Parliamentary Secretary’s statement on Sikh Heritage Month

Mable Elmore, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, has released the following statement to mark Sikh Heritage Month: for people to warm up and sleep safely. This is just one example of how Sikhs have stepped up to help others.

“April is Sikh Heritage Month, an opportunity to celebrate the significant contributions that Sikhs have made to British Columbia. April is a particularly important time in Sikhism as it marks the occasion of Vaisakhi, the beginning of spring harvest and the start of a new agricultural year.

“In the late 19th century, the first Sikh settlers arrived in British Columbia to work in lumber mills, the logging industry, on farms, and the railway with Chinese migrants.

Many early Sikh settlers arrived in Golden to work at the local lumber company. In 1905, Sikhs in Golden built North America’s first Gurdwara, which was destroyed by fire in 1926.

“While this is a month to celebrate, we can’t pretend the hate and discrimination many early Sikh settlers experienced isn’t still very much alive today. Last month, a Sikh international student was brutally attacked in Kelowna in a suspected hate crime. Incidents like these are horrifying and unacceptable. We must come together in solidarity to support each other, embrace our differences and defend everyone’s right to live as themselves.

“Our government is working to make our province more inclusive and welcoming for everyone. Through the Anti-Racism Data Act, we’re working to identify the barriers Indigenous and racialized people face when accessing government programs and services. To

Today, North America’s oldest, operational Gurdwara, built in 1911, is located in Abbotsford.

“Throughout the ensuing decades, Sikhs were denied the right to vote, subjected to hate and violence, and kept from their families through unjust immigration policies. Despite all of this, the Sikh community persisted – being strong advocates for equality, social justice and service to others in neighbourhoods across B.C.

“The term “sevā” means selfless service that is performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it and is a main tenet of the Sikh faith. During the snowstorm last December, a group of volunteers with the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar in New Westminster demonstrated sevā by opening their temple to motorists who were trapped overnight on the Queensborough Bridge. The volunteers provided food, hot tea and a place improve equity throughout the public school system, we launched the K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan, and through the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network we’re supporting community-led efforts to address hate and support antiracism initiatives.

“There is more work to do to dismantle systemic racism and we’re committed to leading this important work in honour of the many early settlers who didn’t have a chance to see the advances we have made to improve equity so far.

“This Sikh Heritage Month I encourage all British Columbians to learn more about the incredible and selfless contributions that Sikh Canadians have made – and continue to make – in shaping our province. By taking the time to celebrate and learn about the diverse communities in our province, we can make B.C. a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.” hrjIq ny cfeIN-cfeIN tonI dy ivafh dy nvyN Cpfey kfrzF df bMzl myjL AuWqy ilaf itkfieaf aqy mnjIq nUM kfrzF dI CpfeI, rMg afid bfry Aus dI psMd puwCx leI afvfjL mfrI. awKF nfl hI mnjIq df AuWqr AuzIkx lwgf. mnjIq ny hfly kuJ nhIN sI ikhf, Auh Pyr boilaf, “lokF nfloN vwKry hI bxvfey hn. sfry kMmF ivwc pYsf nhIN vyiKaf jFdf. puwqF dy ivafh qF krmF vfilaF dy ihwsy afAuNdy hn. lokIN ieMzIaf qoN vI kfrz Cpvf ky lY afAuNdy vyKy aY. imhrF ny AuWpr vfly dIaF. jwt awgy ipwCy vwjx vflf nhIN. gwj vwj ky sfrf kfrj krFgy.” hrjIq qoN ijvyN KusLI sFBI nhIN sI jf rhI. mnjIq ny iewk kfrz kwiZaf, rMg, CpfeI aqy idK vyKx dI QF kfrz AuWqy iliKaf pVHn lwg peI. tonI dy mfqf-ipqf dy nfvF dy nfl-nfl dfdy-dfdI aqy nfny-nfnI df nF vI Cfpy hoey sn. pr ikMnI dyr mnjIq dI njLr ipqf dy nF vfly Kfny `qy jf ky atkI rhI. hrjIq nIJ lf ky hrjIq dy hfv

Bfv inhfrdf irhf. Aus ny soicaf mnjIq sLfied ipMz rihMdy svrgI bfpU df nF pVHky

Bfvuk ho geI hovy. bfpU poqy dy ivafh nUM

AuzIkdf kuJ mhIny pihlF pirvfr df sfQ

Cwz igaf sI. afpxy afp nUM ies siQqI qoN pfsy krn leI mnjIq ny vI qur gey bfpU df hI shfrf ilaf, “krmF vfly dfdy hI poiqaF dI brfq cVHdy hn.’ Aus ny afK hI idwqf. hrjIq nUM kfrzF leI DMnvfd ikhf qy afpxy ichry df rMg bdlx dI koisLsL kIqI. hrjIq qF Kfxf Kf ky dosqF ivwc kfrz vMzx clf igaf pr mnjIq dIaF awKF awgy AuhI kfrz dy awKr GuMmdy rhy. ijvyN tonI dy ipqf df nF sunihrI moty awKrF ivwc Cipaf hoieaf sI. mnjIq dIaF awKF awigAuN sfrI bIqI khfxI iPlm vFg awgy lMGx lwgI. jd Auh pihlI vyr ivnIpYWg eyarport `qy jhfjLoN AuWqrI qF lMmy sPr df QkyvF sI. soicaf sI prvfr smyq hrjIq sfhmxy Kloqf bysbrI nfl

AuzIk irhf hovygf. imlygf qF sPr df qF hI ipCly pUry sfl dI iekwl df QkyvF vI

Auqr jfvygf. pr Aus dIaF nIJ lf ky vyKdIaF awKF nUM hrjIq ikDry nf idisaf. sws ny ghu nfl nUMh dIaF awKF nUM piVHaf aqy bnfAutI hfsy nfl mnjIq nUM prcfAuNdI hoeI kihx lwgI, “DIey hrjIq qF ipCly hPqy df kYlyPornIaf leI quiraf sI. AuQoN kihMdf torFto df loz buwk kr ilaf. asIN qF prsoN dy AuzIkdy rhy hF. vfr-vfr Pon krdf irhf hY. vyly isr puwj jfx bfry dwsdf irhf hY. pr DIey ieh trwkF df DMdf. kdy loz nhIN imilaf, kdy loz nhIN Auqiraf. kdy tfier Krfb, kdy koeI mkYnIkl pRfblm, trwkF vfilaF dI qF DIey pirvfrF nfloN trwkF nfl sFJ vDyry ho jFdI hY. iewQy qF kMmF nfl hI rotI qurdI hY. kihMidaF sws ny mnjIq nUM afpxy klfvy ivwc lY ilaf. sws dy ipafr nUM vyKidaF mnjIq ny vI afpxy awQrUaF ivwc hfsf imlf idwqf. “koeI nhIN mF jI, kMm nhIN krFgy qF KfvFgy ikwQoN.” asIN ikhVy zflr Jolyy Brky ieMzIaf qoN afpxy nfl lY ky afAuNdy hF.” mnjIq ny sulJy lPjF ivwc AuWqr idwqf. rfqF dIaF isLPtF idn dIaF isLPtF, idn rfqF dI dUhrIaF isLPtF, vwzy vwzy Gr, vwzIaF vwzIaF bYNkF dIaF dyxdfrIaF aqy ies sB leI imwtI nfl imwtI huMdy prvfr, iKMzdy-tuwtdy irsLqy ies vwzI dOV Bwj ny irsLiqaF nUM rol ky rwK idwqf hY. pqI Gr hY qF pqnI Gr nhIN, pqnI Gr hY qF pqI lMmy sPr qy igaf hoieaf hY. pqI dy mFipAu dy pypr Brny hn. pqnI dy mF-ipAu qy BYx BrfvF nUM swdxf hY. afmdn pUrI krn leI koeI kflf bYl vI iewQoN dy vrg dI rIs nhIN kr skdf. srkfr dy tYksF df hI Qfh nhIN. irsLiqaF nfl pUry Auqrn leI afpxy irsLiqaF nUM kurbfn krnf pYNdf hY. irsLqy bx qF jFdy hn pr irsLiqaF df inwG iehnF ivcfry lokF dy ihwsy Gwt hI afAuNdf hY. iehnF dI ijLMdgI ivwc irsLiqaF dI aihmIaq hI gvfc geI hY. iewQy prvfrF nUM iekwiTaF krn leI kurbfn ho rhIaF nOjvfn muitafrF afpxI JolI KflI leI iPrdIaF hn. bwcy ho jfxgy qF vDyrI afmdn ikwQoN afvygI? bwicaF nUM sMBflidaF kMm nhIN kIqy jfxgy. Pyr afmdn df muwl qfrnf pAU? AuDr ieMzIaf ivwc isafxIaF swsF afpxIaF nUMh nUM vrHf-do vrHy bwcy dI AumIdvfrI nf hovy qF vYdF hkImF dy leI iPrdIaF hn. iewQy swsF afpxIaF nUMhF nUM bwcy nf jMmx dy ZMg qrIky dsdIaF hn. “DIey, aOKy sOKy sMjm rwKidaF cfr vrHy, dwbky kMm kro. Gr bx jfxgy. sfrf twbr rl ky bYTFgy. rl ky bYTy twbr ivwc Pyr bwcy sFBxy vI suKfly ho jFdy hn. Pyr sfrf kuJ TIk ho jfAU suwK nfl.

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“kyhI cMdrI DrqI hY, iewQy af ky sB socF hI bdl jFdIaF hn.” mnjIq dy aMdroN hOl ijhf AuWiTaf. pr afly-duafly vwl njLr mfridaF aMdr hI dwb ky rih igaf.

“ikvyN irsLiqaF dI BMn qoV krky qfeycfcy, mfmy-BUaf dy prvfrF nfl PrjI irsLqy isrjdy hoey lok afpxI Aumr dy Auh vrHy gvf bYTdy hn jo Pyr ijLMdgI df ihwsf nhIN bx skdy. afpxI phuMc qoN vDyry dfj dy ky DIaF nUM prdysL qordy mfpy soc lYNdy hn, “sfzI DI rfxI bxky jhfjL ivwc cVH geI hY” pr AuhI DI icwTIaF ivwc aqy PonF `qy afpxf duwK mfipaF nfl jdoN sfJF krdI hY qF mfpy isrP afpxI byvsI `qy JUr hI skdy hn. hwQ pwly kuJ nhIN afAuNdf iewQy aYm[aYs[sI[ aqy aYm[iPl dI izgrI vflI

DI anpVH Kyq mjLdUr pqI nfl idn vyly

Kyq mjLdUrI krdI hY qy rfqF vyly storF dIaF iblizMgF dI sPfeI krdI hY. jdoN dI iewQy AuWqrI hY kdI rwj ky nhIN suwqI aqy afpxy ivhVy ivwc Kyzx vfly bwcy leI qrsdI rihMdI hY. mnjIq df irsLqf lYx leI mnjIq dI ivwidak Xogqf, rMg rUp aqy Aumr dy nfl nfl Aus dIaF iqMn BYxF df vI sOdf hoieaf sI. AuhnF ivcfrIaF nUM vI ibnF hIl hujq kIiqaF axjoV muMizaF nfl ivafihaf igaf sI. iewQoN dI dOV ivwc sLfml hox leI ieho ijhIaF kurbfnIaF aksr krnIaF hI pYNdIaF hn. mnjIq jdoN iewQy nvIN-nvIN afeI sI qF hrjIq jldIjldI Gr muVn dI koisLsL krdf bYNkF dIaF pymYNtF ipwCy rih jFdIaF. Pyr vwzIaF pymYNtF dyx leI lMmy sPr nUM inklxf pY jFdf. hPqy df rfsLn mukf ky Gr muVdf. byhf qbyhf Kf ky loVF dI hnyrI ivwc gvficaf rihMdf. mnjIq kol idn rfq df kMm huMdf aqy jF iPr Pon rfhIN hrjIq df suwK sunyhf puwjdf rihMdf. mOjF AuzIkidaF nUM mOjF vfly idn kdy nf imly. Pfrm ivwc kMm krn vfly Aus idn grmI vDyry hox krky hflo byhfl ho rhy sn. iewk bwdlI lihMdy vwloN AuWTI qy ikximx hox lwg peI. pRIqm jo iewQy riPAUjLI bx ky rih irhf sI. mnjIq jo afpxy idl dy aMdr cfa ismt ky bYT geI sI, Qwky tuwty afpxy-afpxy duwK sFJy kr rhy sn. iekwTy kMm kridaF aijhI sFJ aksr hI ho jFdI hY. “riPAUjLI qF nrk dI ijLMdgI hMZf rhy hn iewQy” lMmy smyN qoN prvfs df sMqfp Bogdy pRIqm ny hOkf ilaf. ‘nf qF pirvfrk sFJF rhIaF aqy nf hI srIrk suwK” Gr jf ky vI mnjIq nUM pRIqm vwloN khy srIrk suwK dI gwl Xfd afAuNdI rhI. srIrk suwK qF iewQy prvfrF ivwc bYiTaF nUM vI nhIN iml irhf. mnjIq vfr-vfr pRIqm dI qsvIr vyKdI rhI. agly idn

Pyr mINh ipaf. pRIqm mINh ivwc iBwjI mnjIq vwl vyKdf irhf. mINh ivwc iBwjI mnjIq ivwcoN iek KusLbo pRIqm vwl vDI. iek qVp, iewk hOkf ikx imx aqy vwqrI DrqI dI mihk. AuhnF srIrk suwK dI qMd joV leI. mnjIq jF pRIqm qoN ho hoieaf Auh krnf nhIN sn cfhuMdy. pRIqm afpxy afp nUM iDrkfrdf irhf. mnjIq afpxy afp nUM lfhnqF pfAuNdI rhI. hrjIq ivcfrf qF prvfr dy suwK leI tonI ny grYjUeysLn kr leI. “koeI kMmkfr sLurU kr idMdy aF puwq nUM” hrjIq afKdf. “bhuqIaF pVHfeIaF ivwc vI kI ipaf hY. byloVy Krcy hn. XUnIvristIaF dy.” mnjIq afKdI. iewk idn tonI ny ikhf “mYN qF nOkrI krUMgf. afpxy kMmF ivc vkq hI ikwQy aY. mYN zYzI dI hflq vyKdf irhf hF. ikDry mfnisk aqy srIrk sMqusLtI nhIN.” srIrk sMqusLtI vflf lPjL mnjIq dy klyjy ivwc ktfr vFg vwijaf. tonI dy irsLqy dI gwl vI qurI. lVkI vyKI geI. irsLqy dI gwl pwkI ho geI. mnuwK leI kfrobfr vI jLrUrI hY. pr pirvfrk sFJF nUM kfiem rwKx leI vkq vI loVINdf hY. ‘Coty ijhy Gr dy gfrzn nUM vI jy bxf sMvfr ky avysly ho jfeIey qF blYk bYrI dy bUty AuWg afAuNdy hn. KflI jLmIn ivwc qF bIj ny ikrnF hI huMdf hY. ieh bIj hvf ivwc AuWz ky vI af jFdy hn.

PkIrI mwlI iPrdf sI. nf idn nUM afrfm nf hI rfq nUM cYn. mnjIq AusI dI dyxdfr sI. Aus ny afpxy PrjF qoN pfsf vwitaf sI. Auh afpxy afp nUM dosL idMdI rhI. pr ies sB leI hflfq ijLMmyvfr sn. ieh soc ky mnjIq ny mn nUM Zfrs dy rwKI sI. tonI pYdf ho igaf. Gr bUtf lwg igaf. nUMh rfxI df ruqbf AuWcf ho igaf. nUMh rfxI df mfx-snmfn vD igaf. gurduafriaF ivwc lMgr lwgy. vwzf hfl buwk krvfieaf igaf. dUr-durfzy qoN irsLqydfr swdy gey. iewk do irsLqydfr ieMzIaf qoN vI ies smfgm dI afV ivwc vIjLf lY ky sLfml ho gey. awDI rfq qIk rMg rfg dIaF mihPlF lwgIaF pr mnjIq nUM pl-pl Aus df aMdrlf iDrkfrdf irhf. pUry vIh sfl Auh afpxy ies glq PYsly leI afpxy afp nUM ksUrvfr mMndI rhI aqy afpxy ies gunfh df aihsfs Aus dy aMdr KOrU pfAuNdf irhf.

“DrqI qF mF huMdI hY. hvf ivwc Auzdy bIjF nUM sFBx dI smrwQf DrqI ivwc afid kfl qoN hY.” mnjIq nUM ikcn gfrzn dI sMBfl krn leI afpxy bfp dy khy lPjL Xfd afey. kfrzF df vwzf bMzl myjL AuWqy ipaf hY. kuJ kfrz mnjIq awj vMz ky af jfvygf. mnjIq afpxy byty dy nF nfl sunihrI awKrF ivwc iliKaf nF hor bycYn kr irhf hY. Gr dy gfrzn dI KflI peI nuwkr ivwc iek blYk bYrI df bUtf AuWg afieaf hY. mnjIq dIaF njLrF Aus bUty `qy hI lwgIaF hoeIaF hn.