CRRC Proudly Presents

ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH, MAY 2010!

April 30, 2010, Peterborough, ON – The Community and Race Relations Committee Peterborough (CRRC) is proud to join local organizations in celebrating 2010 Asian Heritage Month with a number of community events. 

May is Asian HeritageMonth across North America. This month is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the rich history of Asian Canadians (of East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Central Asian descent) and their central role in Canadian history. Since its inception in Toronto in 1993, cities across Canada have been holding annual festivities to recognize Asian HeritageMonth in order to provide a focused venue for Asian Canadian communities to build capacity, strengthen civic participation, and to engage all Canadians.

CRRC is proud to celebrate Asian Heritage Month 2010 with a number of free events including:

Landed Immigrants: Indigenous Solidarity and Asian Communities
A space to talk about the ways in which people of colour can become allies to Indigenous peoples on this land by using struggles for survival and different histories as a source of strength for forming solidarity with First Peoples. At the New Canadian’s Centre (NCC) on Thursday, May 6 from 5-7pm with Shaista Patel.

 “The Magic Paintbrush” and “Ghost Train” – Storytelling with Bernice Gei-ying Hune

Enjoy stories of tradition, discovery and determination for the young and young at heart, at the Peterborough Public Library on Saturday, May 15, from 1:00-3:30pm.

Film Night and Discussion

Who is Albert Woo? And Continuous Journey at Sadlier House (Lecture Hall) on Wednesday, May 19^th, from 6-9pm.

Thinking about Vietnam and the War 35 years later

A discussion examining the war, its impact, and memory 35 years after the Liberation of Saigon at the Peterborough Public Library on Tuesday, May 25^th from 7:00-9:00pm with Van Nguyen-Marshall, Associate Professor at Trent University. 

Co-sponsored by the New Canadians Centre, Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC), Council of Canadians – Peterborough Chapter and the Canadian Studies Undergraduate Department at Trent University.

All are welcome! Please join us!

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For further information, please contact: Carolyn Givogue, Coordinator of Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough (705) 742-9658; racerelation@gmail.com

>> PAST EVENTS >>

>> April 23: The Challenge of Hate: Understanding Bias and Building Community Capacity

A Conference on Hate Bias, Prejudice and Discrimination. Open to Justice System Professional and Community Members.
APRIL 23, 2010
Trent University
 
Online registration to begin March 22, 2010
Conference details to follow.
For more information, please contact: Lesley Harries-Jones
Phone: (705) 876-1122 ext .268   Fax: (705) 743-1540
e-mail: lharries-jones@peterborough.ca
 

>> March 27: Ecuadorean Villagers Speak at Trent University about their International Human Rights Lawsuit Against a Canadian Mining Company and the Toronto Stock Exchange

On Saturday, March 27, four villagers from the Ecuadorean Andes will travel to Peterborough to speak about their international human rights lawsuit against a Canadian mining company and the Toronto Stock Exchange, and their struggle against Canadian mining interests.

In 2007, Marcia Ramírez, Polivio Pérez and Israel Pérez sued Canada’s Copper Mesa Mining Corporation, Copper Mesa’s directors, and the Toronto Stock Exchange after they suffered violence and death threats related to a proposed large open pit copper mine in the remote cloud forests where they live.

Now, the mining company and the TSX are asking an Ontario court to dismiss the lawsuit before any evidence is heard.

The Plaintiffs are traveling to Canada for the first major court hearing in this lawsuit, and will speak with the Canadian public about the impacts of Canada’s mining industry.

The Peterborough presentation and discussion will be held at Lady Eaton College, Room 201 at Trent University from 4 to 6pm, followed by an Indigenous meal catered by Wendal Froman. This free event has been organized by Trent International Development Studies and Kawartha World Issues Centre with sponsorship from the Frost Centre for Canadian and Indigenous Studies, Trent Environmental & Resource Studies and Seasoned Spoon.  Donations will be accepted at the door to support legal fees.

For more information: 

Kawartha World Issues Centre at 748-1680 or www.ramirezversuscoppermesa. com

Local Contact: Chris Beyers, Trent University 748-1011 or Julie Cosgrove, KWIC 748-1680

Murray Klippenstein, Senior legal counsel for the Plaintiffs

416-598-0288 (office)

416-937-8634 (mobile)

Cory Wanless, Legal counsel for the Plaintiffs

416-598-0288 (office)

647-886-1914 (mobile)

>> March 27: Trent University Native Association Traditional Powwow TUNA will be holding its 33nd Annual Traditional Powwow on March 27. This Powwow is the oldest university powwow in Canada and has been a long standing honour and tradition for the Trent University student body, alumni, and the Peterborough community.

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Location: Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School
1009 Armour Road North
Peterborough, ON
K9J 7B1

**First 6 drums to register will receive an honorarium**

Grand Entry at noon.

Host Drum: Smoketrail Singers
MC: Aaron Benson & Brent Stonefish
Arena Director: Beedahsige Elliott
Head Male: Bruce Smoke (winner of last years dance special)
Head Lady: Sandra Yellowhorn
Elder/Veteran: TBA

Dance specials/contests:
Men's Fancy (adult)
Women's Traditional (adult)
Hoop dance (adult)
Hoop dance (youth) [$100.00]
For each adult category winner takes all ($150.00); youth hoop dance winner takes all ($100.00)

Admission:
Kids 5 and under free
$3.00- seniors and students
$5.00- adults

Vendors: $30.00 or $20.00 with donation to give away.
For more info contact Nicole Kohoko at nicole_kohoko@hotmail.com

Ode'min Giizis

Strawberry Moon Festival

June 17-24 2009

The Ode'min Giizis Festival will celebrate this auspicious time of year and traditional Anishnaabe territory with a seven day multi-disciplinary arts festival in Peterborough, Ontario featuring local and visiting artists from the four directions. The O'Kaadenigan Wiingashk Collective and Public Energy invite you to come out to experience a diversity of Indigenous artistic expression and events from an Aboriginal perspective - including gallery exhibitions, talks, dance, film presentations, musical cabaret and concert.

Check out the events schedule here

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CRRC proudly presents . . .

THE TAXI PROJECT

a play about exile

Saturday May 9th @ 7 pm

Prince of Qales Public School

by four members of PEN Canada's writers in exile program:
emma beltran, martha kuwee kumsa, sheng xue and goran simic

directed by weyni mengesha

An original play exploring issues of freedom of expression and the complex realities of living in exile, the play follows four characters forced to leave their home countries and the struggle to create a new life in Canada.

When: Saturday May 9th at 7 pm
Where: Prince of Wales Public School Auditorium, 1211 Monaghan Rd (at Sherbrooke)
FREE + all-ages

for more information, please contact racerelation@gmail.com / 742-9658

part of peterborough's first annual asian heritage month

For more information, please click here

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International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21

Clip from CRRC press conference, March 18, 2009

Clip from Talk by Sharry Aiken, "From Slavery to Expulsion: Racism and Canadian Immigration Law", March 20, 2008

Black History Month

Peterborough Events for 2009: Calendar

Why a Black History Month? by Rosemary Sadlier

"In the 1950's the Canadian Negro Women's Association brought  the celebration to Toronto, Ontario. By 1978, Ontario Black History Society successfully petitioned the City of Toronto to have the monthly celebration formally recognized. This celebration is currently proclaimed across Canada." Read more