The Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba is on a mission: to increase Canadians’ knowledge of diverse Asian cultures and histories. This mission will bring them to the Niverville Heritage Centre on Sunday, May 6 with an afternoon of free entertainment.
The Asian Canadian Festival will take place from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is open to everyone. It will feature performances of both traditional and contemporary dance, music, and martial arts demonstrations from multiple Asian cultures.
Art Miki, President of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba, feels that events like this one are particularly important these days.
“If you look at the numbers, the highest rates of immigrants are now coming from Asia,” Miki says. “So we feel it is important for more Canadians to know who these people are and to learn about those cultures.”
According to the 2016 census, seven of the ten top countries of origin for recent immigrants are in Asia. In Manitoba, over half of all immigrants moving to the province come from the Philippines, India, and China.
In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration that designated May as Asian Heritage Month. The declaration states, “The people of this diverse, vibrant, and growing community have contributed to every aspect of life in Canada—from the arts and science to sport, business, and government.”
“The term Asian is pretty broad,” Miki points out. “It includes over 40 countries, including up to the Middle East. People from Syria, for example, are considered Asian as far as documentation.”
In Manitoba, celebratory and educational events for Asian Heritage Month run throughout the month, starting with opening ceremonies at the Manitoba Legislative Building on May 4. Other events include a symposium for high school students, film screenings, performances at The Forks, and a writers showcase.
Most of the events are held at locations across Winnipeg, with the May 6 event in Niverville one of the only events happening beyond the perimeter.
So why Niverville, a town that doesn’t have an especially large number of people with Asian heritage?
“One of our main goals is to reach out to people who may not otherwise have a lot of exposure to Asian cultures,” explains Miki, who was once a citizenship judge. “To us, reaching non-Asian communities is really important. We want to share our traditions and cultures with others who are curious and would like to learn about something new.”
Miki hopes that the Asian Canadian Festival event at the Heritage Centre will be both fun and educational for everyone. He also hopes that people in the Niverville area may appreciate the chance to see performances that would normally require a drive to the city.
“The goal, ultimately, is to share and celebrate Canada’s multiculturalism with everybody.”
