The Source

This Pan-Asian festival showcases contemporary Canadian Asian art and in the words of the Asian Heritage Month Society "attempts to deconstruct mainstream perceptions of who Canadians of Asian descent are and redefine what is "Canadian." Furthermore, organizers of the event seek to address concerns over the marginalization of an immigrant's inherited culture in adapting to Canadian culture. These concerns are valid given the awkwardness and confusion of adjusting to a new culture and society that faces immigrants the moment they arrive in Canada. This refreshing look at what can be done to compromise heritage and adopted culture is bofli progressive and considerate. Throughout the month of May, over 50 events will be held to mark the occasion across the Lower Mainland. The Asian Heritage Month Society hopes to create positive experiences and enhance the familiarity of Asian culture through the presentation of such strong representation in Vancouver.

Beginning on April 27, 2001, with the Dinner Gala at the Nikkei Centre to the Asian Heritage Month celebrations, the month on calendar is packed with attractive and informative events that are sure to capture the imaginations of people from all walks of life. Particularly interesting is the event entitled "White Balance" by Sarah Shiu and Hiro Kanagawa at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum on May 4, with a musical performance by Henry Young. A calendar description of the event explains the term "white balance" as "the function on the camera that balances all colours in relation to what is understood to be white. White Balance is an exploration of racial identity and racial assignment from the perspective of those who are racially ambigious." The evening will feature a combination of still photographs, documentary video interviews, text, and interactive group discussions, that are designed to explore how people of mixed Asian and Caucasian herbage perceive themselves, and how they are perceived by others. Those in attendance will grapple with such questions as "what do our perceptions of mixed race people say about our shared notions of race"

Theatre patrons will appreciate "Breaking Ground Towards an Empowered Filipino Community," May 8, at the Kalayaan Resource and Training Centre. This theatre project that draws upon the everyday struggles of the Filipino community in Canada, capturing the true-life stories and experiences of Filipinos in the Lower Mainland. The production confronts the issues faced by Filipino immigrants. If dance is your fancy, "Moods of Love: Classical Dance of India," May 19, at the Norman Rothstein Theatre should do the trick. The dancing will feature Bharata Natyam, one of the eight styles of Indian Classical Dance from India. The evening's program features dance in praise of Vishnu, Shiva, Rama and Krishna. The dance praises the gods/goddesses in an attempt to gobeyond the limitations of the individual mind/body. The Asian Heritage Month Society calendar heralds the performance as, "seeking union with the divine, an experience of going beyond oneself and attaining peace."

Comic acts will also perform on the stage with "Yella Fellas," May 19, performed by Tetsuro Shigematsu and Romeo Candido also at the Norman Rothstein Theatre. The stand-up performance will include pieces from Shigematsu's autobiographical one-man show "Rising Son." In his performance Tetsuro communicates his vision and experience of the world from the vantage point of an Asian Canadian boy, growing up in Surrey. Music listeners will be pleased to noted that the Uzume Taiko Ensemble will perform on May 25, at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. These musicians are set to presents evening of raw, powerful music making. For a more vivid description the program describes the sound as, "blood swelling, heart pounding kind of musk:. Bring your ears for sonic pleasure, bring your soul to be strengthened, and bring your heart to be inspired and uplifted." Need any convincing Formed in 1988 as Canada's first professional taiko group, Uzume Taiko combines the centuries old Japanese taiko drum musk with melodic instruments. Taiko, rooted in the history of rural communities throughout Japan, was used in ancient times to ward off harmful spirits, induce rain and give thanks for a bountiful harvest. The Uzume Taiko Ensemble is Boyd Seiichi Grealy, Bonnie Soon and Bernie Arai on taiko drums and percussion, Stuart MacNeil on highland pipes and bass guitar and Graham Ord on saxophones and flutes. New Ensemble collaborator, Simon Kendall, joins the group on Hammond organ.

Speaking with Jagdeesh Mann, Editor of the Asian Pacific Post (Vancouver's Pan-Asian newspaper), about the significance of the event, Mr. Mann remarked: "This month may be high-brow and artistic for some, or more mainstream for others, but the real beneficiaries of this kind of festival are the youth. Although the numerous events are open to people from all backgrounds, Asian Canadian youth should be encouraged to attend and be proud of their cultural heritage." Asians and non-Asians alike, I hope to see you there.

For more information about The Asian Heritage Month Society please call their Hotline at (604) 878-6888, or check out