards, he finally was able to finance his wife's journey, and she joined him in 1909. They eventually settled in Verdun, Qc, and later in Ville St Laurent, where I was raised, attended Parkdale Elementary, Malcolm Campbell High in Cartierville, and later McGill University.
Due to Canada's repressive policies during 1914-17 towards ‘enemy aliens', to assimilate and live on, Ivan attempted to hide his identity, and this, in part, spared him from being interned during that time. He changed his name to Ivan Tokie, and still later to John Toke. He sheltered his two daughters from their heritage, language, and his customs, so that they would be sparred identity persecution and bias. They grew up as true Canadians, and in turn, his daughters raised theirs, and then their son's and daughters raised theirs, spread throughout the Montreal area, without the background, knowledge, or appreciation for their fore fathers' culture, history, or language.
In 2011, I had the opportunity to reconnect with a few of Ivan's descendants, my cousins, second cousins, etc. I was shown a collection of handed down photographs from the early 1900's. My relatives did not really understand who these people were, where they came from. They all related that they wished they had had some sort of a connection to the language and culture of their great and great great uncle, but unfortunately, this was not passed down to them. Clearly, to my mind, they were searching for their roots, a connection with the past: who they were.
Their history and cultural heritage, for reasons unknown to them, was denied.
So, what does my family's story have to do with Spirit Lake?
The point is, Mme Joly, although the actions or lack of, may seem inconsequential now, they will impact future generations. And the relatives of those who perished at Spirit Lake? Will we deny them a tangible connection to their past? Do we desecrate the bodies of their ancestors, who gave so much to Canada?
Shall we forget and move on? I hope not, and believe not. The interned deserve not. Please consider the importance of saving the cemetery at La Ferme for those who survived them and know, and those who have lost a connection with their past due to tragic circumstances, of no fault of their own, who are still searching and wish to know.
Fortunately for myself, my parents, my wife's parents,and many others of our and different heritages, who arrived to Canada after that era, transferred their cultural heritage to their children, in a free, welcoming, and open society of, as the late Senator Paul Yusyk, a great Canadian of Ukrainian heritage, coined it: “Multiculturalism”. We, therefore, transferred this heritage to our children. See below: my daughter, Alexandra Foty (Olesia Fotij), in Bukovinian dress from Ukraine. My side of the family, and others similar and other heritages, fortunately did not loose our “roots”.
Alexandra Foty (Olesia Fotij)
On behalf of myself and as an extension of the direction of the late Senator Paul Yuzyk, the father of multiculturalism, and on behalf of the late Yvan Fokij and wife Paraska, ( the Toke family – my family – of Quebec): their two daughters, the late Mary and Rita. Rita's only child Aurey, her children, and their children. Mary's children: Yvan, the late Caroline, Sony and Sussie, all their children, and their children.
All of these families and descendants, and of other families who lost their ‘connection', who are still searching.
Respectfully,
Dr George W Foty
Oakville, On.
This is a letter to the Minister for Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly requesting to restore and re-consecrate the cemetery holding the remains of at least 16 interned persons at Spirit Lake (today, La Ferme) in Quebec
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