This story begins with the theory of Eugenics begining in 1833 by Francis Galton. Slowely these ideas start to trickle into Canada.
One province begins to stir with these ideas: [[Alberta]]With an increase in immigration in the 1920s, The United Farm Women’s Association begins to grow concerned. Ideas of Eugenics start to take root.
An election in Alberta leads to much change
Press to vote below and then press this link to learn about your new political party: [[The United Farmers of Alberta]]
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VOTE
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UNITED FARMERS OF ALBERTA
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<div class="section-title">For Provincial Representative</div>
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The United Farmers of Alberta
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</div>The the United Farmers of Alberta political party comes to power. This is detremental as their beleifs allign with eugenics policy which comes from farming practices that improved livestock through breeding, they believe this could be applied to humans.
They start to change legislation: [[Sexual Sterilization Act]]
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</script>The Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act of 1928 established a provincial eugenics program that permitted the sterilization of individuals labelled “mentally defective,” reflecting the belief that social and intellectual problems were hereditary and could be prevented through controlled reproduction (Park & Radford, 320).
[[Leilani Muir's story]]
Leilani Muir’s memoir A Whisper Past tells the story of her life as a survivor of Alberta’s eugenics program and forced sterilization under the Sexual Sterilization Act. Born in Calgary in 1944 into a low-income family, she experienced severe abuse and neglect during childhood. Her mother eventually placed her in the Provincial Training School (PTS) in Red Deer, an institution for children labeled as “mentally defective.” There, she was assigned a number instead of being treated as an individual and lived under strict institutional control, often receiving medication and medical treatment without explanation.
Although proper testing procedures were not followed, the Eugenics Board approved her sterilization while she was still a teenager. In 1959 she underwent surgery and was told only that her appendix had been removed. Years later, she discovered that she had actually been sterilized without her informed consent. The sterilization affected her adult life deeply, contributing to failed relationships and emotional trauma.
As an adult, Muir decided to sue the Alberta government. Despite legal obstacles, she successfully brought her case to court, arguing that officials had failed to follow the law. Her victory not only brought her personal justice but also exposed Alberta’s history of eugenic sterilization to the public. Her case encouraged other survivors to come forward and led to further lawsuits against the government. Through her memoir, court case, and later activism, Muir helped raise awareness about the harms caused by eugenics policies in Canada and ensured that this history would not be forgotten.
[[Can I learn more?]] The best thing we can do is try and learn
Read Leilani Muir's A Whisper Past or watch The sterilization of Leilani Muir by the National Film Board of Canada
Click the camera if you want to watch the film: <style>
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Watch the Film
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