To all readers:- Some time ago it was suggested that a combined UNITED NATIONS submission be sent to Senator Lorna Milne, with letters from both United and Canada. Barbara Marrs (bmarrs@uswest.net> accepted all letters -- she is a resident of Boise, USA. We were working with a submission to the Expert Panel from Roslyn Griston, GRanthams Landing, BC. The following is an international submission - many thanks!! More letters will be appreciated at any time. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> =========================== re: Post 1901 Censuses From: "Melville R. Andress" <mandress@uniserve.com> To bmarrs@uswest.net I am in complete agreement with the message show herein. Sincerely, Melville R. Andress #110- 33110 Nelson Ave. Abbotsford,B.C.V2S 2L5. ---------- To all:- How many readers, in all parts of the world, agree with the following as submitted to the Expert Panel? Read it before making up your mind, please, then see note at bottom. ================================================= Roslyn Griston April 30, 2000 Re: Post 1901 Census Release Dear Expert Panel While considering all the other documentation regarding the release of the Post 1901 Censuses. Please consider, I am a child of people listed on these censuses. I will be listed on censuses from 1953 onwards. I hereby give my permission to have census information regarding me and my minor children to be open to viewing by researchers in the future. My children have a right to know their heritage and nationality. We are descended from British roots. My four year old daughter also, has Ukrainian roots. You will be denying her, her heritage and ability to find her national origins if you choose to support the lock up or the destruction of the Post 1901 censuses. Her great grandparents and family came to Canada in the decade of the Great War. Her grandfather can not remember family details. The censuses will provide this information for her and her two half siblings. Would you deny my nationality of being Chinese, even if I were born in Canada? Certainly not, simply because you would be able to look at me and know my nation of origin identity. Because, I and my children are of Northern European descent does not mean we are not interested in our nation'(s) of origin. Nor should we be denied it. Nor should any other child of Northern European descent. The United Nations says I and my children have the right to our national identity. I am Canadian born, living in a multi cultural country. A country, often stated as a cultural mosiac. Are my children and I of the wrong part of the mosiac to have our inherited right of nationality protected? Would you deny a First Nations person the right to say they were a Canadian born, of the Cree or Sechelt or Huron nations? I believe the following two paragraphs could successfully be argued in court to return mine and others right to access information regarding our historic nation(s) of orgin. UNITED NATIONS Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 8 1. States Parties undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law without unlawful interference. 2. Where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, States Parties shall provide appropriate assistance and protection, with a view to re-establishing speedily his or her identity. I and my children have a right to know our nationality. It is part our cultural identity. Thank you for your time and consideration with this submission. Sincerely Roslyn Griston <r_griston@dccnet.com> ================================================== If YOU agree with above, please forward a short paragraph, complete with your name and address, from not only Canada, but United States, to Barbara Marrs - address below. We are hopeful of obtaining volunteers in Australia and other countries -- combined submission will then be forwarded to Senator Lorna Milne as it will be a multi-country submission. Please send your comments as requested to Barbara Marrs <bmarrs@uswest.net> Barbara lives in Boise, USA [copy may be sent to me as well] Many thanks in advance, Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Brampton, Ontario, Canada ============================ Subject: Re: Post 1901 Census Release Date: Sun, 21 May 2000 10:37:50 EDT From: MAX6@aol.com To: bmarrs@uswest.net I have read with great interest the submission by Roslyn Griston to the Expert Panel. I totally agree with her comment that all our children have a right to know their heritage. Without anecdotal information (which unfortunately a lot of us are unable to obtain), it is impossible to find the official registrations of births, marriages and deaths (as stated by one member of the panel as always being a source for finding your ancestors) if you do not know the country of origin of your ancestors. It is only the census reports that can steer a person in the direction of his/her heritage. =================== From: " àV" <mac@x5ca.net> To: bmarrs@uswest.net CC: davidson3542@home.com I feel we as Canadians and others nationalities have the right to learn about our heritage. As the mother of 6 children I feel they to should have the right to learn about thier family history. I have a 5 year old son who is mentally challenged,asthmatic, and has epilepsy.We do not know if this was something others in the family also had, if it is passed on through the generations. For these reasons alone we should be able to view these records. Thank you for taking the time to listen,I can only hope and pray now that the government will make the right decision. Kim McLean. Ont.Canada. ======================== Subject: My Rights From: "Joe Black" <jblack@ainop.com> To: bmarrs@uswest.net I agree with Roslyn Griston about the right to have my children and grandchildren to be able to acess any and all records to identify themselves, and this should not be taken away from them or me. My family all come from New Brunswick and if I am denied the right to acess records, I shall never find out about my family as they are all deceased. Thank you for your time. Geraldine Flemming Black Monticello, Maine 04760 ========================= Subject: right of the child From: "Barrie Atkinson" <atkinson@pangea.ca> To: bmarrs@uswest.net CC: davidson3542@home.com I agree with the right of a child to know his heritage. Barrie Atkinson Winnipeg, MB ============================== 1426 UTC Sun 21 May 00 To Whom It May Concern: I was born and raised in Canada and had to leave in the mid-40's after my father's death in the Canadian Army. I believe very strongly in the following: "I and my children have a right to know our nationality. It is part of our cultural identity." Sincerely, 73, Caroll Dezort Massie KC7TCK 2 Grosh Avenue Dayton, Nevada 89403-9304 <k7nhp-kc7tck@juno.com> ======================== Dear Barbara; I agree 100% with you. My daughter and I both had epilepsy as children. Without the 1911 censuses I can not find out which side of the family this disease came from. I hope that the Expert Panel does not vote against us, I will never find out. If it chooses to do so then every genealogist may as well close their family tree and say Good-bye to their ancestors. Here is hoping Nettie Mitchell- Nickel <NNickelH@aol.com> ================================ To all:- My only hope is that Canada will not destroy this valuable (and possibly only) link to our Canadian heritage. Maxine Muirhead, Bradenton, Florida USA (born London, Ontario) max6@aol.com ==================== Subject: Canadian with background heritage missing From: "Frank McKERRY" <mckerry@home.com> To: bmarrs@uswest.net Fully agree with your submission, this is one of the few rights we have left - take it away and we lose all contact with family heritage. Frank McKERRY mckerry@home.com ================= Subject:UNITED NATIONS AND RIGHTS OF NATIONALITY SUBMISSION RE:POST 1901 CENSUS From: "Jack and Coralie Hebert" <coraliehebert@hotmail.com> To: bmarrs@uswest.net CC: davidson3542@home.com Hi. My name is Jack Hebert. My postal address is Box 323, Taylor, B.C. I most heartily agree with your letter. I tried to make that point when I wrote to my Member of Parliament, Mr. Jay Hill, though I am not nearly as coherent a writer as you. Myself, I am half French, and the other half is half English and half German (I believe there is also a few natives thrown in for good measure) Without census records to pore through, there would be no earthly way for me to do any meaningful research. By the way Muriel, my son died of Leukemia back in 1969, and I recently discovered that my Grandmother died of Leukemia as well, though not the same type. Anyway, you can put me down as being in complete agreement with you! Jack Herbert Box 323 Taylor Point, BC <coraliehebert@hotmail.com> ====================================== -- more to follow --