Asian Heritage Month resources

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada. Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to learn more about the many achievements and contributions Canadians of Asian heritage have made to the growth and prosperity of Canada, as well as the challenges they have experienced. It is also a reminder for all Canadians to come together to combat anti-Asian racism and discrimination in all its forms. Read this message from VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Saucier.

The theme for Asian Heritage Month 2023 is “Stories of Determination.” This “represents the strides made and the challenges overcome by Asian communities to thrive in Canada over the last two centuries and beyond. The history of the communities here in our country is filled with hardships and setbacks, but ultimately, it is a story of triumph over adversity.” - Statement by Minister Hussen.

Asian Canadian Cultures in Canada

The explorASIAN website includes this list of Asian cultures in Canada:

• East Asia: China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan
• South East Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, Vietnam
• South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
• Western Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
• Central Asia: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan

Here is a collection of resources to help you celebrate Asian Heritage Month, learn more about the history of Canadians of Asian heritage and take action.

 History (and past wrongs) 

• Heritage BC: Heritage Maps
• Historica Canada: Paldi
• Historica Canada: “Boat People” Refugees
• Historica Canada: Nitro
• Royal BC Museum: Chinese Canadian History in British Columbia
• Knowledge Network: British Columbia: An Untold History
• ExplorASIAN: Chinese Canadian History
• Simon Fraser University: A Brief Chronology of Chinese Canadian History
• Hastings Park 1942: The internment of more than 8,000 Japanese Canadians at Hastings Park (PNE grounds)
• Westerly News: Japanese Canadians in Ucluelet
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights: The Story of the Komagata Maru

Anti-Asian racism

• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion webinar: Anti-Asian racism: Preparing for a changing workforce
• CBC.ca: This is What Anti-Asian Racism Looks Like in Canada
• The Try Guys: We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate
• Faces of Racism

Inspiring people

• Canada.ca: Noteworthy Canadians of Asian Origin
• Order of British Columbia recipient Baljit Sethi
• First Sikih councillor in North America: Naranjan Singh Grewal
• Architect who designed the Canadian War Museum: Raymond Moriyama
• Canada’s first Senator of Asian descent and a creator of Asian Heritage Month: The Honourable Vivienne Poy

Learn

• BC Government: Celebration: Chinese Canadian Legacies in British Columbia
• South Asian Canadian Legacy Project: A Social History of South Asians in British Columbia
• Vancouver Island Regional Library: Asian Heritage Month reading list
• Washington Post: Defining ‘Asian American’ is complicated. Who gets left behind?
• Harvard Business Review: Bringing caste into the DEI conversation
• Historica Canada: Heritage Minutes: Vancouver Asahi
• Canada.ca: Significant Events in the History of Canadians of Asian Heritage
• Winnipeg Library: Info Guides: Anti-Asian Racism
• ExplorASIAN: Festival 2023

Take Action

• 7 Potatoes Society: Nanaimo Cherry Blossom Project
• Chinese Canadian National Council: Fighting Racism in Canada Video Series
• Vic News: Royal BC Museum offering special digital field trip to Asian Heritage Month
• Growth & Solidarity: Fight Anti-Asian Racism
• Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy: Resources Guide: Responding to Anti-Asian Racism
• University of Victoria: Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression teaching guides
• UBC Department of Asian Studies: Anti-Racism Resources
• Complex.ca: Anti-Asian Racism is Surging in Canada. Here’s How to Help Fight It
• Elimin8Hate: Resources

Asian communities' contributions to Nanaimo

• BC government: Exploring Asian History in Provincial Parks
• Vancouver Island University: Nanaimo Chinatowns
• CBC Radio: Dr. Imogene Lim, VIU Anthropology Professor, talks about Chinese history in Nanaimo