May is Asian Heritage Month!
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In 2002, the Government of Canada designated May as Asian Heritage Month. This declaration was adopted by the senate in 2011 thanks to a proposal by Senator Vivienne Poy, the first Canadian senator of Asian heritage.
This is an opportunity to mark the legacy of Asian Canadians, past and present, including those of East Asian descent (e.g., China, Japan, Korea), South Asian descent (e.g., India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asian descent (e.g., Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia), Central Asian descent (e.g., Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan) and West Asian descent (e.g., Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey).
For the BC Alliance, that means celebrating notable figures in BC’s cultural history, as well as honouring the members of our artistic communities who claim Asian heritage.
Here are some resources and upcoming events for those looking to celebrate the many impacts of Asian Canadians on arts, culture, and society at large:
explorASIAN, or Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, hosts Virtual explorASIAN 2020. Check out artist talks, free weekly meditation sessions, online concerts and exhibitions from community partners, and more.
The Government of Canada offers this resource page, featuring videos, a timeline of noteworthy events surrounding the Asian community, notable Canadians of Asian origin and more.
The National Film Board has curated this selection of films that celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian descent.
Learn about the events and policies that have impacted Asian Canadians, such as the story of the Komagatu Maru, the history of wrongs toward Canada’s Chinese population, Japanese Canadian internment, and the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting.
Join the Migrant Rights Network in taking action to ensure justice for all migrant workers, including those of Asian descent.
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is offering a free weekly yoga class, every Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. Centre yourself for the week to come.
Get a little colour in your life with these Asian History Month colouring pages!
Consider donating to organizations which strengthen and promote Asian arts, culture, and history, such as Centre A, Historic Joy Kogawa House, Indian Summer Festival, or the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
Finally, we would be remiss to ignore the recent spike in anti-Asian racism in our communities. Our friends at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival are on the job with their #Elimin8Hate campaign. The Festival is asking filmmakers and the public to make their own 60-second PSAs on empowering, educating, and eliminating racism. The BC Alliance stands in solidarity with VAFF and our Asian community members, and recognizes their essential contributions to our cultural fabric.
The list above is by no means comprehensive. Take the time to contemplate, self-educate and celebrate the many contributions of Canadians of Asian descent!
[Cut image: Vancouver’s Chinatown at night. | Image: Ethan @ Flickr.]
