FLARES OF FAITH AND CULTURE
OLYMPIC TORCH
ELENA MURATOVA
MUSLIM YOUTH
GLOWING CULTURAL PRIDE
VICTORIA’S
BLACK COMMUNITY THE FLAME KEEPERS
SUMMER 2018
Many of us came from somewhere else. Some of us arrived 100 years ago, some of us 100 days ago. Now we are here— working, living, and learning together. We may have arrived in different ways and for different reasons. We may be going down different paths, but one thing is the same: here is home.
IN OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO INDIGENIZE OUR WORK AND TO CHALLENGE THE ONGOING NEOCOLONIZATION, THE Here Magazine FAMILY EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF THE LAND, AND RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT OUR WORK TAKES PLACE ON THE UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE LEKWUNGEN AND COAST SALISH PEOPLES, INCLUDING SONGHEES, ESQUIMALT, AND W̱SÁNEĆ FIRST NATIONS. THE
Here Magazine
FAMILY BELIEVES CULTURAL EDUCATION AND STORYTELLING ARE KEY TO THE PATH FORWARD AND HOPES THAT LOCAL FIRST NATIONS AND NEWCOMER COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND HISTORIES TO DEEPEN ONE ANOTHER’S UNDERSTANDING, AND TO ENSURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IN THIS TIME OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.
SUBSCRIBE 4 Issues | $30 Receive your own limited edition of Canada’s newest magazine—we ship worldwide with free delivery within Canada.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA
FEATURES Volume 5, Issue 1
NEWCOMER ELENA MURATOVA P. 10
FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE P. 18
THE UNWANTED P. 28
THE FLAME KEEPERS P. 34
MARA BY THE SEA P. 40
SHINE ON! P. 46
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018
5
FROM THE EDITOR
“Fundamentally, branding is a profound manifestation of the human condition: belonging to a tribe, to a religion, to a family. Branding demonstrates that belonging.” —Wallace (Wally) Olins, CBE
REBRANDING OURSELVES Last October, Here Magazine embarked on a rebranding journey.
It’s exhausting and sometimes even demoralizing. The brand
Developed in the spare room of this former educator’s home
doesn’t always translate. Perhaps it’s an accent, a credential, or
four-plus years ago, the magazine was the product of a great
an ethnicity that isn’t instantly recognizable or doesn’t seem to
deal of energy and heart, but not necessarily of any conventional
resonate with the new target demographic. Marketing yourself
design or publishing expertise. We have made it this far because
is tough enough, but newcomers to Canada must make the
of our outstanding and dedicated community of contributors,
coldest of cold calls in their efforts to find a sustainable and
volunteers, readers, advertising partners, and supporters.
rewarding place in their work and community. Those more established in the community can offer a warm reception, make
The tricky thing about rebranding is that it is a lot of work. It’s
some room in the market, and give the fresh brand a chance
discussion and reflection; it’s collaboration and consultation;
to shine.
it’s deconstructing and building at the same time; it’s Saturdays and Sundays too. And when what you thought you knew you
I also learned last October that the Here Magazine brand runs
were is stripped away, you discover you must start from scratch.
deeper than the surface of these pages and is more than a logo and good paper stock. Our origin story is one of tenacity and
Rebranding is exactly what every single newcomer to Canada
shared vision narrated by hundreds of diverse voices—and we
must do no matter who they are or which community they
plan to build upon that foundation for years to come.
choose to adopt. Even a newcomer with a family member or friend already established in Canada is, in a sense, floating in space, detached from the vast social and professional networks they had built in their countries of origin. And
Fiona Bramble
so the hard work begins, putting your brand out there, tweaking it and persuading the new environment around
p.s. We hope you like our new look and content! Please send
you to respond to what you have to offer.
comments to community@heremagazine.ca
6
SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
CONTRIBUTORS
PAUL BRAMADAT P. 14
FIONA IRVINE-GOULET P. 26
LOUISE AUBIN P. 28
JAKELINA LISTES P. 38
NOFEL P. 48
JAERANG LEE P. 49
HARRISON ELLIS P. 50
JOHN-EVAN SNOW
HELIO NOGUEIRA
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018
7
Managing Editor Fiona Bramble
Discover More
Photography Director John-Evan Snow
www.heremagazine.ca
Art Director
Copy Editors Kieran Wilson Christy Sebelius Renée Layberry
Helio Nogueira
/heremagazinecanada
Creative Support Jamie Lamb Shon Taylor
Contributing Writers Paul Bramadat Fiona Irvine-Goulet Jakelina Listes Jaerang Lee Nofel Harrison Ellis
@heremagazineCA
Contributing Photographers John-Evan Snow Helio Nogueira Fiona Bramble
/heremagazine.ca
Advertising
Editorial Committee
Brenda DeWynter
Jakelina Listes Daniela Pinto Hyeyoung Jeon Simona Sbardelotto
Get Here Magazine for your home or organization subscribe@heremagazine.ca
Digital Director
Advertise in Here Magazine ads@heremagazine.ca
Fiona Bramble
Contact Us 160 Eberts St.‚ Victoria‚ B.C. Canada V8S 3H7 info@heremagazine.ca 250-920-7986
ON THE COVER Shaquille Shah wears a pakol, a wool hat originating from Afghanistan, now worn by many ethnic groups, including the Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Nuristani, and Chitrali peoples. Shaquille’s kameez is a formal style worn from India to Iran; his tattoo references the “seven chakras.” PHOTO BY JOHN-EVAN SNOW
All contents copyrighted. Written permission from the publisher is required to reproduce‚ quote‚ reprint‚ or copy any material from Here Magazine. Ideas and opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or advertisers. The publisher neither endorses nor assumes any liability for the contents of any advertisement in this publication. We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.
Single copy price: $8 Yearly subscription price: $30 Printed in Canada by Glenmore Printing. ISSN 2291-8582
8
SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
#WeMetHere @HereMagazineCanada We love hearing about the magic of We love hearing about the magic ofand intercultural intercultural relationships the relationships and the special places special places where you where met! you met! Tag your Instagram photos Tag your Instagram photos #WeMetHere #WeMetHere @heremagazinecanada @heremagazinecanada We’ll regram andthem, maybeand feature your story We’llthem, regram maybe here! feature your story here! (Learn more about Michael and Nikole’s love story @ heremagazinecanada) (Learn more about Michael and Nikole’s
love story @heremagazinecanada)
Michael was late because he wanted to find a gift for Nikole on their first date. He found this teddy and she has kept it ever since. @heremagazinecanada #WeMetHere #lovestory #diversity #bettertogether #firstdate #newcomer
It is all about timing. Nikole happened to walk by when a trainer was needed for Michael. The rest is history. @heremagazinecanada #WeMetHere #lovestory #diversity #bettertogether #canada #internationalstudent
You never know where you might find a new sense of home. We have our own little family now. @heremagazinecanada #WeMetHere #lovestory #bettertogether #family #newcomer #feelslikehome #canada
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018
9
New Here
ELENA Love is an Olympic sport
Skiing since the age of three through long, dark winters in the Murmansk Region of Russia, Elena Muratova followed the glow of the Olympic torch and found love in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. Settled in Victoria B.C., Canada with her husband Ivan, Elena now helps others become their best physical selves. 10 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
What was your path to Sochi? When did you start skiing?
What was the response from your friends and family?
I think I was around three years old when I started to ski. My
It was amazing how many people remembered me and sent
dad was my coach; he was a competitive alpine skier and then he
me messages—people who had known me in the past. It was
became a coach. I like to joke, actually, because both my parents
cool, but our coaches said we had to stay away from social
are coaches. My mom coached figure skating and my dad alpine
media starting a few weeks before the Olympics. I thought
skiing, so I only had two choices: figure skating or alpine skiing.
it was strange, but I took their advice. When the Olympics
I was very little when I tried figure skating, but my dad was
were finished for our sport, I went on to my social media and
more interested in training me. My mom says that she liked to
wow, there were so many messages! The coaches were right;
be just a mother to her kids, not a coach to them. My dad was
it would have been overwhelming before the Games to deal
pretty happy with that decision. But it was tricky in some ways
with all those messages.
sometimes because it is difficult when you come home and he is still your coach even at home. Dad was my coach until I was
Were you happy with your performance at the Games?
fifteen or sixteen years old, then I switched to freestyle skiing
I placed 21st at Sochi and unfortunately, didn’t qualify for
and it’s a different kind of sport from alpine skiing.
finals, but I was pretty happy just to be there. It was an amazing experience, difficult to express. One of our Russian
Did you join the Russian national team then?
guys placed 3rd. The emotions were so high—everyone was
More or less. I was on the national team for ten years. Sport
connected and we were crying and hugging at the finish line.
was my life. I tried different things but still came back to the sport because I missed it so much.
So was that it—the pinnacle? Had you realized your dream?
Was the 2014 Olympics in Sochi your first Games?
Actually, after the Games, we went on to the World Cup
I had this dream to go to the Olympics. I had a few knee
Series. We didn’t just stop; life continued! I placed 2nd
surgeries that prevented me from going to the Olympics earlier.
in the World Cup. It was the best result ever in my sport
Of course I needed to qualify at the World Cup level first.
career. I had it in my mind already that I was going to retire after the World Cup. It was part of my life plan because of
How did you feel when you made the team?
age, because of health—it is difficult for the body to train
I was very excited when I made the team—it was awesome—
constantly. It was a big commitment for four years. The
but it also was stressful because it was a home Olympics.
average age to retire from freestyle is around thirty years old.
Double pressure. Everyone was watching.
I also had met the man who would become my husband.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 11
NEW HERE
Falling in love is a good incentive to retire! Where did you
Wait, you travelled all the way to Canada to train for the
two meet?
Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia and fell in love with a fellow
We met in Vancouver. We had Canadian coaches for four
Russian in Vancouver?
years and we had some training camps in Vancouver and in
I know. It’s crazy. It’s great that we met in Canada. It’s
Whistler. During one of the training camps, my teammates
unbelievable how small the world is. He is originally from south
and I went to the shopping mall. I needed to buy a new dress
of Moscow and I used to live maybe a fifteen-minute drive from
for my sister’s wedding. My now husband was at the mall
his hometown. I had even visited his hometown when visiting a
too and heard us speaking Russian. He approached us and
friend. Then we meet in Canada!
started a conversation. When did you arrive in Canada to stay? Is he Canadian? Was he an athlete too?
One week before our wedding. It was April 2014. I had the
Actually, Ivan is Russian. He came to Canada to study a few
Olympic Games in February and then the World Cup and other
months before we met.
competitions in Russia.
12 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
The Olympics, World Cups, and a wedding in three months? Must be the athlete in you. Ivan did most of the planning. I just bought my wedding dress and shoes. It wasn’t a big wedding. I had nobody in Vancouver. Actually, my mom and my dad watched our wedding from Russia via Skype. Our friend carried a laptop around! It was four or five a.m. in Russia and my parents were sitting watching, wine glasses on the table. It was
ELENA HERE IN CANADA
kind of awesome. My mom said she really felt like she was there with us. My parents didn’t actually meet Ivan in person until after the wedding. Why did you two decide to settle in Canada? When we decided to live together, we considered what options we had. Ivan’s parents had already settled in Burnaby and are now Canadian citizens. He had a plan here. He studied here. I wasn’t tied down to anything. I’ve always loved Canada. I have travelled to many countries, but Canada was always close to my heart. It does remind me of Russia, but I don’t know why. It’s difficult to describe. The nature reminds me of Russia. And what led you to Victoria specifically? Ivan was accepted to Camosun College and we fell in love with Victoria. He found a job and I started my business here. What is your new business? I am a personal trainer and help people to be fit, strong, and healthy. I have a degree in sports science. I love to train people, but I didn’t want to be a coach—and of course Victoria is not a good place to be a ski coach! Personal training seemed like a good opportunity. I can also apply my athletic experiences to help clients reach specific goals, like running a marathon or climbing Kilimanjaro. I usually train at the Quadra Sports and Fitness Gym, but sometimes I visit people at their houses, depending on their goals. My clients have all different levels of fitness. I had a client who is around 85. We worked mostly on preparing him for daily activities so he can be independent. His daughter asked me to train him because he had applied for an artificial
FIRST EMOTION UPON ARRIVING Excitement. MISS THE MOST The food! Fortunately, now you can find Russian food in Victoria at Seven Valleys store on Douglas St.—the store has new owners from Azerbaijan. They import smoked mackerel, salted herring, buckwheat, candies, and Russian-style cottage cheese and sour cream. The Russian-style cottage cheese is very different from the Canadian style, which is salty. You would eat the Russian-style cottage cheese with some jam or something sweet. We often buy food in Vancouver too because there are Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian, and Polish stores there with more to choose from. AT HOME My husband is a good cook and usually cooks at home. He likes to experiment and loves to cook food from different cultures as well. He really enjoys it! It’s not typical in Russian culture for men to do the cooking, at least, in my family, the women usually do the cooking.
leg and he had to be strong to qualify, which he did in the end. It’s not athletic training; it is more general fitness, but I can apply my experiences. Because of my own injuries and surgeries, I understand my clients’ recovery needs. HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 13
ELENA HERE IN CANADA CULTURAL CONNECTION
WEIRD CANADIAN CULTURE
It helps that I am married to a fellow
Personal space. You have big distance
Russian. That’s a big deal because we speak
between people in lines, for example. You
Russian at home. We also have Russian
could easily fit two or three more people
friends here. Unfortunately, we don’t have
in that space! And everybody is so polite!
a Russian community centre or something
Everyone is smiling in the streets here
like that here, but there are many groups,
and I love this part very much. In Russia,
like Facebook groups or book clubs. We
if someone is smiling at you, something
also Skype with my family all the time. I
is wrong. But sometimes, people are so
can’t imagine not having that. I can see
polite [here] they can’t tell you the truth.
my niece in Moscow growing up. I call my
It’s frustrating—you can’t understand their
mom every week.
real feelings.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE
FAVE ACTIVITY IN VICTORIA
Language. Even though my English is
Paddleboarding. Going to the beaches. I
good, it is still a challenge—it can still
love the smell of the ocean.
prevent me from expressing myself at a complex level. And talking with my clients,
IMMIGRATION ADVICE
for example. They all come from different
Be careful with lawyers. We had a bad
professions and of course I don’t know
experience with a lawyer from Vancouver.
some words related to their professions.
If you speak English, you can call an immigration centre and get answers
ACCENT BIAS
to your questions. When you are
It’s funny, I’ll say something to my clients
immigrating, you are limited in your
or other people, and they’ll say, “What?”
budget. Spending a few thousand dollars
I’ll say it again and again until they realize
on things you can do by yourself is not
what I’ve said. Then they’ll say the word the
good. Our lawyer actually came referred to
same way I just pronounced it! I understand
us, but did not seem very knowledgeable
it sounds different to them, but to me, it
and used scare tactics. Some people do
sounds exactly the same. But that’s not bias
need a lawyer, so my advice would be
exactly. Actually I find Canada really great
to be cautious, think twice, and not take
in this way, not discriminating.
advice blindly.
14 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 15
CASC DIA Religion, Spirituality, Secularity, and Society in the Pacific Northwest by Paul Bramadat, Principal Investigator One of the distinctive features of the Pacific Northwest of
year study, supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities
North America (the “Cascadia bio-region”) is its approach
Research Council. Our team of faculty and graduate students
to the institutions, ideas, and practices associated with
from various disciplines and universities will address three
religion and spirituality. A unique environment for religious
outstanding questions:
communities was created through the historical challenges of settlement, economic development (in forestry and mining,
1) What are the similarities and differences between the forms
for example), political contestation (between Indigenous,
of religion and spirituality one finds in the Canadian and U.S.
British, and American groups), and the physical and
components of Cascadia?
psychological distance from the rest of the continent.
2) How inclusive is Cascadia for those from minority or conservative religious backgrounds?
Although religious monopolies and oligarchies have existed
3) What are the public and social implications of the religious,
in a number of places in North America, the Anglican,
spiritual, and cultural changes we observe in the region?
Presbyterian, Lutheran, Catholic, and United Churches of the 19th and 20th centuries never achieved as strong a foothold
Of course, Indigenous communities have lived here for
in the region as elsewhere in Canada and the U.S. This helps
millennia and have well-established political, legal, aesthetic,
explain why Cascadians say they have “no religion” at much
cultural, spiritual, and moral traditions that have survived
higher rates than people in other parts of North America.
centuries of mistreatment and misrecognition from the dominant settler societies on both sides of the border. In
In addition, Cascadia is home to a dynamic array of religious,
this project and others we will initiate, we hope to work with
post-religious, and spiritual movements, which people are
colleagues to address the creative tensions one sees in the
arguably freer to adopt and adapt than ever before (and
Indigenous religious landscape among, syncretic, revivalist,
possibly than anywhere else). Indeed, the region is arguably
and assimilationist orientations toward Christian and
the site of extraordinary natural beauty that has animated
traditional spiritualities.
what I call a reverential naturalism among many residents. In Cascadia we are able to pursue unresolved debates about Some see the account I have provided above as the death
the nature, scale, and implications of secularization and
knell for religion in the area, but these forms of irreligious,
the new ways in which individuals and communities in the
spiritual, and post-religious identity do in fact coexist with
region are re-imagining religion, spirituality, and society.
conventional liberal and deeply conservative religious
I am joined in this project by colleagues from Cascadia
perspectives. To put it briefly: it’s complicated.
and beyond. Together we will provide our academic peers, students, the CSRS community, and the broader public with
This year, our team at the Centre for Studies in Religion and
a new account of the complex interactions between religious
Society (CSRS) at the University of Victoria begins a four-
and social forces in Cascadia.
16 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
RESEARCH
“...the region is arguably the site of extraordinary natural beauty that has animated what I call a reverential naturalism...”
LEARN MORE Facebook: facebook.com/uvic.csrs Twitter: @UVicReligioNews Email: cdhorton@uvic.ca
PAUL BRAMADAT—Director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria. Photo credit: Mike Morash.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 17
HEARTS ON OUR SLEEVES
18 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE
Expressions of Faith & Culture Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 19
FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE
My pakol (hat) and kameez (shirt) are worn by many ethnic groups, including those in Pakistan such as the Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, and Chitrali. My mother is from the Islamabad region of Pakistan. My dad was born here in Canada but his brothers and sisters—seven siblings in total—were born in Pakistan. —Shaquille Shah 20 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
This outfit represents my Haitian roots and culture. —Stanley Bieberdorf
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 21
22
FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE
My traditional dresses from Liberia were a gift from my parents to help me stay connected to my culture. —Tenneh Bieberdorf HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 23
24
This is the female version of an Agbada from Nigeria, where I am from. —Pelumi Ogunbanwo
FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 25
“This dress is my identity. When I wear it, I represent Kurdistan.” ~Juanne Khattat
26 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
“A pastor or priest carries symbols of her faith and the collar is one of them. It identifies me as a person, who by vocation, will hold sacred space for the Divine love that dwells within all life.� ~Reverend Aneeta Saroop
27
THE UNWANTED A Portrait of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Since August 25, 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Myanmar. Most are women and children; many have been beaten, tortured, raped, or have seen their homes and villages burned to the ground. Their loved ones have been killed or have disappeared. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been helping Rohingya refugees for many years in Bangladesh—where the majority have arrived—and continues to supply life-saving aid.
by Fiona Irvine-Goulet, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR Canada)
28 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
REFUGEES
Baynuwa, 35, holds her 8-month-old son Terak at Chonkhola camp in Chakdhala, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: Andrew McConnell for UNHCR.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 29
T
he Rohingya are the world’s largest group of stateless
season in Bangladesh, UNHCR has distributed upgraded shelter
people, an ethnic minority of about 1.3 million people,
kits, composed of bamboo poles, ropes, tools, and tarps to more
mostly Muslim, living in the northern Rakhine state of
than 35,000 families.
Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country. Considered “foreigners” within their own country, they have no citizenship,
With its partners, UNHCR is developing Kutupalong Extension,
and are denied many basic human rights, including health care,
a new site near Kutupalong refugee camp. This includes funding
education and employment. Most live below the poverty line.
a road to facilitate construction and refugee access, supporting
Throughout the years, there have been many waves of Rohingya
site planning, building latrines and wells, improving the water
refugees fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar.
and sanitation facilities and distributing shelter materials.
On August 25, 2017, Myanmar state media reported that 12
As with any humanitarian crisis in which families become
security officers had been killed by Rohingya insurgents. The
separated, UNHCR registers families and has established a
subsequent army crackdown in Rakhine state and ensuing
referral system to reunify unaccompanied children with their
violence and destruction of villages triggered an exodus that in
parents. Victims of sexual violence, in particular, are referred
just six days reached an astonishing 270,000 Rohingya fleeing
to safe spaces. UNHCR is also enhancing efforts to identify
on foot and by boat to Bangladesh.
and refer children at risk, so they can receive the appropriate support.
Bangladesh has, for decades, been home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. In 2017, to cope with the
Louise Aubin, the Deputy Director for International Protection
recent arrivals, UNHCR expanded the previously established
at UNHCR’s headquarters in Geneva, helped lead UNHCR’s
refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, and provided relief and shelter
emergency response in Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees. “So
items. The Bangladeshi government has allocated some 2,000
many refugees look deeply traumatized. They are searching for
acres of land close to Kutupalong camp on which family tents
surviving family members; children have been separated from
and temporary communal shelters have been erected to shelter
their parents; some people still wonder whether their father,
new arrivals. There are still many Rohingya remaining in
siblings or children are alive and have had a chance to safely
Rakhine state on whose behalf UNHCR has called for an end to
reach Bangladesh,” reports Aubin. She says: “The conditions
the violence, and access to provide much needed humanitarian
here are taxing: the climate, the terrain, and the emotional
assistance.
strain of interacting with people who’ve suffered so much horror. One can easily feel overwhelmed and powerless to
Between September and December of 2017, UNHCR had 17
address the needs of hundreds of thousands of people. But the
airlifts of emergency life-saving aid to Bangladesh. Upon arrival,
Rohingya are incredibly resilient. In fact, a massive settlement
refugees families received essential supplies including sleeping
was built within weeks by the very refugees who now inhabit
mats, mosquito nets, tarps, solar lamps and shelter kits to build
the area, despite having arrived with nothing but the clothes
their homes. As part of its preparedness efforts for the monsoon
on their backs.”
OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP) Rohingya children walk through the rain and mud at Chonkhola refugee camp in Chakdhala, Bangladesh. The camp is situated on the Myanmar border and is home to over 6,000 refugees. (BOTTOM) Hafez Mohammed, 58, holds a picture of his son, Mir Kashem, 19, who has mental health problems and went missing after not receiving treatment. Photo Credit: Andrew McConnell for UNHCR. 30 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
REFUGEES
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 31
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Rohingya refugee crisis
www.unhcr.ca/bangladeshaid
32 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
REFUGEES
Aubin says the impact of donations is already visible on the ground, with more than 1,500 metric tonnes in emergency lifesaving relief items and shelter materials delivered.
Bangladesh, the real front-line responders in this emergency. Without the help of our partners and donors, the staggering needs cannot be met.”
“So far, more than 20 schools in both Kutupalong and Nyapara settlements have been reopened and are running, helping thousands of refugee children to resume a semblance of a normal life,” she says.
Canadians have given generously to the crisis, but the needs on the ground remain vast. UN agencies, including UNHCR, and their partners have recently launched a joint appeal for US$951 million to meet the needs of nearly 900,000 Rohingya refugees and more than 330,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in the communities hosting them.
“The lives of hundreds of thousands of refugees have been saved, and this response was made possible because of the people of
Revised and reprinted with permission from UNHCR Canada.
OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP) Young Rohingya siblings (from left) Samira, 10, Ayasha, 17, and Shahab, 12, have their portrait taken in their shelter in Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh. The siblings walked for seven days then crossed the sea, fleeing Myanmar. Ayasha is the head of the household as their parents died 10 years ago of tuberculosis. Photo Credit: Andrew McConnell for UNHCR. (BOTTOM) Aerial View of Kutupalong Refugee Camp. Photo Credit: Roger Arnold for UNHCR. THIS PAGE Bangladesh. UNHCR distributes 50,000 hygiene kits to Rohingya refugees. Photo Credit: Roger Arnold for UNHCR.
For more information on the Rohingya refugee crisis and how you can help, please visit: www.unhcr.ca/ bangladeshaid.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 33
THE FLAME KEEPERS Advocacy and Celebration in Victoria, British Columbia’s Black Community Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW Words by FIONA BRAMBLE
ALFRED OKOT OCHEN—President of the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI)
34 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
COMMUNITY
Passion and joie de vivre are palpable in Victoria’s and Vancouver Island’s Afro-Caribbean communities. Supported by elders and inspired by youth, these local Black leaders work tirelessly to educate the wider community, to champion and mentor in their organizations, to celebrate culture, and to keep the flames of their African heritage burning bright.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 35
S
ilvia Mangue has a passion, actually several overlapping passions: supporting Black entrepreneurs
and youth, educating the community, and bringing the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society into the 21st century. Born in Equatorial Guinea, Silvia came to Canada by way of Spain, where she spent many of her childhood years. It is her country of birth, however, that holds a special place in Silvia’s heart. Her return to Equatorial Guinea at the age of ten for a two-year stay, Silvia describes as “the happiest years” of her life. President of the B.C. Black History Awareness Society since 2017, Silvia is focused on growing the membership and is actively recruiting committed members, particularly those who share her vision for supporting Black entrepreneurs and youth. Silvia, an entrepreneur herself, founded the elder-care service, Kulea Love—“kulea” a Swahili word that means “caring from the heart.” When asked how knowledgeable the wider community is about Black history in B.C., Silvia says there isn’t much knowledge “even in the Black community” and that her own son asked her “if Black pioneers existed” in British Columbia. “This is why we have to work so much harder,” says Silvia. Her goal is to add more educational presentations to her community work.
THE AMBASSADOR
Silvia regularly visits local schools to talk about B.C. Black history and even recently presented at William Head Institution, a correctional facility near Victoria. It was an experience Silvia describes as inspiring and enlightening. Despite being a champion for Black history education, Silvia doesn’t think “education about Black history should be mandatory” and that “the desire to learn should come from within, from curiosity.” However, Silvia believes exposure to other cultures in general is important, especially in this young, diverse country: “Now we are here, we are all Canadians. Let’s treat each other as we deserve, with love and respect.” 36 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
SILVIA MANGUE—Founder, Kulea Love and President of the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society
PULCHÉRIE MBOUSSI Founder, Victoria African Cultural Society
THE CELEBRATOR Pulchérie Mboussi never slows down, moving from one idea
Victoria. It shocked me. It was like me asking someone if they
or event to another with boundless energy and enthusiasm,
are European. I am not African, I am Cameroonian. I am a
her generous smile inviting anyone and everyone along for
Cameroonian-born Canadian,” says Pulchérie.
the fun. Organizer in chief for the many public events and celebrations hosted by the Victoria African Cultural Society
These experiences motivated Pulchérie to form a society to
(VACS), including the popular AfricaFest, Pulchérie brings the
celebrate African culture and raise awareness in the community.
cultural heart of the African continent to Vancouver Island.
At first, it was named the Victoria African Cultural Society,
The concerts, dance performances, film screenings, and fashion
but Pulchérie says that she had a few Caribbean friends, so she
shows are most certainly celebratory in nature, but underneath
thought, Let’s make it an African-Caribbean society. Over time,
all the fun and glamour, VACS has a serious agenda.
however, Pulchérie felt that the society’s mission was getting confused and wanted to refocus on her initial mandate: “to
When Pulchérie first moved to Victoria from Quebec City
raise awareness about the African continent, its 54 countries
seven years ago, she was unprepared for what seemed like a
and more than 3000 ethnic groups.”
widespread lack of knowledge in the community about Black people. She would call her friends back in Quebec to say that
When thinking about what it means to be a welcoming society,
she felt like she had just “immigrated again.” It bothered her
Pulchérie says it’s crucial that the receiving society know
especially that people she met in Victoria would generalize
something about the newcomers who are coming: “You can
that Black people were just “African” and not even distinguish
try to have an inclusive society and bring people together,
between the many countries in Africa (nevermind consider
but nothing will change if you don’t learn something about
other countries of origin). “After twenty years in Canada,
where people come from and what they believe in. Canada
the first time someone asked me if I was African was here in
will get there.” HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 37
THE STEWARD Originally from Gulu, Uganda, Alfred Okot Ochen is one of
Africans, people of African descent, and friends of Africa
the founding members of the African Heritage Association
on Vancouver Island.”
of Vancouver Island, known more commonly by its acronym, AHAVI. Two words come to mind when one meets Alfred:
Alfred believes it is vital for those of African descent to come
humility and intelligence. Not one to seek the spotlight,
together to “have a platform and welcome new members in
Alfred is that special kind of leader who chooses to lead
the community” and says that “when there are successes we
from behind, encouraging and propelling others forward.
celebrate together; when there are difficulties in families, we are there for each other.”
In 2004, Alfred was a university student and had only been in Canada for one year when he and a few elders
Alfred says AHAVI has “come a long way” but acknowledges
in the Black community came together to formulate the
that “funding is always a struggle” and the association needs
constitution that would be the backbone for what is now
to raise more awareness. The long-term vision for AHAVI? To
AHAVI. Alfred says that the AHAVI vision at the time was
have its own centre. Alfred says that although he is AHAVI’s
that the association would be an umbrella organization
current president, he “claims no ownership” and will hand
for all the Afro-Caribbean associations in Victoria and on
the leadership over to a new executive in October 2018 when
Vancouver Island. Officially, AHAVI’s mandate is: “to build
elections are held. Alfred wants others to “have the experience”
a united and strong community by cooperatively organizing
and opportunity to develop their own leadership skills, but
and supporting events and activities to meet the needs of
will continue to provide support and guidance if needed.
38 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
39
ART FINDS A WAY Having emigrated from Croatia fifteen years ago and a designer herself, JAKELINA LISTES connects with other immigrant women about their art and the challenge of finding belonging in a new community. Mara by the Sea is the first in a series.
40 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
BELONGING
I
met Mara in 2016 during one of her visits to VIRCS, the
her new life here, but is also sad and misses her family and
Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society. She was
friends back in her homeland.
there on behalf of the Women in Need (WIN) Co-op, where she used to work as a regional manager. Mara instantly drew
Her impression of Canada as a “very nice, amazing, but a hard
me in with her happy, warm, and vibrant approach, and we
place to make friends” sounds so familiar to many newcomers,
shared with each other our personal stories of struggling as new
and we both agreed that the depth of relationships here is
immigrants to Canada. Several months ago we reconnected via
different than what many of us are used to. Friendships here in
Facebook, and to my surprise I found out she was an amazing
Canada, according to Mara, seem a bit loose, almost superficial—
artist. I thought she should share her talents with the world,
especially when compared to ties that exist among friends in
so here we are.
cultures like Argentina’s—and subject to circumstances. She says, “I know a lot of people, but it is hard to click with them, and just
I visited Mara in her apartment and improvised art studio in the
because you meet people doesn’t mean you become friends.”
Victoria B.C. neighbourhood of James Bay, where she lives with her boyfriend, Eric, and her therapy dog, Diya, a Rhodesian
Mara’s Canadian story goes back to late nineties, when she met
Ridgeback. Mara is celebrating her thirteenth anniversary of
her ex-husband through an online app (the now-defunct ICQ
coming to Canada. Originally born and raised in Buenos Aires,
chat room). They fell in love and maintained a long-distance
Argentina, Mara moved to Victoria in 2005.
relationship for a few years, meeting occasionally in Argentina and the U.S. Once Mara received her Canadian Permanent
The name Mara comes from the Spanish word for the sea, mare.
Resident status and came to Canada, she moved to Victoria
It is evident that Mara has a strong connection to the ocean: her
and they got married.
home is full of shells, rocks, and beach wood; her favorite colour is turquoise; and the focus of her art is the ocean and its waves.
Unfortunately, the relationship did not last. As is the case for many intercultural couples, the challenges are many, and figuring
The close proximity to the ocean and the beach is what
out how to navigate a new life can take years. Being a new
Mara loves the most about her apartment. It gives her the
immigrant and in a relationship with a person from a different
opportunity to walk along the beach with her dog and provides
culture is demanding, as the other person suddenly replaces an
her with the daily therapy of sounds, images, and the smell of
entire network of people, including family and friends.
the ocean. Mara has always loved animals, dogs in particular. After getting sick and not being able to work, she decided to
Mara believes that they were not really prepared for what this
adopt a dog—a big but anxious one in need of love and care
kind of relationship and her moving to a new country and
as much as Mara was.
new culture would bring. The whole process, she explains, was exhausting, both emotionally and financially, and by
Mara describes her life in Canada as bittersweet, as do many of
the time they finally were living together, they were already
us. She feels happy and grateful to have been able to establish
different people.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 41
MARA BY THE SEA
LEARN MORE
Web: www.maragszypart.ca Facebook: /MaraGSzypArt Instagram: /maragszypart
42 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
BELONGING
After her marriage ended, Mara was on her own, still a new immigrant with limited resources and networks. Like many immigrants, one of the biggest challenges she had was to find a place to live, which is not easy without references and steady employment. She contacted twenty-seven landlords before one of them gave her a chance. A few years after settling in Victoria, Mara decided to start her own small business, a pet store in the downtown Victoria area, which she ran for several years. Eventually she closed her store and shifted her focus to finding work that reflected her passion for supporting marginalized women. That is how she landed her job at WIN, where she was regional manager for a few years. She talks about her WIN days with sadness. She had hoped to work at WIN until retirement. Life often develops in strange and unexpected ways, and that was certainly the case for Mara. After being diagnosed with and treated for renal cancer, she was no longer able to work and was forced to reevaluate her life and the future. Losing her job was very painful; she lost not only her job but also friends and the sense of community and value gained by doing something she loved and believed in. When I asked Mara how she started to paint, she explained that she was always artistic and a good sketcher, always drawing and doodling, but did not paint very much or see herself as an artist. She thought she was nothing special and is still very critical of her own work and reluctant to share it with others.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 43
BELONGING
About a year ago, with the onset of depression, Mara started looking for ways to keep positive and have something meaningful to do, so she started to draw, sketch, and paint—this time for real. She spends her nights, when she can’t sleep, painting. This is now a part of her healing process. Luckily, Mara also has good support from Eric, who encouraged her to start painting. It opened her eyes to the idea that her identity goes beyond her former role of managing retail stores, and that despite the difficulties she has experienced, she has more to offer to the world and herself. Mara started to post her work online through Facebook and Instagram, and the reactions from people were so positive, she was encouraged to share more. Soon she had her first custom order painting. Now she is figuring out how to sustain her new passion. She has created a webpage for her art, spends a lot of time on social media, and is working on illustrations for a children’s book that touches on issues of race, diversity, and culture. Before I left Mara’s studio, we exchanged thoughts on how difficult it is to break into an art scene, to get yourself out there, and to approach galleries, coffee shops, and other places that feature art—and to try to promote yourself and your work, let alone make a living out of it. It was an emotional visit with a woman with whom I share more than a few significant experiences. I can’t wait to see what she will produce in the future.
Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW Words by JAKELINA LISTES
44 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
Mara G. Szyp
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 45
SHINE
ON!
Youth Cultural Ambassadors Lighting the Way Photography by FIONA BRAMBLE & JOHN-EVAN SNOW
46 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
YOUTH
T
he young women and girls of the Youth Activities Program
Hijab is not fully understood in Canada and elsewhere and are
of the Victoria Women’s Branch of the British Columbia
actively working to grow intercultural faith and awareness. At
Muslim Association—the “YAP”—welcome community
the Welcome Day Celebration for Newcomers and Immigrants
opportunities to shine a light on their faith and experiences.
in Victoria B.C., they proudly wear the sashes of their countries
These YAP ambassadors appreciate that a women’s choice to wear
of origin, and glow under the diverse “umbrella of Islam.”
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 47
The Hijab Awareness Event was an opportunity to raise awareness about what the Hijab is and about the diverse cultures of the Muslim community that stand together all under the umbrella of Islam. The YAP girls brought forth another outstanding and elegant event, the third of its kind in the community. The youth were excited to showcase their cultural Hijab styles to the women-only audience open to the public. Shazia Suleman Rashid Women’s Board Youth Director, Masjid Al-Iman
48 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
YOUTH
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 49
NEW VOICES
MY CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY Becoming a Canadian and a Colonizer
by Nofel
“It’s important to be aware of your history,” my father
a native-born Canadian in at least one apparent way:
once told me. To be honest, I was never fond of my
I made an active choice to join this country. In fact,
father’s words, and he didn’t speak much, anyway.
I took the actions needed to become one. There are
This, nonetheless, is a profound remark, though I
reasons why I wanted to become Canadian: First and
probably came to understand it a bit differently from
foremost, it’s my way of legitimizing my love for and
what my father intended.
sense of belonging to this country; it’s also a way to obtain rights and, perhaps, privileges that my former
I’d always perceived my history as static; however,
citizenship never provided me.
I’ve recently realized that my history is changeable. I’m constantly influenced by the milieu in which I
There are many astounding things about our country:
live, and this milieu is shaped by distinct historical
freedoms, diversity, and picturesque landscapes,
factors. My history in Libya was that of the Arabs in
to name a few. On the other hand, it’s a colonial
North Africa and the Middle East, but my history in
country; I truly wish our reality as a nation was
Canada is a lot more complex and intersectional. As a
different. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to admit that the
foreign-born Canadian who belongs to sexual, racial,
colonial history of this country, and the ongoing
and religious minorities, I understand that my history
colonialism, is also my history. As Canadians—
is largely that of minorities in this country, but it’s
whether or not we’re conscious of it, whether we were
also, to a lesser extent, that of its diverse cultures and
born Canadians or chose to become ones—we are
the historical events that created Canada.
participants and beneficiaries of this colonial system. It’s vital that we claim collective responsibility for
On March 16th of this year, I attended my citizenship
our reality. In my father’s words: “It’s important to
ceremony. My being Canadian is dissimilar to that of
be aware of [our] history.”
50 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
LANGUAGE
여보세요! Please look over here!
by Jaerang Lee, Korean Language Instructor
What is the first thing you say when you pick up the phone? Probably hello? But how would you feel if you heard the words look over here instead? You would surely feel weird. Therefore, it will probably surprise you to learn that this is exactly what Koreans will say first when answering the phone: “여보세요!” (yeo-bo-se-yo!) One of the first Korean expressions my husband learned was 여보세요. One day I was calling my father in Korea. My husband asked, “Does ‘여보세요’ mean hello?” I replied, “Yes—in this case.” However, 여보세요 has nothing to do with hello. It is an abbreviation of 여기를 (yeo-gi-reul, meaning over
here) and 보 세요 (bo-se-yo, meaning please look). Now imagine travelling in Korea in the late nineteenth century when the telephone was first introduced. If you answered a phone call then, you would have first drawn the caller’s attention by asking “여보세요” (please look over here!) before saying hello.
HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 51
Newcomer Support
Pathways to Pacifica for Newcomers by Harrison Ellis, Pacifica Housing With a vacancy rate of .07% and rental costs continuing to rise,
People usually connect with us by dropping into our office at
individuals and families across Southern Vancouver Island are
827 Fisgard St., or at our Downtown Outreach Services at 826
struggling to find housing. New members of our community are
Cormorant St. For any newcomer families that are looking for
hit particularly hard by the housing crisis. Often enough, they
subsidized family housing, the first step is to fill out an application
experience language barriers, discrimination, and a host of other
with the BC Housing Registry. The waitlist for subsidized housing
challenges adjusting to a new country, community and culture.
is long, and it can take years for families to find housing. However, applications for our reduced market properties are generally
Since 2016, Pacifica has housed an increasing number of refugee
processed faster with shorter wait lists.
families, many of whom have escaped conflict in Syria. One of these families includes Faten Hamsho, her husband Mohamad
As seen in Faten’s story, we receive referrals from VIRCS, the Inter-
Dib Hamsho Kaba, and their children. When Faten first arrived
Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), and the Anglican
in Victoria, they were living in a house in Sidney paying $1,500
Diocese of BC. “We enjoy working with our community partners in
each month in rent. The location was a long commute to school
the immigrant and refugee settlement field, and take seriously our
and the community by bus, and the high cost of housing required
role in providing housing in an inclusive and culturally sensitive
Mohamad to find work despite having a heart condition. After
way,” says Colleen Cybulski, Pacifica’s Director of Property Services.
connecting with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS), the family found a safe, permanent, and more
Our staff members are trained to work with clientele that come
affordable place to live through Pacifica.
from different cultural places and backgrounds. At Pacifica, we have partnered with the ICA to offer diversity training for our staff,
Pacifica Housing is one of the largest providers of affordable
and became the first housing agency in Victoria to participate in the
housing on Vancouver Island. We house more than 1700 people in
Google We-Speak Translate project. Our ongoing partnership with
37 properties across Greater Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo. The
Royal Roads University provides opportunities for International
types of housing we provide include subsidized family housing,
Students to volunteer at various Pacifica events and become part of
with rents geared to 30% of a tenant’s income; affordable market
our family. Providing a local response to global issues is important
housing where tenants pay 80% to 90% of market rate and market
to us, and we want to provide the most accessible services we can
housing, with rents are in line with the current rental market.
to our growing and increasingly diverse community.
Located at 616 Goldstream Avenue in Langford, Oak Park will be completed by December 2018 and will include 73 units of affordable family housing.
LEARN MORE Web: www.pacificahousing.ca Phone: 250-385-2131 52 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
