As May comes around, Canada gears up to celebrate all Canadians of Asian heritage. A group that makes up just shy of 20% of the Canadian demographic is made up of incredible diversity, including ethnic backgrounds from India, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, among others. Asian Heritage Month is an incredible opportunity to learn about the many achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage. This month is also a reminder for all Canadians to come together to combat anti-Asian racism and discrimination in all its forms. A problem that has been at an all-time high since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible. – Maya Angelou
These words spoken by Maya Angelou more than 30 years ago, echo past oppressions and add seriousness to today against the COVID-19 pandemic that has exacerbated hate speech, among other things, toward Asian communities.
Nevertheless, celebrating Asian heritage can go hand in hand with fighting anti-Asian racism, as education can be a form of anti-racism work and we can celebrate Asian heritage by educating ourselves. Education plays a powerful role in shaping worldviews, connecting members of different communities who might have never met before, and imagining the world we want.
In 1996, a UNESCO global commission chaired by Jacques De Lors released a report—now affectionately known in education circles as the “De Lors Report”—and spelled out the four schemes of education:
- Learning to Know: A broad general knowledge with the opportunity to work in-depth on a small number of subjects.
- Learning to Do: To acquire not only occupational skills but also the competence to deal with many situations and to work in teams.
- Learning to Be: To develop one’s personality and to be able to act with growing autonomy, judgment, and personal responsibility.
- Learning to live together. By developing an understanding of other people and an appreciation of interdependence.
The following is a list of resources for each direction of learning:
Learning to Know:
A curated selection of films that celebrate Canadians of Asian descent
10 Incredible Asian-Canadians You Didn’t Learn About in History Class
The Asia-Canada timeline by The Canadian Encyclopedia
Learning to Do:
Fight Anti-Asian Racism (A thread for Canadians wanting to channel their heartbreak into action)
Resources for Combatting Anti-Asian Racism & Learning About Canadians of Asian Descent
Learning to Be:
Asians are Tired of Hearing These Microaggressions
What Does it Mean When They Say Asians Are Not a Monolith?
Learning to Live Together:
Asian American Population Resources
While all four goals are important, prioritizing the fourth – learning to live together – is crucial for promoting inclusivity in Canada during Asian Heritage Month. If we are to be more inclusive in Canada, we must be inclusive of all Canadians.
This blog was originally published by Diversio EDU (formerly CCDI Consulting) in May 2023.
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