April 2021

APRIL 2021 | CULTURE & HERITAGE

Exploration of mixed identity | When it comes to the queer community, is the revolution over? | Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation | Student spotlight featuring BCITSA's VP of Equity and Sustainability Yasmin Gardy | and much more!

Celebrating our Identities

Having spent a year in isolation and adapting to the majority of lectures being delivered online, it’s not surprising to feel disconnected from others around us.

Outside of the new normal we’ve become accustomed to and the circle of people we’ve labelled as our “core bubble,” it’s easy to get lost in a sea of unfamiliar names with no real identities to associate them with, and it’s even easier to forget just how diverse our community is.

That’s why this month, in hopes of reviving that sense of connection with our community that we’ve lost during this time of isolation, Link wants to bring us all closer together by exploring—and celebrating—the cultural differences in our diverse identities.

As you flip through the pages of this issue, you’ll discover ways in which culture is created, how it interacts and differs from each other, and how our own cultural heritages in addition to our experiences with other cultures have shaped the way we view the world. Hopefully, as you

read, you’ll also be able to relate to some of these stories or be able to learn something new.

One of the main takeaways from this issue is to remember that encouraging discussion about culture and heritage is important, because getting to know more about the identities of the people around us, their backgrounds, and where they came from not only provides us with better insight about who they are, but enriches our knowledge as well.

We’re all unique in our own way. From the languages we speak, to the foods we eat, the things we celebrate, the way we express ourselves, and the lifestyles we live—we all have different stories to tell. After all, our identities and the parts of our culture that we inherit, continue to build, and pass on, are all what makes us, us.

There’s beauty in our differences, so let’s celebrate that.

—Christy Chan, Associate Editor

ISS UE :

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CULTURE HERITAGE linkbcit.ca

We feature exceptional people in our community, big ideas in a changing world, and evolving social dialogue.

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ISSN 0715-5247 (Print) ISSN 2562-3257 (Online)

CONTRIBUTORS

We welcome writers, photographers and artists of all backgrounds and abilities.

Our purpose is to provide a collaborative platform for student expression, and to connect you with one another’s stories and experiences.

Maria Diment, Cali McTavish, Angelina Raveli, Katie Dalziel, Mustafa Akhtar, Yasmin Gardy, Elin Molenaar, Christine Peng, Andre Nowak

Printed editions are distributed to all five BCIT campuses & additional content is published online at linkbcit.ca

Cover Art by Christine Peng

CONTRIBUTORS

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GOOGLE THIS

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THE CULTURAL ELEMENT: HOW HAVING A DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUND FORMS YOUR IDENTITY

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WHEN IT COMES TO QUEER RIGHTS, IS THE REVOLUTION OVER?

JOURNEY TO CANADA

CENTERING WHITENESS

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LOVE IS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON

THE CULTURE OF CULTURES

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: YASMIN GARDY

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ART FEATURE: CHRISTINE PENG

Have an idea? Contact us! editor@linkbcit.ca | linkbcit.ca

STAFF Chantel Tanaka, Senior Editor Jonah van Driesum, Associate Editor Christy Chan, Associate Editor Stephanie Bohn, Associate Editor Shaleeta Harrison, Publications Manager

THE NEW WORLD: A REVIEW

IN THE SHADOW OF GOLD MOUNTAIN: A REVIEW

Link Magazine would like to respectfully acknowledge that it is printed and distributed on the traditional & unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples.

3700 Willingdon Ave. SE2 Building, 3rd Floor | Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2 | 604. 451. 7191

LINK | APRIL 2021

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O U R CO NT RI BU TORS Chantel Tanaka I lived in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa for 18 years in a patriachal environment. This male-dominated culture I grew up in that also informed parts of my heritage has pushed me to become a full fledged feminist who carries the resposibility of uplifting women's rights and women's voices.

Jonah van Driesum Heritage for me is all about thinking about what I can do better. The last few generations of my family have seen some major achievements and its important for me to consider what to emulate but also what to avoid and learn from. Nobody has a perfect past, but by embracing each other we build something better and more connected.

Stephanie Bohn Christy Chan One thing about culture that has always intrigued me growing up is how much they can differ from one another.

For me, there are parts of Chinese culture that don't mesh well with Canadian culture and vice versa, and even now, there are times I've found myself trying to mould into one more than the other. At the end of the day though, they're both part of who I am, and I'm proud of that.

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Maria Diment

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My name is Maria and I'm half-Russian half-Jewish. My heritage played a significant role in shaping my identity as I struggled to accept and embrace both cultures and the stereotypes that came with them. I know I'm not alone in balancing my heritage with my identity which inspired me to write my article for Link.

I was raised by a spirited Filipino in a small predominantly white retirement town. Our Filipino community showed love with lots of food and endless critiques about boys and body changes. During my school years, I started to reject these expressions and sought out signs of love that were more prominent in other families. The more I tried to comprehend the differences, the more intrigued I became in how people showed affection. I try to be aware of how my upbringing influences the relationships in my life and wrote my piece with the hope of helping other students understand the impact that their culture has.

Cali McTavish As a freckly ginger, Cali thought she was Scottish. Until she went to Scotland. Turns out, she’s definitely Canadian.

Her articles are about acknowledging that we still have a long way to go when it comes to anti-Asian and LGBTQ+ discrimination.

APRI L 2021 Angelina Raveli Cultures may be our differences, but we can let it bring us together. We are surrounded by amazing cultures and stories we couldn’t even imagine. This is what I learned when I sat down and interviewed Layla Khdir and her mother Manahel Albik.

Yasmin Gardy For me understanding and coming to terms with one’s heritage is about sharing and accepting moments of pain and hope. I believe bearing the burden of life’s challenges and finding solutions for them is a necessity to build values of equality and equity.

Katie Dalziel

Mustafa Akhtar was born and raised in Pakistan. He is a settler on the Coast Salish territories of the of the sḵwxw̱ ú7mesh (Squamish), selíNlwN itulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations. Mustafa developed a keen interest in elevating voices of marginalized groups after he worked to raise voices of the LGBTQ2SIA+ communities and allies through his work at UBC on Pride and other equity-focused initiatives.

Christine Peng Art grounds me to my heritage as it helps me connect visually with my grandma when words get lost in translation.

She was a talented artist and was the first to teach me how to draw and paint, so throughout the years, we’ve communicated and bonded through art. Chinese watercolour painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world, so naturally, I picked up initial techniques in this medium through my lovely grandma.

Growing up I was intrigued by the coat of arms that hung in my Father’s office. It had our family plaid, motto “I Dare” and some symbols that I didn’t really understand.

There is still so much about culture and heritage, mine and yours, that I do not understand. I write about learning to think critically about what it means to be white in Canada.

Andre Nowak I am a first-generation Canadian born to parents of Indian and European heritage. As a mixed-race adult I find it interesting to explore issues dealing with race. I chose to write an analysis on The New World because the relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith shows we are closer to each other than our preconceived biases lead us to believe, and that we can learn more from working with each other than by fighting.

LINK | APRIL 2021

Mustafa Akhtar

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google this

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TEXAS TAKES DOWN ALL COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS In the US, panic struck when Texas and Mississippi announced that they would be revoking all COVID-19 restrictions. Texas has faced electrical shortages from winter storms, putting further strain on an already overloaded medical system.

The removal of limitations is likely to intensify the crisis in these states. This may impact Canada, as through the “America First” vaccination policy, the US federal government could divert more vaccinations from international shipments to tackle an increasing crisis in the South.

BC ANNOUNCES EVERYONE COULD BE VACCINATED BY JULY Despite initial concerns after the European Union, US, China, and Russia began illegally hoarding vaccines meant for other countries, most Canadian provinces have been able to catch up in vaccine delivery. Nova Scotia hopes to be the first to inoculate its entire population, with a deadline of June. BC is currently focusing on vulnerable people but plans to have everyone who wants a vaccine vaccinated by July.

BONNIE HENRY DEATH THREATS

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The month of March saw many dramatic events jump into our news landscape. With so much information flying at us, it can be impossible to know the most important thing to look at. Thankfully, our team of current event experts (Jonah in his dorm room) is always on the job to keep you updated. From vaccine information, to politics, to sports, you need to Google This list of notable events.

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Despite the international praise that has been heaped upon her handling of the pandemic, the BC provincial health officer has faced a daily stream of death threats. Dr. Henry has said that she now needs around-the-clock security, an unprecedented measure for a public health officer in Canada.

COVID CASES CONTINUE TO RISE Despite the vaccine now being available to the public, COVID-19 cases have continued to rise across the province. The cases have been linked to family and religious gatherings, and to people not wearing masks. Even with the rise in cases, Vancouver Police continue to find people hosting pop-up clubs in downtown condos, leading to arrests and significant fines.

MARCH NEWS

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The last two chiefs of Canada’s Defence Staff, the highest-ranking military body in the country, have been accused of sexual misconduct and have had to step down. The current chief, Admiral Art McDonald, has only stepped aside temporarily until the investigation is complete.

However, criticism has already been levelled at Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who recommended McDonald for the role. The NDP has notably been more outspoken on this, as the Conservatives are cautious not to appear anti-military.

GEORGE FLOYD MURDER TRIAL STARTS The trial of the police officer who was charged with the murder of George Floyd began in March. While no one knows what to expect, the evidence against the accused, Derek Chauvin, has been highly publicized, and further and larger protests could erupt if he is acquitted.

MEGAN AND HARRY HIT THE ROYAL FAMILY Recent public polling has shown that most Canadians support changing the constitution to remove the monarchy and to elect a Canadian President to act as our head of state instead (look at the current German model of government for an example). With the accusations of racism and abuse levelled against the royal family by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, we should expect an increase in conversation around the country about whether or not to step away from the monarchy.

WE CHARITY SCANDAL CONTINUES The We Charity scandal intensified for the federal government, as the Kielburger brothers, who run the charity, refused to testify before the House of Commons committee. The public backlash towards the scandal has killed the charity and offers opposition parties a continual attack against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As the likelihood of a federal election this year increases, look for a more parliamentary focus on this particular scandal.

ANDREW CUOMO AND GAVIN NEWSOM

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The governors of two of the biggest US states are facing severe challenges to their political rule.

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is facing a recall election, just a year ahead of a general election. The recall has gotten more assertive in the face of his handling of COVID-19 and the emergence of a popular former San Diego mayor as his primary challenger. Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, is facing accusations of covering up nursing home deaths from COVID-19 and a half a dozen sexual misconduct charges that go back decades, including when he was in the cabinet of former President Bill Clinton. Cuomo is now facing multiple demands for his resignation.

CANUCKS DOWN IN THE DUMPS After being the best Canadian team in the NHL during the 2020 season, the Canucks are now the second-worst team in Canada, just ahead of the Ottawa Senators. While they have started winning games in recent weeks, they would need a win rate upwards of 75 percent to even be in playoff contention.

NEWFOUNDLAND ELECTION DELAYED As a first in Canadian history, a provincial election had to be delayed after it was called. Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey had initially planned for the election to be held in early February, but after a month of sharp increases in COVID cases, the election was postponed until March 12. It was also the first election in Canadian history conducted entirely by mail. However, Furey won a one seat majority, and both the Conservative and NDP Leaders lost their seats.

HONG KONG ELECTION RULES The city-state of Hong Kong was scheduled to have local elections this year. Because Hong Kong had previously held nominal independence from China, the results of these elections were usually representative of the state’s populace and could help citizens fight back against the Central Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party has crushed even the semblance of democracy in these elections as now all candidates must swear loyalty pledges and be approved by the Beijing government.

LINK | APRIL 2021

TOP MILITARY OFFICIAL STEPS DOWN BECAUSE OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS

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The Cultural Element: How Having a Diverse Cultural Background Forms Your Identity Maria Diment

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The world sees more and more people of mixed heritage as our communities grow and connect. A major part of identity is our history, whether that is what happened to us in our lives or where we come from.

Our history includes our heritage; it is part of our unique puzzle.

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y mother used to tell my sister and I, “don’t tell anyone that you’re Jewish. If anyone asks, you’re Russian.” I never questioned why we had to hide half of who we were. Nor did I understand her fear of what could happen to her two young daughters in a world where racism, stereotypes, and antisemitism still exist. I have undergone a journey of shame, denial, acceptance, and pride of my half-Jewish half-Russian heritage. I tackled multitudes of stereotypes along the way as I formed my identity.

For the longest time, whenever I was asked “where are you from?” I would reply that I’m Russian. I never said ‘half-Russian’ nor did I mention that I’m part Jewish. It was only ever in instances where I was asked about my birthplace (in Ramat Gan, Israel) would I acknowledge and clarify my “halfie” status. When talking about heritage my initial reply had always been “Russian.” I thought I was just avoiding a complicated and unnecessary explanation of my ancestral origin, but, really, I was disowning a part of myself I was taught to hide.

The comfort of my Russian tongue and traditions allowed me to easily dismiss the other half of my heritage without much worry. I knew close to nothing about Jewish culture but knew almost everything about Russian culture. I fit in with the Russian community much more than I would with a Jewish community because I had no way to connect with them.

I can’t speak Hebrew, I don’t know much about Judaism, and I’ve never celebrated Jewish traditions nor even tried traditional Jewish food.

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My parents and I are immigrants and growing up in Canada’s ethnically diverse culture, I was exposed to different languages, foods and traditions, like many other Canadians.

Despite areas dedicated to certain communities like Chinatown and Little Italy—Canada, in itself, is its own culture. The ethnically diverse immigrant communities create a sense of belonging for those who’ve just lost it. The sacrifice of leaving home in one country for a better life in a developed country is what binds immigrant culture together.

Every nation and culture has stereotypes attached to them. I don’t drink, yet because of my Russian heritage it’s assumed, or joked about, that I can drink hard liquor like water. I had a love-hate relationship with my nose; not only did it not fit into Western beauty standards, but, according to my insecurity at the time, it fit into the Jewish stereotype.

Seeing small, petite and straight noses idolized by the media created a great insecurity about my nose. In my eyes, my regular nose was large and curved like a beak. I sought a way to fit in, yet the only place I could find was to associate myself with the Jewish stereotype.

These stereotypes significantly influence self-perception when they go hand in hand, as they do, with discrimination and beauty/ societal standards.

DO I BELONG?

My relationship with my heritage shifted from a curiosity in Jewish culture, to becoming in awe and idolization of Rus sian culture, followed by a rejection of my Jewish side and finally accepting and embracing both sides.

As we grow older and learn more about ourselves, our heritage, cultures, language and traditions become an important chapter in our identity. Who we are forms from not only our heritage but how we approach the challenges that come with it: the stereotypes that either break us or make us.

LINK | APRIL 2021

Despite having a closer connection to my Russian roots, technically I didn’t fit in with the Russian community. In some countries one’s nationality is determined by either parent’s nationality, depending on the law. If I were to be in Israel, I would be deemed Russian because of my mother’s nationality. Meanwhile, if I were to be in Russia, I would be deemed Jewish because of my father’s nationality. Essentially, I didn’t belong in either country. Though not a significant factor, given my Canadian citizenship, there was still a gaping hole and a lost sense of belonging in my heart.

People have asked me if I’m French or Greek or guessed a few other European ethnic groups– occasionally Russian, but rarely anyone can tell where I’m from, and usually are surprised when I reveal it. These small incidents can give rise to questioning and doubt; do I belong?

In a country that celebrates multiculturalism and diversity, it becomes harder to find those with a similar perception of what home feels like, who grew up with the same fairytales and traditions, and who can relate to you. And, although there isn’t anything wrong with befriending people with different ethnic backgrounds, knowing a few people who speak the same language or celebrate the same traditions or even enjoy the same foods, creates a deep feeling of comfort and belongingness.

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When It Comes to Qu

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ack before I became a student, I had a co-worker who one day told me about why he chose to move to Vancouver. He was originally from North Carolina, and his now-husband was from Brazil. Both had grown up closeted and were rejected by their families when they came out, an all-too-common story. He said the day they got married in the Stanley Park Rose Garden, their “just married” leaving-the-wedding-vehicle-of-choice was a bicycle-pulled carriage ride along the sea wall. As they went along the sea wall in their decorated trolley, people clapped, and whooped in celebration. As he told me this story five years after the event, he became emotional. He said it felt like a miracle to live in a place where their love, which had caused them so much strife in other parts of the world, could be proudly displayed and celebrated by the community.

It is rarely thought about by Vancouverites now that this has not always been the case. There is a long and sordid history that birthed our beloved Davie Village. Long before the clubs, drag shows, pride parades, and community events, being queer was stigmatized and criminalized here just as much as in places like London and New York.

Arguably, no one knows this history better than Glenn Tkach, a Vancouver historian who leads The Really Gay History Tour, hosted by Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours.

On his tours, he chronicles events such as the bombings of Little Sister’s—a bookstore which was repeatedly targeted by domestic terrorists for daring to offer queer literature. It was also famously targeted by border guards who would block their shipments, leading to a Supreme Court Lawsuit by Little Sister’s against the Canadian Government.

Amongst the struggles, there are also moments to be celebrated. Through his extensive research, he was able to uncover it was in Vancouver where the first openly gay minister was ordained. Vancouver was also the first to medically assign a trans woman, Jamie Lee Hamilton, by her correct gender. This happened in 1969, the same year buggery, or same-gender sex, was decriminalized.

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As the host of these tours, Tkach has a unique perspective on the evolution of the community. He says he finds there are many young people who seem to get a lot out of his tours because even today, being queer can still mean

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Is the Revolutio Cali McTavish

on Over?

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In a world of black and white,

it allowed for a rainbow.

feeling other. Young people who go on the tour and learn about queer history describe to Tkach how knowing the history makes them feel tethered. The history gives them lineage, and roots, things that can be lost along the journey of self-discovery.

His personal ties to the queer community also make him aware of where the community still has room to grow. While gay men may be widely celebrated, lesbians, trans, and two-spirit peoples face comparatively more discrimination. Queer BIPOC have borne the brunt of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

To acknowledge this disparity, Tkach was pleased to share that the organizers of Vancouver’s Gay pride parade put two-spirit and people of colour at the front of the last publicly held parade in 2019.

Examples of the evolution of the queer communities’ place in society can also be felt closer to home at BCIT. The president of BCIT’s LGBTQ+ Alliance, Sapphire Dumaresq, has a number of frustrations with BCIT’s relationship with the queer community—specifically when it comes to trans rights.

Although they have struggled with being misgendered by fellow students and teachers, they say they are always patient and eager to educate those willing to try, and to learn. In their seven years at BCIT, only one student stands out as flat out refusing to use their chosen pronouns.

More egregious in their opinion is the university’s refusal to equip all buildings with a gender-neutral bathroom. While the university has committed to all future buildings having gender-neutral bathrooms, for now, Dumaresq must hope their schedule allows the 20 minutes needed between classes to run to-and-from a newer building with a non-gendered washroom.

Dumaresq has also been disappointed at the university’s refusal to put their chosen name on their various diplomas and soonto-be bachelor’s degree. The university says it must use their legal name on certificates.

However, Dumaresq’s bank had no problem making the switch.

BCIT endeavours to be an open, safe, and inclusive space proudly hoisting their rainbow BCIT letters in the pride parade, but so far, their efforts are letting down members of their LGBTQ+ community.

When reflecting on the history of the queer community in Vancouver, Tkach reflected that queer rights are not just about queer people. The Gay Rights revolution was and is a victory for all people. It broke down binaries (he/she, heterosexuality, etc.). It opened a whole world of open-mindedness, fluidity, and thinking differently about what is possible for self-expression, gender identity, and sexuality. In a world of black and white, it allowed for a rainbow.

LINK | APRIL 2021

ueer Rights,

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JOURNEY TO

CANADA We are a growing country, and the more we embrace the differences, the more we have to learn and celebrate.

Angelina Raveli

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anada is a wonderful land of opportunity. For some of us this has always been home, but for others, this is a new home.

Many know Layla Khdir as a full-time student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology; what many don’t know is how she got to where she is today. Layla and her family were Syrian refugees, fleeing the country and staying in Egypt before they could eventually settle in Canada. I spoke with Layla and her mother, Manahel Albik, to learn more about their story. They explain how it all began.

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Layla was raised in Syria, before the war began. Layla explains that there was a bomb attack, and glass had fallen down

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on her sister. “We couldn’t find any open clinics. After a week from that incident, we had moved to Egypt.”

The last Layla saw of Syria was in 2017 on a trip. A walk through her old town was enough to know that the family had made the right choice leaving the country.

Their family then lived in Egypt for eight years, before they applied for a resettlement program in relation to the United Nations Refugee Agency. This program helps refugees in unsafe countries find a home in safer and more developed countries.

Layla was 21 and Manahel was 42 when they made the move to Canada. When asked about their individual struggles,

they made it clear they each had very individual struggles.

to wait three years before they had finally landed in Canada in March 2019.

Manahel is a cancer patient. When she was in Egypt, she developed breast cancer. To treat it, she needed expensive medication that was not available in Egypt. Manahel took matters into her own hands and spoke with the United Nations Refugee Agency, asking to have her family placed where she could have access to the medicine she needed.

Layla said her struggles when moving to Canada mostly involved concerns for her mother. Layla explains that she was offered to live in her own place here in Vancouver, since she was over the age of 18, but she says living away from family was not common in her culture. “I wanted to live with her, I wanted to live with my family.”

Being a mother during this time was difficult. Luckily, Manahel had a brother who had been living in Vancouver for five years already, making Vancouver her first choice. Getting the request approved wasn't easy; Manahel and her family had

Another conflict she came across was school. Layla completed only three out of the four years needed to get her degree in journalism studies in Egypt, due to her family moving to Canada. “I wanted to be well-educated…rather than not having a

LINK | APRIL 2021

(Aleppo, Syria / 2017)

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“

Living away from family was not common in her culture.

I wanted to live with her, I wanted to live with my family.

job in the future… Egypt was not a safe country to live in. There are too many sexual harassments, even for media workers, it is not a safe place.”

from many countries and cultures!” She also says since coming to Canada and completing her treatment she has been doing a lot better.

Layla now is continuing her journalism related studies here at BCIT, enrolled in the Broadcasting and Online Journalism program.

Layla says when she first came to BCIT she felt lonely being an immigrant, but now says her classmates have become her best friends.

Manahel and Layla both agreed if they could go back and share some advice with their past selves before the move, they would both begin the process of learning English sooner. Layla said she went from not taking a single English class, to studying full-time in English which felt to her like a huge jump.

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Manahel says she is embracing the Canadian community. “Now I have many friends

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We are surrounded by hundreds of journeys. According to Statista, just last year Canada had 284,000 new immigrants join us. We are a growing country, and the more we embrace the differences, the more we have to learn and celebrate.

LINK | APRIL 2021

Layla Khdir (left) and her mother Manahel Albik (right)

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Centering Whiteness Katie Dalziel

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eritage and culture feel like fraught topics of discussion that will inevitably lead to me embarrassing myself and revealing my ignorance, if not latent racism. However, for me, because I am white, the discussion and consequences are not inevitable. I can choose to avoid discussing culture and heritage for fear I will make a mistake, or I can try and explore out loud what growing up white in Canada has meant and means for me today. That I am able to make the latter choice in this article is an example of the privilege of being white. The power to disengage from this particular discussion is the power of whiteness —the power of living as the default.

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I am white of the most apparent pale skin, blue eyes, blond hair and disappearing eyebrow ilk. My maternal family came from England to Vancouver Island three generations ago. My paternal grandfather won a scholarship to St Andrews but turned it down to come to Canada instead.

Despite my family’s immigrant past, because of how I look when I am in Canada, I have never been asked “Where are you from?” or the uncomfortable follow-up, “No, but really, what are you?” Compare this with my Canadian colleague, whose grandfather also came to Canada as a young man. He was born not in Scotland but in what was Korea, and she is frequently asked both those questions. I am assumed to be from here

because I am white. She is assumed to be from somewhere else because she is not. Of course, neither of us are from here in the way that Indigenous people are, but my whiteness renders my belonging assumed.

In the past my white features might have been part of a more diverse group, but culturally my whiteness is the default. In school, I learned European history and read classics all written by white people (primarily men, but that is another article).

Even the books we read that were ostensibly about non-white experiences, like In the Heat of the Night (dealing with racism in the American South), were written by white men.

“

Occasionally there would be a unit on Indigenous culture, but the same rigor and resources were

the fun they would have when they would be old enough to join their siblings in school.

Finally, they were old enough. They always walked to and from school together. One day my grandfather waited outside their door and no one came out. He knocked, but no one was home. Although not wealthy, the neighbours were better off than my grandfather’s family. They owned their own tiny house and a successful fishing business.

They were also Japanese. My grandfather never saw his friend again. They were part of the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. The government confiscated their home and business and interned the entire family.

I don’t know what happened to their family. I don’t know if they were interned in BC or Alberta. I don’t

MY CULTURAL HERITAGE IS ONE OF BENEFITING FROM THE THEFT OF OTHER PEOPLE’S CULTURE, HERITAGE, AND LAND.

It is difficult for me as a white Canadian to grasp how cultural differences continue to be the source of so much suffering. My maternal grandfather’s people were poor. They lived in Vancouver close to Lord Kitchener Elementary. Before he was old enough to go to school, my grandfather used to play with one of the neighbour boys in the school playground. They played marbles and practiced throwing around a baseball, plotting

know if, as was often the case, the family was separated. I don’t know if anyone from the family survived until 1988 when the Canadian government paid some reparations. I don’t know how to measure the benefit that white fisherman like my grandfather’s family experienced after their competition was eliminated.

It is uncomfortable to write but still true despite my discomfort. My cultural heritage is one of benefiting from the theft of other people’s culture, heritage, and land. If we are ever going to reckon with the pain in our history, white people like me will need to feel uncomfortable and we will need to recognize that this discomfort is not the same as the discrimination and marginalization that BIPOC folks experience every day. In my Canadian story, the power of whiteness is not so much in what it reveals but what it conceals.

LINK | APRIL 2021

never allocated to exploring Indigenous society pre-contact or the destruction and devastation that settlement wrought. At home and at school I read the Little House On the Prairie books where the narrative of settlement was uncomplicated by a reflection on who the land being settled belonged to or, indeed, the deeper philosophical discussion of whether land was something to own or something to share, something to conquer or something to tend.

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LOVE IS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON Stephanie Bohn

She sat across from me in an oversized, puff sweater.

“Steph, stop eating now... Too much sugar! You already big.” The eyes of a cartoon dog on the front of her sweater stared straight at me as the sting of her words sunk in.

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Years ago, those criticisms had the power to completely crumble my confidence. But when similar comments come from my close friends or family now, I can’t help but smile. So, what’s changed? My mom hasn’t stopped judging my eating habits. I haven’t stopped looking for parental approval, and I probably value the opinions of my friends and family even more than I used to. The main difference now, I think, is that I have a better understanding of cultural influences.

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My mom is a petite, spirited Filipino that fell in love with her Canadian pen pal. After months of writing to

each other, he flew to the Philippines to meet her and her family. Then, they got married and moved onto a farm in a small, predominantly white town. Luckily for my mom, she was able to meet a small handful of other Filipinos that quickly adopted her into their community and helped her adjust to life in Canada. It’s this same group of Filipinos that constantly remind me of how different life is here.

Our small Filipino community shows that they care with lots of food and endless comments about boys and body changes. During my high school years, I refused to accept their expressions of love. I didn’t want to follow my Lola’s (Grandma) advice on how to maintain my figure or listen to my Titas (aunts) judge every interaction I had ever had with a boy. I sought after more default signs of affection, like a hug and

some reassurance (okay, and maybe some pansit). The Filipino ways often conflicted with what I experienced at school and witnessed in the rest of the world. So, as I tried to shape myself to the default culture around me, I started to shun the community that had shaped me.

In an attempt to decipher the differences between cultures, I became mildly fascinated with love and the ways that people displayed this emotion. Naturally, when I discovered the “5 love languages,” I started to wonder if the complicated mystery of love could really be simplified. The five love languages refer to the ways that people express and receive love.

They include words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. The concept was developed by Gary Chapman to help couples create a better understanding of each other’s needs and to support each other’s growth.

While the idea was originally created with the purpose of simplifying romantic love, I wanted to investigate how these signs are shown differently between the two cultures that are most prominent in my life.

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Words of Affirmation

The focus of receiving gifts is on the visual symbol of love—the value is not important.

This sign refers to written and spoken communication. It can be shown as verbal acknowledgments of affections, compliments, appreciation, encouragement, and frequent digital communication through text messages or social media. Canadians, in my opinion, should be included in the definition of this love language.

Our friendly and kind stereotype naturally encourages an environment of compliments and appreciation.

Contrastingly, the Filipinos in my life reserve words of affirmation for very special occasions. It is more common for this community to show that they care by critiquing a lifestyle choice.

They will not speak out unless they are close enough to you and consider themselves vested in your life.

Every single Christmas, one of my Titas would gift me one jar of homemade HP sauce. The off-brown sauce was always packed into an old Smuckers jar with sticky remnants of the label. She knew that we hated it, but she continued to gift it to us year after year. She did this because she knew it was important in Canadian culture to receive gifts. In the Philippines, it was not as common to receive individual presents unless you had significant status or wealth.

Instead, people would celebrate by spending time with their communities—often by inviting their neighbourhood over to share a meal and dance.

Quality Time

The cliche saying, “actions speak louder than words,” defines acts of service. This language of love is shown when people go out of their way or take one extra step to show that they care about one another.

Full presence and completely undivided attention is what defines quality time. This language is most commonly displayed with active listening, eye contact, and undistracted company. Honestly, I think that both Canadians and Filipinos can struggle with active listening and eye contact as both are dependent on personality, comfort, and experience. Despite this, both cultures have a strong focus on quality time. While Filipino celebrations (holidays, birthdays, and festivals) tend to be more family focused, Canadians focus on spending daily quality time with their family.

Acts of Service

Acts of service is shown in both Canadian and Filipino cultures. In my small hometown, the youth would be sent door to door to shovel snow for the elderly in their neighbourhood. After an accident or loss, it was common to see the community join together to help the grieving family in any way possible. My mom’s Filipino community displayed acts of service in similar ways, but

Physical Touch Physical touch is simply displayed through physical intimacy, such as kissing and being touched or held.

This love language is shown in both cultures. However, I believe that it is more openly shown between Canadians. I always had the impression growing up that Filipinos reserved their physical intimacy for when they were at home. An influence on this display of affection may have been that it was common for the Filipino community to be criticized for their marriages. It was common for other people in the community to comment about how the relationship between them and their husbands was “inappropriate” due to gaps in age, income, or social status.

Our cultures play a huge role in who we are as people, creating individuals that are diverse and complicated.

Resultingly, our cultures can also complicate love. While the five love languages (words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch) provide a good starting point at identifying how love can be shown, it is important to remember that each culture has its own way of showing affection.

It can be difficult to identify signs of love if you aren’t receiving it in a way that you are anticipating. If you want to welcome more love into your life, I highly suggest that you start by reflecting on your influences and identifying your cultures. Investigate the way that your community most commonly shows affection and reflect on why those acts may be prominent. After you’ve done this, you will have a better understanding of your own personal culture and will be more equipped to cultivate long-lasting relationships.

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IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EACH CULTURE HAS ITS OWN WAY OF SHOWING AFFECTION. Receiving Gifts

it was more common for them to bring you a full homecooked meal than to shovel your driveway.

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A strong c one anoth

T h e C ul t ur e of Cultures Mustafa Akhtar

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endall Jenner’s new product, 818 Tequila, hit the market this past February and became an instant controversy. Many have called this an example of cultural appropriation, claiming that Jenner is taking away from local Mexican artisans by profiting from their traditions and competing with their local businesses. Bruno Mars also became the centre of a heated debate when an activist accused the artist of profiting from traditional black music, as Mars is well known for blending elements of funk, soul, R&B, reggae, and hip-hop, which have traditionally and historically stemmed out of African-American culture. Are these controversies examples of cultural appropriation or appreciation?

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In Canada, we are proud of our diversity. It is inevitable for some cultures to mesh as we see people from different backgrounds interact. However, when a dominant cultural group uses parts of a non-dominant culture in ways that are viewed as exploitive, it is problematic. It is important to understand the following terms in order to fully uncover the meaning of cultural appropriation:

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Culture: According to the New Yorker magazine, “confusion about culture was just part of the culture this year. People were desperate to know what ‘culture’ meant.”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines culture as “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.” Traditionally, these

cultures would be bound by geographical or religious boundaries, but it is safe to say that cultures are now more complicated as geographical boundaries have become merely political.

Appropriation: Again, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines appropriation as “the act of taking or using something especially in a way that is illegal, unfair, etc.” In the context of cultural appropriation, appropriation refers to a dominant culture unfairly using or taking a part of non-dominant culture, and either exploiting it, or misrepresenting it by dwelling on stereotypes.

Cultural appropriation refers to the use of elements of a non-dominant culture in a way that disrespects the original meaning, lacks proper credit, reinforces stereotypes, or contributes to oppression. An easy-to-understand example of cultural appropriation is when a person tries to embody an entire culture into a Halloween

community is one that is built on the shared values of love, value, and respect of her without discriminating against the colour of skin or where one hails from.

The history of colonization and the oppression of minority groups in Canada and in the US has contributed to the normalization of cultural appropriation. Racism is prolific in our society, and racialized people have been historically and systematically discriminated against. When a person from a dominant culture takes advantage of stereotypes or exploits the traditions or values of a non-dominant culture, the actions are insensitive. A common example is people wanting to feel or touch hair that looks different from their own.

What can we do? We should be curious and shift towards cultural appreciation rather than cultural appropriation. Cultural appreciation is the respectful use of elements of another culture with an interest in sharing and enriching one’s experience. This could translate to dining out at an authentic

cultural restaurant or learning something from a traditional teacher. It is important to remember that traditional and cultural practices often have deeper meanings for people than what appears on the surface.

Therefore, it is crucial to fully understand a tradition or culture before using an element of it, while also ensuring that the roots of the element are fully recognized, given credit to, and not taken advantage of.

A strong community is one that is built on the shared values of love, value, and respect of one another without discriminating against the colour of skin or where one hails from. Cultural appreciation grows from our natural curiosity of each other’s cultures. Our understanding of each other is vital to ensuring that we appreciate and not appropriate beliefs or cultures in an exploitative manner. Remember, we all make mistakes, but the biggest mistake is not learning from your own. Keep learning!

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costume based on stereotypes, with little or no understanding of the culture.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT EMBRACING YOUR INNER MAVERICK:

YASMIN GARDY words by Chantel Tanaka photography by Elin Molenaar interviewed by Chantel Tanaka & Jonah van Driesum

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edicating your life to others may seem like a hard thing to do in a world where individualism is pushed strongly on us all. Yet, for Yasmin Gardy, a second-year student in the Food Technology Health Science program, a life informed by advocacy for others and a curiosity about others guides her path.

Gardy attributes these distinctive qualities about her character to growing up in a Jewish community in Tel Aviv surrounded by multiculturalism.

She has an open mind and great respect for people from diverse backgrounds, and appreciates connecting with them. Gardy remarks that the multiculturalism she saw around her in Tel Aviv felt familiar to her

LINK | APRIL 2021

Gardy is currently serving (and was recently re-elected) as the BCITSA’s Executive Board VP of Equity and Sustainability, but when she first arrived in Canada, she was an international student seeking adventure for higher education abroad. That search brought her to Vancouver after completing her mandatory military service after high school in Israel. Gardy says her time in the Israeli air force helped her develop values of “responsibility and independence” while also managing to acknowledge the work “done by people before us” in building a country and supporting a community.

In speaking about why she chose to leave Israel, she shares with a hearty laugh that her decision to be so far away from home while forging her own path “was very hard on [her] Jewish mother,” but like any parent, she understood her daughter’s desire to follow her own path.

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when she moved here, but certain aspects of North reflecting on her actions has honed her respect for American culture juxtaposed with the way she was people different to her, and encourages those around brought up. Early on, that difference in culture was a her in any position of privilege to reflect internally source of tension for her in coming to terms with her and question each of our own biases.

Jewish identity and traditions, but Gardy says with time and reflection, she’s learnt to remember all that The conversation with Gardy over a Zoom call was makes her an Israeli Jew, while nothing short of an immense also adapting to the world appreciation of her Jewish around her. roots, which she says have Gardy says in her position as the VP of developed her inclination Equity and Sustainability, she has strived Her mindfulness to be reflecfor a growth mindset. Gardy to “look at the individual as part of a community and emphasize the individual tive on her actions and words says growing up in a Jewish in the community,” rather than solely have greatly empowered her home observing Shabbat looking at the community alone. to seek out self-forgiveness amongst the other holidays first before anything. She like Rosh Hashanah, Yom remarks that “if one wishes to Kippur and Passover has algrow they need to learn to forgive and be patient with lowed her to be a reflective individual. “It’s very imthemselves.” Gardy says that ability to look inwards portant for you to recognize that you are human,” and see what you can improve on for the future Gardy shares, and practicing Shabbat was a way of has brought her back to her roots of understanding taking the time out to rest and assess “things you what it means to be Jewish for her, even in the times wanted to improve on” and to understand where where it seemed she may have lost touch with the you are headed. Celebrating these Jewish holidays traditional practices of her faith. She shares that also made her appreciate food and Gardy jokingly

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Since coming to BCIT, she’s acted on her natural curiosity to explore and meet new people and the services at BCIT on several occasions but shared that one unplanned diversion to the Indigenous Gathering place left an indelible impression on her. Her desire to learn more about Indigenous history struck a chord in her as her conversation with one of the Indigenous advisors resonated with her as a person of Jewish faith and heritage. Gardy recalls that conversation as one where she “recognized the Indigenous community’s pain” and understood how the varying systems of erasure were “applied on them.” For her, conversations around heritage like this have proved to be valuable building blocks in her efforts to act as a better ally and

individual working to propel equity for different groups.

As a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors in Tunisia, Gardy shares how important it was for her and the rest of the nation growing up in Israel to remember the people who were affected and impacted by the genocide. Gardy says any community’s pain from those efforts of erasure “will take time to heal,” but it’s important for people to do that by engaging in conversation and seeking out wisdom from elderly people.

Her identity as an Israeli-born Yemeni Jew living in Vancouver has given her a layered outlook on how she views the world around her as she makes it a point to push for equity and diversity. Gardy says in her position as the VP of Equity and Sustainability, she has strived to “look at the individual as part of a community and emphasize the individual in the community,” rather than solely looking at the community alone. Her people-first attitude continues to sharpen her outlook on the world, while also allowing her to check in on her own biases and she urges those around her to strive towards doing a self check-in on themselves.

LINK | APRIL 2021

remarks that “we have so many holidays and every holiday is surrounded with food—how can you not fall in love with it?” When she is not in school caught up with assignments, Gardy enjoys baking and cooking all types of dishes, playing around with texture and flavours—which she adds was partly influenced by the different subcultures that formed Israel.

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LEARNING TO TRUST

THE PROCESS art feature by Christine Peng

With so many uncertainties in life, what is unknown

can certainly be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. For me, the process of making art teaches an important life lesson—to let go, to embrace the unknown, and to enjoy the process rather than fixate on the end result.

Frequently in my painting process, there are moments where nothing seems right—the colours seem uncoordinated, the proportions seem off—and it’s so tempting to turn a new page and start over! But trusting myself to continue despite my doubts allows me to release any expectations for a successful outcome, and to instead enjoy the process of creating something new. Trusting whatever mistake I make along the process is a learning lesson to reflect on and remember, so that I can take that knowledge into the future.

My go-to medium is watercolour, which is a fluid medium that can be unpredictable and elusive for two reasons. Firstly, the paint that comes out of the tube is not what we see on paper; its hue will change depending on how much water is added. Secondly, as paintings dry and the water evaporates, the pigments become lighter and settle in sometimes unexpected ways. Watercolours constantly surprise me—it shifts and morphs even after I’ve put down the brush. I’m constantly learning how to work with it, but learning to let go of trying to control every element of the medium, and letting its natural qualities do their thing yields the best results for me.

Letting go and trusting the process with confidence that it will all work out in the end, is the lesson from art that I apply to the often fluid and unpredictable journey that is life.

Photograph: New Line/Everett /Rex Features

The New World: A Review on Distorted Cultural Relations Andre Nowak

terrence malick’s the new world (2005), is a romantic drama about the love story between Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. It is set during the founding of the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia starting in 1607. The film evolves through the initial love story between Pocahontas and John Smith, into one of family, tragedy, and despair. Furthermore, it emphasizes the cultural relations and differences between the English and Indigenous populations who in 1607, met face-to-face for the first time with no prior knowledge of each other. It was a true introduction of the new world for both parties involved.

The film uses the relationship that develops between Smith and Pocahontas as a crutch to explain the violence that ensues between the Indigenous and English. It explains that colonization and the loss of life was rooted in the depths of a man’s love for a woman. However, in reality the English were going to conquer America no matter the circumstance. The land was seen as a great opportunity to become a market for English goods, and a source

LINK | APRIL 2021

Although the film is based in America, I feel it is a pertinent discussion to have in Canada as Indigenous relations are still amiss. After 153 years of colonialization, Canada has not fully confronted its colonial erasure of Indigenous perspectives. Meaning, there is still a lot of progress that remains to be made in institutions that have worked for a long time to benefit colonial settlers at the expense of different Indigenous communities.

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of raw materials and commodities such as furs. Furthermore, Jamestown was intended to become the core of a long-term settlement effort, creating new wealth for London investors and recreating English society in North America.

Fictionalizing this history in this way has the danger of making an audience believe that the English settlers were good-hearted people. That they meant no harm, and would never incite any violence. However, history has shown that British colonization was ruthless. It resulted in the deaths of millions all over the world as the empire conquered nations. Humanity did not matter. All that mattered was man’s pursuit of wealth and greed.

It is sad to see how money eradicated the basic values we should have for one another. In a specific scene, the English give Chief Powhatan a coin. It is here that John Smith refers to currency as, “the source of all greed.” When viewing the chief’s reaction to the coin you can tell a sense of entrancement comes over him. The illusory grip of money.

For the Powhatan tribe money never existed in their culture and the lure of such an item manipulated their kindness. It enabled them to provide things to the English thinking they were friends.

Furthermore, providing money to them endangered their core and cultural values.

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The film depicts early on, Indigenous civilization did not have the ingrained concept of the individual self. This is exemplified in an early scene when Smith visits the Powhatan community in the forest. He sees everyone living in co-existence and proceeds to say, “they are gentle, loving, faithful, lacking in all guile and trickery.

The words denoting lying, deceit, greed, envy,

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slander, and forgiveness have never been heard.

They have no jealousy, no sense of possession.

Real, what I thought a dream.”

Powhatan hierarchy was not based on wealth but was hereditary. Introducing money not only degraded the Indigenous lifestyle but it conflicted their core values. Capitalist ideologies never existed in the tribes, but eventually through history it became the only way the Indigenous could survive.

I believe it is for that exact reason Indigenous relations are still amiss in Canada. The British took a culture with different values and rewired it to adapt to their ways. However, the Indigenous not fully understanding the capitalist system became lost in their identity and culture. To this day Indigenous tribes fight with the government and oil companies over land disputes. And in every situation the government and oil companies always say that they will pay a lump sum for the land. However, they need to learn that no amount of money is appreciated in a culture that does not prioritize riches. Before they realize that, it will be a long road to recovery.

With a greater recognition of Indigenous ideals, The New World drives home the need for cooperation in a manner that erodes our contrived needs for wealth and power. It is a beautifully shot, underrated modern-masterpiece that more people should know about, not only to learn some aspects of Powhatan culture, but to learn about yourself. It breathes messages outside of what you see and hear on the screen, causing an immersive introspective experience unlike any other film I have ever seen.

“It is a beautifully shot, underrated modernmasterpiece that more people should know about, not only to learn some aspects of Powhatan culture, but to

LINK | APRIL 2021

learn about yourself.”

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A Canadian Legacy of Anti-Asian Discrimination:

FROM THE HEAD TAX TO HATE CRIMES Cali McTavish

100 years of appalling anti-Asian policies and societal discrimination in Canada.

Last week, only a day before the Atlanta shooting1, Cho hosted a Zoom conference2 to discuss her film and draw parallels between its historical exploration of Asian-hate, with the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes across Canada and the world this past year.

Quick historical recap: In 1903, Canada began charging would-be Chinese Immigrants $500 to come to Canada. The fee, which was only charged to Chinese immigrants, was known as “the Chinese Head Tax.” In 1923, Canada passed the Exclusion Act, which prohibited those of Asian descent from immigrating to Canada. The law was in place for 23 years until it was repealed in 1947, allowing Chinese-Canadian veterans who had fought for Canada in the second world war to be recognized as citizens.

Chinese communities across Canada mounted campaigns and lawsuits against the Canadian government in the 1990s to seek reparations in response to these policies.

Although the Supreme Court of Canada deemed the head tax and the exclusion act legal, the Harper government issued an apology in the House of Commons and assigned reparations to the few remaining survivors who had paid the head tax in 2006.

During her research for the film, Cho was struck by one instance of internalized racism.

During a community event for those fighting for reparations, one Chinese man angrily chastised the crowd, saying that his ancestors would have died long ago in a rice patty field if it were not for Canada.

Cho, whose heritage is half Chinese and half Irish, reflected that one could just as easily argue, if her Irish ancestors had not fled the potato famine, they would have died in a potato field.

Yet, the Canadian government gave those of white European descent free land to

move to Canada while making it illegal for Chinese immigrants.

“No one in those [white] communities would think they weren’t entitled to these kinds of apologies,” says Cho. Cho also referenced a newspaper cartoon from the railway construction era, which described Chinese labour as “cheap, temporary, and expendable.”

Though acknowledging racism, especially the internalized kind, is uncomfortable, it is very much the reality today.

According to the Vancouver Police Department, anti-Asian hate crimes went up 700 percent in 2020.

Cho drew parallels to yesteryears Chinese community members representing the bulk of the railroad construction workforce to current day overrepresentation of Asian community members in hard labour jobs such as factory workers and front-line care-home health care workers. Jobs that made them especially vulnerable to the pandemic.

She also shared two cartoons, one from 2003 and the other 2020, depicting the SARS virus and the COVID virus in Chinese take-away boxes. The first was labelled “Bad Chinese Take-out” and the second, which stylistically depicts a bat flying out of the box, has “No thank you” written on the front.

Because of COVID-19, the spectres of racism that have long loomed in the shadows have again come to the forefront. While Cho’s film lays bare this history of racism, it also provides an opportunity to educate ourselves, explore our own internalized racism, and, as has been said so many times this year when it comes to racism, take this opportunity to do better.

The film can be watched here: nfb.ca/film/ in_the_shadow_of_gold_mountain/

washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/20/ atlanta-shooting-victims/

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2 facebook.com/GriffinArtProjects/videos/ 143091414365197

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Karen Cho’s documentary “In the Shadow of Gold Mountain” depicts

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