Here Magazine Summer 2018

FLARES OF FAITH AND CULTURE

OLYMPIC TORCH

ELENA MURATOVA

MUSLIM YOUTH

GLOWING CULTURAL PRIDE

VICTORIA’S

BLACK COMMUNITY THE FLAME KEEPERS

SUMMER 2018

Many of us came from somewhere else. Some of us arrived 100 years ago, some of us 100 days ago. Now we are here— working, living, and learning together. We may have arrived in different ways and for different reasons. We may be going down different paths, but one thing is the same: here is home.

IN OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO INDIGENIZE OUR WORK AND TO CHALLENGE THE ONGOING NEOCOLONIZATION, THE Here Magazine FAMILY EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF THE LAND, AND RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT OUR WORK TAKES PLACE ON THE UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE LEKWUNGEN AND COAST SALISH PEOPLES, INCLUDING SONGHEES, ESQUIMALT, AND W̱SÁNEĆ FIRST NATIONS. THE

Here Magazine

FAMILY BELIEVES CULTURAL EDUCATION AND STORYTELLING ARE KEY TO THE PATH FORWARD AND HOPES THAT LOCAL FIRST NATIONS AND NEWCOMER COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND HISTORIES TO DEEPEN ONE ANOTHER’S UNDERSTANDING, AND TO ENSURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IN THIS TIME OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

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HEREMAGAZINE.CA

FEATURES Volume 5, Issue 1

NEWCOMER ELENA MURATOVA P. 10

FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE P. 18

THE UNWANTED P. 28

THE FLAME KEEPERS P. 34

MARA BY THE SEA P. 40

SHINE ON! P. 46

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018

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FROM THE EDITOR

“Fundamentally, branding is a profound manifestation of the human condition: belonging to a tribe, to a religion, to a family. Branding demonstrates that belonging.” —Wallace (Wally) Olins, CBE

REBRANDING OURSELVES Last October, Here Magazine embarked on a rebranding journey.

It’s exhausting and sometimes even demoralizing. The brand

Developed in the spare room of this former educator’s home

doesn’t always translate. Perhaps it’s an accent, a credential, or

four-plus years ago, the magazine was the product of a great

an ethnicity that isn’t instantly recognizable or doesn’t seem to

deal of energy and heart, but not necessarily of any conventional

resonate with the new target demographic. Marketing yourself

design or publishing expertise. We have made it this far because

is tough enough, but newcomers to Canada must make the

of our outstanding and dedicated community of contributors,

coldest of cold calls in their efforts to find a sustainable and

volunteers, readers, advertising partners, and supporters.

rewarding place in their work and community. Those more established in the community can offer a warm reception, make

The tricky thing about rebranding is that it is a lot of work. It’s

some room in the market, and give the fresh brand a chance

discussion and reflection; it’s collaboration and consultation;

to shine.

it’s deconstructing and building at the same time; it’s Saturdays and Sundays too. And when what you thought you knew you

I also learned last October that the Here Magazine brand runs

were is stripped away, you discover you must start from scratch.

deeper than the surface of these pages and is more than a logo and good paper stock. Our origin story is one of tenacity and

Rebranding is exactly what every single newcomer to Canada

shared vision narrated by hundreds of diverse voices—and we

must do no matter who they are or which community they

plan to build upon that foundation for years to come.

choose to adopt. Even a newcomer with a family member or friend already established in Canada is, in a sense, floating in space, detached from the vast social and professional networks they had built in their countries of origin. And

Fiona Bramble

so the hard work begins, putting your brand out there, tweaking it and persuading the new environment around

p.s. We hope you like our new look and content! Please send

you to respond to what you have to offer.

comments to community@heremagazine.ca

6

SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

CONTRIBUTORS

PAUL BRAMADAT P. 14

FIONA IRVINE-GOULET P. 26

LOUISE AUBIN P. 28

JAKELINA LISTES P. 38

NOFEL P. 48

JAERANG LEE P. 49

HARRISON ELLIS P. 50

JOHN-EVAN SNOW

HELIO NOGUEIRA

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018

7

Managing Editor Fiona Bramble

Discover More

Photography Director John-Evan Snow

www.heremagazine.ca

Art Director

Copy Editors Kieran Wilson Christy Sebelius Renée Layberry

Helio Nogueira

/heremagazinecanada

Creative Support Jamie Lamb Shon Taylor

Contributing Writers Paul Bramadat Fiona Irvine-Goulet Jakelina Listes Jaerang Lee Nofel Harrison Ellis

@heremagazineCA

Contributing Photographers John-Evan Snow Helio Nogueira Fiona Bramble

/heremagazine.ca

Advertising

Editorial Committee

Brenda DeWynter

Jakelina Listes Daniela Pinto Hyeyoung Jeon Simona Sbardelotto

Get Here Magazine for your home or organization subscribe@heremagazine.ca

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Fiona Bramble

Contact Us 160 Eberts St.‚ Victoria‚ B.C. Canada V8S 3H7 info@heremagazine.ca 250-920-7986

ON THE COVER Shaquille Shah wears a pakol, a wool hat originating from Afghanistan, now worn by many ethnic groups, including the Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Nuristani, and Chitrali peoples.

Shaquille’s kameez is a formal style worn from India to Iran; his tattoo references the “seven chakras.” PHOTO BY JOHN-EVAN SNOW

All contents copyrighted. Written permission from the publisher is required to reproduce‚ quote‚ reprint‚ or copy any material from Here Magazine. Ideas and opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or advertisers. The publisher neither endorses nor assumes any liability for the contents of any advertisement in this publication.

We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.

Single copy price: $8 Yearly subscription price: $30 Printed in Canada by Glenmore Printing.

ISSN 2291-8582

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SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

#WeMetHere @HereMagazineCanada We love hearing about the magic of We love hearing about the magic ofand intercultural intercultural relationships the relationships and the special places special places where you where met! you met!

Tag your Instagram photos Tag your Instagram photos #WeMetHere #WeMetHere @heremagazinecanada @heremagazinecanada We’ll regram andthem, maybeand feature your story We’llthem, regram maybe here! feature your story here!

(Learn more about Michael and Nikole’s love story @ heremagazinecanada) (Learn more about Michael and Nikole’s

love story @heremagazinecanada)

Michael was late because he wanted to find a gift for Nikole on their first date. He found this teddy and she has kept it ever since. @heremagazinecanada #WeMetHere #lovestory #diversity #bettertogether #firstdate #newcomer

It is all about timing. Nikole happened to walk by when a trainer was needed for Michael. The rest is history. @heremagazinecanada #WeMetHere #lovestory #diversity #bettertogether #canada #internationalstudent

You never know where you might find a new sense of home. We have our own little family now. @heremagazinecanada #WeMetHere #lovestory #bettertogether #family #newcomer #feelslikehome #canada

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New Here

ELENA Love is an Olympic sport

Skiing since the age of three through long, dark winters in the Murmansk Region of Russia, Elena Muratova followed the glow of the Olympic torch and found love in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. Settled in Victoria B.C., Canada with her husband Ivan, Elena now helps others become their best physical selves.

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What was your path to Sochi? When did you start skiing?

What was the response from your friends and family?

I think I was around three years old when I started to ski. My

It was amazing how many people remembered me and sent

dad was my coach; he was a competitive alpine skier and then he

me messages—people who had known me in the past. It was

became a coach. I like to joke, actually, because both my parents

cool, but our coaches said we had to stay away from social

are coaches. My mom coached figure skating and my dad alpine

media starting a few weeks before the Olympics. I thought

skiing, so I only had two choices: figure skating or alpine skiing.

it was strange, but I took their advice. When the Olympics

I was very little when I tried figure skating, but my dad was

were finished for our sport, I went on to my social media and

more interested in training me. My mom says that she liked to

wow, there were so many messages! The coaches were right;

be just a mother to her kids, not a coach to them. My dad was

it would have been overwhelming before the Games to deal

pretty happy with that decision. But it was tricky in some ways

with all those messages.

sometimes because it is difficult when you come home and he is still your coach even at home. Dad was my coach until I was

Were you happy with your performance at the Games?

fifteen or sixteen years old, then I switched to freestyle skiing

I placed 21st at Sochi and unfortunately, didn’t qualify for

and it’s a different kind of sport from alpine skiing.

finals, but I was pretty happy just to be there. It was an amazing experience, difficult to express. One of our Russian

Did you join the Russian national team then?

guys placed 3rd. The emotions were so high—everyone was

More or less. I was on the national team for ten years. Sport

connected and we were crying and hugging at the finish line.

was my life. I tried different things but still came back to the sport because I missed it so much.

So was that it—the pinnacle? Had you realized your dream?

Was the 2014 Olympics in Sochi your first Games?

Actually, after the Games, we went on to the World Cup

I had this dream to go to the Olympics. I had a few knee

Series. We didn’t just stop; life continued! I placed 2nd

surgeries that prevented me from going to the Olympics earlier.

in the World Cup. It was the best result ever in my sport

Of course I needed to qualify at the World Cup level first.

career. I had it in my mind already that I was going to retire after the World Cup. It was part of my life plan because of

How did you feel when you made the team?

age, because of health—it is difficult for the body to train

I was very excited when I made the team—it was awesome—

constantly. It was a big commitment for four years. The

but it also was stressful because it was a home Olympics.

average age to retire from freestyle is around thirty years old.

Double pressure. Everyone was watching.

I also had met the man who would become my husband.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 11

NEW HERE

Falling in love is a good incentive to retire! Where did you

Wait, you travelled all the way to Canada to train for the

two meet?

Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia and fell in love with a fellow

We met in Vancouver. We had Canadian coaches for four

Russian in Vancouver?

years and we had some training camps in Vancouver and in

I know. It’s crazy. It’s great that we met in Canada. It’s

Whistler. During one of the training camps, my teammates

unbelievable how small the world is. He is originally from south

and I went to the shopping mall. I needed to buy a new dress

of Moscow and I used to live maybe a fifteen-minute drive from

for my sister’s wedding. My now husband was at the mall

his hometown. I had even visited his hometown when visiting a

too and heard us speaking Russian. He approached us and

friend. Then we meet in Canada!

started a conversation.

When did you arrive in Canada to stay?

Is he Canadian? Was he an athlete too?

One week before our wedding. It was April 2014. I had the

Actually, Ivan is Russian. He came to Canada to study a few

Olympic Games in February and then the World Cup and other

months before we met.

competitions in Russia.

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The Olympics, World Cups, and a wedding in three months? Must be the athlete in you.

Ivan did most of the planning. I just bought my wedding dress and shoes. It wasn’t a big wedding. I had nobody in Vancouver. Actually, my mom and my dad watched our wedding from Russia via Skype.

Our friend carried a laptop around! It was four or five a.m. in Russia and my parents were sitting watching, wine glasses on the table. It was

ELENA HERE IN CANADA

kind of awesome. My mom said she really felt like she was there with us.

My parents didn’t actually meet Ivan in person until after the wedding.

Why did you two decide to settle in Canada?

When we decided to live together, we considered what options we had. Ivan’s parents had already settled in Burnaby and are now Canadian citizens. He had a plan here. He studied here. I wasn’t tied down to anything. I’ve always loved Canada. I have travelled to many countries, but Canada was always close to my heart. It does remind me of Russia, but I don’t know why. It’s difficult to describe. The nature reminds me of Russia.

And what led you to Victoria specifically?

Ivan was accepted to Camosun College and we fell in love with Victoria. He found a job and I started my business here.

What is your new business?

I am a personal trainer and help people to be fit, strong, and healthy.

I have a degree in sports science. I love to train people, but I didn’t want to be a coach—and of course Victoria is not a good place to be a ski coach! Personal training seemed like a good opportunity. I can also apply my athletic experiences to help clients reach specific goals, like running a marathon or climbing Kilimanjaro. I usually train at the Quadra Sports and Fitness Gym, but sometimes I visit people at their houses, depending on their goals. My clients have all different levels of fitness. I had a client who is around 85. We worked mostly on preparing him for daily activities so he can be independent. His daughter asked me to train him because he had applied for an artificial

FIRST EMOTION UPON ARRIVING Excitement.

MISS THE MOST The food! Fortunately, now you can find Russian food in Victoria at Seven Valleys store on Douglas St.—the store has new owners from Azerbaijan. They import smoked mackerel, salted herring, buckwheat, candies, and Russian-style cottage cheese and sour cream. The Russian-style cottage cheese is very different from the Canadian style, which is salty. You would eat the Russian-style cottage cheese with some jam or something sweet. We often buy food in Vancouver too because there are Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian, and Polish stores there with more to choose from.

AT HOME My husband is a good cook and usually cooks at home. He likes to experiment and loves to cook food from different cultures as well.

He really enjoys it! It’s not typical in Russian culture for men to do the cooking, at least, in my family, the women usually do the cooking.

leg and he had to be strong to qualify, which he did in the end. It’s not athletic training; it is more general fitness, but I can apply my experiences. Because of my own injuries and surgeries, I understand my clients’ recovery needs.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 13

ELENA HERE IN CANADA CULTURAL CONNECTION

WEIRD CANADIAN CULTURE

It helps that I am married to a fellow

Personal space. You have big distance

Russian. That’s a big deal because we speak

between people in lines, for example. You

Russian at home. We also have Russian

could easily fit two or three more people

friends here. Unfortunately, we don’t have

in that space! And everybody is so polite!

a Russian community centre or something

Everyone is smiling in the streets here

like that here, but there are many groups,

and I love this part very much. In Russia,

like Facebook groups or book clubs. We

if someone is smiling at you, something

also Skype with my family all the time. I

is wrong. But sometimes, people are so

can’t imagine not having that. I can see

polite [here] they can’t tell you the truth.

my niece in Moscow growing up. I call my

It’s frustrating—you can’t understand their

mom every week.

real feelings.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

FAVE ACTIVITY IN VICTORIA

Language. Even though my English is

Paddleboarding. Going to the beaches. I

good, it is still a challenge—it can still

love the smell of the ocean.

prevent me from expressing myself at a complex level. And talking with my clients,

IMMIGRATION ADVICE

for example. They all come from different

Be careful with lawyers. We had a bad

professions and of course I don’t know

experience with a lawyer from Vancouver.

some words related to their professions.

If you speak English, you can call an immigration centre and get answers

ACCENT BIAS

to your questions. When you are

It’s funny, I’ll say something to my clients

immigrating, you are limited in your

or other people, and they’ll say, “What?”

budget. Spending a few thousand dollars

I’ll say it again and again until they realize

on things you can do by yourself is not

what I’ve said. Then they’ll say the word the

good. Our lawyer actually came referred to

same way I just pronounced it! I understand

us, but did not seem very knowledgeable

it sounds different to them, but to me, it

and used scare tactics. Some people do

sounds exactly the same. But that’s not bias

need a lawyer, so my advice would be

exactly. Actually I find Canada really great

to be cautious, think twice, and not take

in this way, not discriminating.

advice blindly.

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Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 15

CASC DIA Religion, Spirituality, Secularity, and Society in the Pacific Northwest

by Paul Bramadat, Principal Investigator One of the distinctive features of the Pacific Northwest of

year study, supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities

North America (the “Cascadia bio-region”) is its approach

Research Council. Our team of faculty and graduate students

to the institutions, ideas, and practices associated with

from various disciplines and universities will address three

religion and spirituality. A unique environment for religious

outstanding questions:

communities was created through the historical challenges of settlement, economic development (in forestry and mining,

1) What are the similarities and differences between the forms

for example), political contestation (between Indigenous,

of religion and spirituality one finds in the Canadian and U.S.

British, and American groups), and the physical and

components of Cascadia?

psychological distance from the rest of the continent.

2) How inclusive is Cascadia for those from minority or conservative religious backgrounds?

Although religious monopolies and oligarchies have existed

3) What are the public and social implications of the religious,

in a number of places in North America, the Anglican,

spiritual, and cultural changes we observe in the region?

Presbyterian, Lutheran, Catholic, and United Churches of the 19th and 20th centuries never achieved as strong a foothold

Of course, Indigenous communities have lived here for

in the region as elsewhere in Canada and the U.S. This helps

millennia and have well-established political, legal, aesthetic,

explain why Cascadians say they have “no religion” at much

cultural, spiritual, and moral traditions that have survived

higher rates than people in other parts of North America.

centuries of mistreatment and misrecognition from the dominant settler societies on both sides of the border. In

In addition, Cascadia is home to a dynamic array of religious,

this project and others we will initiate, we hope to work with

post-religious, and spiritual movements, which people are

colleagues to address the creative tensions one sees in the

arguably freer to adopt and adapt than ever before (and

Indigenous religious landscape among, syncretic, revivalist,

possibly than anywhere else). Indeed, the region is arguably

and assimilationist orientations toward Christian and

the site of extraordinary natural beauty that has animated

traditional spiritualities.

what I call a reverential naturalism among many residents.

In Cascadia we are able to pursue unresolved debates about Some see the account I have provided above as the death

the nature, scale, and implications of secularization and

knell for religion in the area, but these forms of irreligious,

the new ways in which individuals and communities in the

spiritual, and post-religious identity do in fact coexist with

region are re-imagining religion, spirituality, and society.

conventional liberal and deeply conservative religious

I am joined in this project by colleagues from Cascadia

perspectives. To put it briefly: it’s complicated.

and beyond. Together we will provide our academic peers, students, the CSRS community, and the broader public with

This year, our team at the Centre for Studies in Religion and

a new account of the complex interactions between religious

Society (CSRS) at the University of Victoria begins a four-

and social forces in Cascadia.

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RESEARCH

“...the region is arguably the site of extraordinary natural beauty that has animated what I call a reverential naturalism...”

LEARN MORE Facebook: facebook.com/uvic.csrs Twitter: @UVicReligioNews Email: cdhorton@uvic.ca

PAUL BRAMADAT—Director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria. Photo credit: Mike Morash.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 17

HEARTS ON OUR SLEEVES

18 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE

Expressions of Faith & Culture Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 19

FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE

My pakol (hat) and kameez (shirt) are worn by many ethnic groups, including those in Pakistan such as the Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, and Chitrali. My mother is from the Islamabad region of Pakistan. My dad was born here in Canada but his brothers and sisters—seven siblings in total—were born in Pakistan. —Shaquille Shah 20 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

This outfit represents my Haitian roots and culture. —Stanley Bieberdorf

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 21

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FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE

My traditional dresses from Liberia were a gift from my parents to help me stay connected to my culture. —Tenneh Bieberdorf HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 23

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This is the female version of an Agbada from Nigeria, where I am from. —Pelumi Ogunbanwo

FASHION, FAITH AND CULTURE

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 25

“This dress is my identity. When I wear it, I represent Kurdistan.” ~Juanne Khattat

26 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

“A pastor or priest carries symbols of her faith and the collar is one of them. It identifies me as a person, who by vocation, will hold sacred space for the Divine love that dwells within all life.� ~Reverend Aneeta Saroop

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THE UNWANTED A Portrait of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Since August 25, 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Myanmar. Most are women and children; many have been beaten, tortured, raped, or have seen their homes and villages burned to the ground. Their loved ones have been killed or have disappeared. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been helping Rohingya refugees for many years in Bangladesh—where the majority have arrived—and continues to supply life-saving aid.

by Fiona Irvine-Goulet, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR Canada)

28 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

REFUGEES

Baynuwa, 35, holds her 8-month-old son Terak at Chonkhola camp in Chakdhala, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: Andrew McConnell for UNHCR.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 29

T

he Rohingya are the world’s largest group of stateless

season in Bangladesh, UNHCR has distributed upgraded shelter

people, an ethnic minority of about 1.3 million people,

kits, composed of bamboo poles, ropes, tools, and tarps to more

mostly Muslim, living in the northern Rakhine state of

than 35,000 families.

Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country. Considered “foreigners” within their own country, they have no citizenship,

With its partners, UNHCR is developing Kutupalong Extension,

and are denied many basic human rights, including health care,

a new site near Kutupalong refugee camp. This includes funding

education and employment. Most live below the poverty line.

a road to facilitate construction and refugee access, supporting

Throughout the years, there have been many waves of Rohingya

site planning, building latrines and wells, improving the water

refugees fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar.

and sanitation facilities and distributing shelter materials.

On August 25, 2017, Myanmar state media reported that 12

As with any humanitarian crisis in which families become

security officers had been killed by Rohingya insurgents. The

separated, UNHCR registers families and has established a

subsequent army crackdown in Rakhine state and ensuing

referral system to reunify unaccompanied children with their

violence and destruction of villages triggered an exodus that in

parents. Victims of sexual violence, in particular, are referred

just six days reached an astonishing 270,000 Rohingya fleeing

to safe spaces. UNHCR is also enhancing efforts to identify

on foot and by boat to Bangladesh.

and refer children at risk, so they can receive the appropriate support.

Bangladesh has, for decades, been home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. In 2017, to cope with the

Louise Aubin, the Deputy Director for International Protection

recent arrivals, UNHCR expanded the previously established

at UNHCR’s headquarters in Geneva, helped lead UNHCR’s

refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, and provided relief and shelter

emergency response in Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees. “So

items. The Bangladeshi government has allocated some 2,000

many refugees look deeply traumatized. They are searching for

acres of land close to Kutupalong camp on which family tents

surviving family members; children have been separated from

and temporary communal shelters have been erected to shelter

their parents; some people still wonder whether their father,

new arrivals. There are still many Rohingya remaining in

siblings or children are alive and have had a chance to safely

Rakhine state on whose behalf UNHCR has called for an end to

reach Bangladesh,” reports Aubin. She says: “The conditions

the violence, and access to provide much needed humanitarian

here are taxing: the climate, the terrain, and the emotional

assistance.

strain of interacting with people who’ve suffered so much horror. One can easily feel overwhelmed and powerless to

Between September and December of 2017, UNHCR had 17

address the needs of hundreds of thousands of people. But the

airlifts of emergency life-saving aid to Bangladesh. Upon arrival,

Rohingya are incredibly resilient. In fact, a massive settlement

refugees families received essential supplies including sleeping

was built within weeks by the very refugees who now inhabit

mats, mosquito nets, tarps, solar lamps and shelter kits to build

the area, despite having arrived with nothing but the clothes

their homes. As part of its preparedness efforts for the monsoon

on their backs.”

OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP) Rohingya children walk through the rain and mud at Chonkhola refugee camp in Chakdhala, Bangladesh. The camp is situated on the Myanmar border and is home to over 6,000 refugees. (BOTTOM) Hafez Mohammed, 58, holds a picture of his son, Mir Kashem, 19, who has mental health problems and went missing after not receiving treatment. Photo Credit: Andrew McConnell for UNHCR. 30 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

REFUGEES

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 31

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Rohingya refugee crisis

www.unhcr.ca/bangladeshaid

32 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

REFUGEES

Aubin says the impact of donations is already visible on the ground, with more than 1,500 metric tonnes in emergency lifesaving relief items and shelter materials delivered.

Bangladesh, the real front-line responders in this emergency.

Without the help of our partners and donors, the staggering needs cannot be met.”

“So far, more than 20 schools in both Kutupalong and Nyapara settlements have been reopened and are running, helping thousands of refugee children to resume a semblance of a normal life,” she says.

Canadians have given generously to the crisis, but the needs on the ground remain vast. UN agencies, including UNHCR, and their partners have recently launched a joint appeal for US$951 million to meet the needs of nearly 900,000 Rohingya refugees and more than 330,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in the communities hosting them.

“The lives of hundreds of thousands of refugees have been saved, and this response was made possible because of the people of

Revised and reprinted with permission from UNHCR Canada.

OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP) Young Rohingya siblings (from left) Samira, 10, Ayasha, 17, and Shahab, 12, have their portrait taken in their shelter in Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh. The siblings walked for seven days then crossed the sea, fleeing Myanmar. Ayasha is the head of the household as their parents died 10 years ago of tuberculosis. Photo Credit: Andrew McConnell for UNHCR. (BOTTOM) Aerial View of Kutupalong Refugee Camp. Photo Credit: Roger Arnold for UNHCR. THIS PAGE Bangladesh. UNHCR distributes 50,000 hygiene kits to Rohingya refugees. Photo Credit: Roger Arnold for UNHCR.

For more information on the Rohingya refugee crisis and how you can help, please visit: www.unhcr.ca/ bangladeshaid.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 33

THE FLAME KEEPERS Advocacy and Celebration in Victoria, British Columbia’s Black Community Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW Words by FIONA BRAMBLE

ALFRED OKOT OCHEN—President of the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI)

34 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

COMMUNITY

Passion and joie de vivre are palpable in Victoria’s and Vancouver Island’s Afro-Caribbean communities. Supported by elders and inspired by youth, these local Black leaders work tirelessly to educate the wider community, to champion and mentor in their organizations, to celebrate culture, and to keep the flames of their African heritage burning bright.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 35

S

ilvia Mangue has a passion, actually several overlapping passions: supporting Black entrepreneurs

and youth, educating the community, and bringing the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society into the 21st century. Born in Equatorial Guinea, Silvia came to Canada by way of Spain, where she spent many of her childhood years. It is her country of birth, however, that holds a special place in Silvia’s heart. Her return to Equatorial Guinea at the age of ten for a two-year stay, Silvia describes as “the happiest years” of her life.

President of the B.C. Black History Awareness Society since 2017, Silvia is focused on growing the membership and is actively recruiting committed members, particularly those who share her vision for supporting Black entrepreneurs and youth. Silvia, an entrepreneur herself, founded the elder-care service, Kulea Love—“kulea” a Swahili word that means “caring from the heart.”

When asked how knowledgeable the wider community is about Black history in B.C., Silvia says there isn’t much knowledge “even in the Black community” and that her own son asked her “if Black pioneers existed” in British Columbia. “This is why we have to work so much harder,” says Silvia. Her goal is to add more educational presentations to her community work.

THE AMBASSADOR

Silvia regularly visits local schools to talk about B.C. Black history and even recently presented at William Head Institution, a correctional facility near Victoria.

It was an experience Silvia describes as inspiring and enlightening. Despite being a champion for Black history education, Silvia doesn’t think “education about Black history should be mandatory” and that “the desire to learn should come from within, from curiosity.” However, Silvia believes exposure to other cultures in general is important, especially in this young, diverse country: “Now we are here, we are all Canadians. Let’s treat each other as we deserve, with love and respect.”

36 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

SILVIA MANGUE—Founder, Kulea Love and President of the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society

PULCHÉRIE MBOUSSI Founder, Victoria African Cultural Society

THE CELEBRATOR Pulchérie Mboussi never slows down, moving from one idea

Victoria. It shocked me. It was like me asking someone if they

or event to another with boundless energy and enthusiasm,

are European. I am not African, I am Cameroonian. I am a

her generous smile inviting anyone and everyone along for

Cameroonian-born Canadian,” says Pulchérie.

the fun. Organizer in chief for the many public events and celebrations hosted by the Victoria African Cultural Society

These experiences motivated Pulchérie to form a society to

(VACS), including the popular AfricaFest, Pulchérie brings the

celebrate African culture and raise awareness in the community.

cultural heart of the African continent to Vancouver Island.

At first, it was named the Victoria African Cultural Society,

The concerts, dance performances, film screenings, and fashion

but Pulchérie says that she had a few Caribbean friends, so she

shows are most certainly celebratory in nature, but underneath

thought, Let’s make it an African-Caribbean society. Over time,

all the fun and glamour, VACS has a serious agenda.

however, Pulchérie felt that the society’s mission was getting confused and wanted to refocus on her initial mandate: “to

When Pulchérie first moved to Victoria from Quebec City

raise awareness about the African continent, its 54 countries

seven years ago, she was unprepared for what seemed like a

and more than 3000 ethnic groups.”

widespread lack of knowledge in the community about Black people. She would call her friends back in Quebec to say that

When thinking about what it means to be a welcoming society,

she felt like she had just “immigrated again.” It bothered her

Pulchérie says it’s crucial that the receiving society know

especially that people she met in Victoria would generalize

something about the newcomers who are coming: “You can

that Black people were just “African” and not even distinguish

try to have an inclusive society and bring people together,

between the many countries in Africa (nevermind consider

but nothing will change if you don’t learn something about

other countries of origin). “After twenty years in Canada,

where people come from and what they believe in. Canada

the first time someone asked me if I was African was here in

will get there.”

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 37

THE STEWARD Originally from Gulu, Uganda, Alfred Okot Ochen is one of

Africans, people of African descent, and friends of Africa

the founding members of the African Heritage Association

on Vancouver Island.”

of Vancouver Island, known more commonly by its acronym, AHAVI. Two words come to mind when one meets Alfred:

Alfred believes it is vital for those of African descent to come

humility and intelligence. Not one to seek the spotlight,

together to “have a platform and welcome new members in

Alfred is that special kind of leader who chooses to lead

the community” and says that “when there are successes we

from behind, encouraging and propelling others forward.

celebrate together; when there are difficulties in families, we are there for each other.”

In 2004, Alfred was a university student and had only been in Canada for one year when he and a few elders

Alfred says AHAVI has “come a long way” but acknowledges

in the Black community came together to formulate the

that “funding is always a struggle” and the association needs

constitution that would be the backbone for what is now

to raise more awareness. The long-term vision for AHAVI? To

AHAVI. Alfred says that the AHAVI vision at the time was

have its own centre. Alfred says that although he is AHAVI’s

that the association would be an umbrella organization

current president, he “claims no ownership” and will hand

for all the Afro-Caribbean associations in Victoria and on

the leadership over to a new executive in October 2018 when

Vancouver Island. Officially, AHAVI’s mandate is: “to build

elections are held. Alfred wants others to “have the experience”

a united and strong community by cooperatively organizing

and opportunity to develop their own leadership skills, but

and supporting events and activities to meet the needs of

will continue to provide support and guidance if needed.

38 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

39

ART FINDS A WAY Having emigrated from Croatia fifteen years ago and a designer herself, JAKELINA LISTES connects with other immigrant women about their art and the challenge of finding belonging in a new community. Mara by the Sea is the first in a series.

40 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

BELONGING

I

met Mara in 2016 during one of her visits to VIRCS, the

her new life here, but is also sad and misses her family and

Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society. She was

friends back in her homeland.

there on behalf of the Women in Need (WIN) Co-op, where she used to work as a regional manager. Mara instantly drew

Her impression of Canada as a “very nice, amazing, but a hard

me in with her happy, warm, and vibrant approach, and we

place to make friends” sounds so familiar to many newcomers,

shared with each other our personal stories of struggling as new

and we both agreed that the depth of relationships here is

immigrants to Canada. Several months ago we reconnected via

different than what many of us are used to. Friendships here in

Facebook, and to my surprise I found out she was an amazing

Canada, according to Mara, seem a bit loose, almost superficial—

artist. I thought she should share her talents with the world,

especially when compared to ties that exist among friends in

so here we are.

cultures like Argentina’s—and subject to circumstances. She says, “I know a lot of people, but it is hard to click with them, and just

I visited Mara in her apartment and improvised art studio in the

because you meet people doesn’t mean you become friends.”

Victoria B.C. neighbourhood of James Bay, where she lives with her boyfriend, Eric, and her therapy dog, Diya, a Rhodesian

Mara’s Canadian story goes back to late nineties, when she met

Ridgeback. Mara is celebrating her thirteenth anniversary of

her ex-husband through an online app (the now-defunct ICQ

coming to Canada. Originally born and raised in Buenos Aires,

chat room). They fell in love and maintained a long-distance

Argentina, Mara moved to Victoria in 2005.

relationship for a few years, meeting occasionally in Argentina and the U.S. Once Mara received her Canadian Permanent

The name Mara comes from the Spanish word for the sea, mare.

Resident status and came to Canada, she moved to Victoria

It is evident that Mara has a strong connection to the ocean: her

and they got married.

home is full of shells, rocks, and beach wood; her favorite colour is turquoise; and the focus of her art is the ocean and its waves.

Unfortunately, the relationship did not last. As is the case for many intercultural couples, the challenges are many, and figuring

The close proximity to the ocean and the beach is what

out how to navigate a new life can take years. Being a new

Mara loves the most about her apartment. It gives her the

immigrant and in a relationship with a person from a different

opportunity to walk along the beach with her dog and provides

culture is demanding, as the other person suddenly replaces an

her with the daily therapy of sounds, images, and the smell of

entire network of people, including family and friends.

the ocean. Mara has always loved animals, dogs in particular.

After getting sick and not being able to work, she decided to

Mara believes that they were not really prepared for what this

adopt a dog—a big but anxious one in need of love and care

kind of relationship and her moving to a new country and

as much as Mara was.

new culture would bring. The whole process, she explains, was exhausting, both emotionally and financially, and by

Mara describes her life in Canada as bittersweet, as do many of

the time they finally were living together, they were already

us. She feels happy and grateful to have been able to establish

different people.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 41

MARA BY THE SEA

LEARN MORE

Web: www.maragszypart.ca Facebook: /MaraGSzypArt Instagram: /maragszypart

42 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

BELONGING

After her marriage ended, Mara was on her own, still a new immigrant with limited resources and networks. Like many immigrants, one of the biggest challenges she had was to find a place to live, which is not easy without references and steady employment. She contacted twenty-seven landlords before one of them gave her a chance.

A few years after settling in Victoria, Mara decided to start her own small business, a pet store in the downtown Victoria area, which she ran for several years. Eventually she closed her store and shifted her focus to finding work that reflected her passion for supporting marginalized women.

That is how she landed her job at WIN, where she was regional manager for a few years. She talks about her WIN days with sadness. She had hoped to work at WIN until retirement.

Life often develops in strange and unexpected ways, and that was certainly the case for Mara.

After being diagnosed with and treated for renal cancer, she was no longer able to work and was forced to reevaluate her life and the future. Losing her job was very painful; she lost not only her job but also friends and the sense of community and value gained by doing something she loved and believed in.

When I asked Mara how she started to paint, she explained that she was always artistic and a good sketcher, always drawing and doodling, but did not paint very much or see herself as an artist.

She thought she was nothing special and is still very critical of her own work and reluctant to share it with others.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 43

BELONGING

About a year ago, with the onset of depression, Mara started looking for ways to keep positive and have something meaningful to do, so she started to draw, sketch, and paint—this time for real.

She spends her nights, when she can’t sleep, painting. This is now a part of her healing process.

Luckily, Mara also has good support from Eric, who encouraged her to start painting. It opened her eyes to the idea that her identity goes beyond her former role of managing retail stores, and that despite the difficulties she has experienced, she has more to offer to the world and herself.

Mara started to post her work online through Facebook and Instagram, and the reactions from people were so positive, she was encouraged to share more. Soon she had her first custom order painting. Now she is figuring out how to sustain her new passion.

She has created a webpage for her art, spends a lot of time on social media, and is working on illustrations for a children’s book that touches on issues of race, diversity, and culture.

Before I left Mara’s studio, we exchanged thoughts on how difficult it is to break into an art scene, to get yourself out there, and to approach galleries, coffee shops, and other places that feature art—and to try to promote yourself and your work, let alone make a living out of it. It was an emotional visit with a woman with whom I share more than a few significant experiences. I can’t wait to see what she will produce in the future.

Photography by JOHN-EVAN SNOW Words by JAKELINA LISTES

44 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

Mara G. Szyp

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 45

SHINE

ON!

Youth Cultural Ambassadors Lighting the Way Photography by FIONA BRAMBLE & JOHN-EVAN SNOW

46 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

YOUTH

T

he young women and girls of the Youth Activities Program

Hijab is not fully understood in Canada and elsewhere and are

of the Victoria Women’s Branch of the British Columbia

actively working to grow intercultural faith and awareness. At

Muslim Association—the “YAP”—welcome community

the Welcome Day Celebration for Newcomers and Immigrants

opportunities to shine a light on their faith and experiences.

in Victoria B.C., they proudly wear the sashes of their countries

These YAP ambassadors appreciate that a women’s choice to wear

of origin, and glow under the diverse “umbrella of Islam.”

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 47

The Hijab Awareness Event was an opportunity to raise awareness about what the Hijab is and about the diverse cultures of the Muslim community that stand together all under the umbrella of Islam. The YAP girls brought forth another outstanding and elegant event, the third of its kind in the community. The youth were excited to showcase their cultural Hijab styles to the women-only audience open to the public.

Shazia Suleman Rashid Women’s Board Youth Director, Masjid Al-Iman

48 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

YOUTH

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 49

NEW VOICES

MY CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY Becoming a Canadian and a Colonizer

by Nofel

“It’s important to be aware of your history,” my father

a native-born Canadian in at least one apparent way:

once told me. To be honest, I was never fond of my

I made an active choice to join this country. In fact,

father’s words, and he didn’t speak much, anyway.

I took the actions needed to become one. There are

This, nonetheless, is a profound remark, though I

reasons why I wanted to become Canadian: First and

probably came to understand it a bit differently from

foremost, it’s my way of legitimizing my love for and

what my father intended.

sense of belonging to this country; it’s also a way to obtain rights and, perhaps, privileges that my former

I’d always perceived my history as static; however,

citizenship never provided me.

I’ve recently realized that my history is changeable.

I’m constantly influenced by the milieu in which I

There are many astounding things about our country:

live, and this milieu is shaped by distinct historical

freedoms, diversity, and picturesque landscapes,

factors. My history in Libya was that of the Arabs in

to name a few. On the other hand, it’s a colonial

North Africa and the Middle East, but my history in

country; I truly wish our reality as a nation was

Canada is a lot more complex and intersectional. As a

different. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to admit that the

foreign-born Canadian who belongs to sexual, racial,

colonial history of this country, and the ongoing

and religious minorities, I understand that my history

colonialism, is also my history. As Canadians—

is largely that of minorities in this country, but it’s

whether or not we’re conscious of it, whether we were

also, to a lesser extent, that of its diverse cultures and

born Canadians or chose to become ones—we are

the historical events that created Canada.

participants and beneficiaries of this colonial system.

It’s vital that we claim collective responsibility for

On March 16th of this year, I attended my citizenship

our reality. In my father’s words: “It’s important to

ceremony. My being Canadian is dissimilar to that of

be aware of [our] history.”

50 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA

LANGUAGE

여보세요!

Please look over here!

by Jaerang Lee, Korean Language Instructor

What is the first thing you say when you pick up the phone? Probably hello? But how would you feel if you heard the words look over here instead? You would surely feel weird.

Therefore, it will probably surprise you to learn that this is exactly what Koreans will say first when answering the phone: “여보세요!” (yeo-bo-se-yo!)

One of the first Korean expressions my husband learned was 여보세요. One day I was calling my father in Korea. My husband asked, “Does ‘여보세요’ mean hello?” I replied, “Yes—in this case.”

However, 여보세요 has nothing to do with hello. It is an abbreviation of ​여​기를 (yeo-gi-reul, meaning over

here) and ​보 세요 (bo-se-yo, meaning please look).

Now imagine travelling in Korea in the late nineteenth century when the telephone was first introduced. If you answered a phone call then, you would have first drawn the caller’s attention by asking “여보세요” (please look over here!) before saying hello.

HEREMAGAZINE.CA SUMMER 2018 51

Newcomer Support

Pathways to Pacifica for Newcomers

by Harrison Ellis, Pacifica Housing With a vacancy rate of .07% and rental costs continuing to rise,

People usually connect with us by dropping into our office at

individuals and families across Southern Vancouver Island are

827 Fisgard St., or at our Downtown Outreach Services at 826

struggling to find housing. New members of our community are

Cormorant St. For any newcomer families that are looking for

hit particularly hard by the housing crisis. Often enough, they

subsidized family housing, the first step is to fill out an application

experience language barriers, discrimination, and a host of other

with the BC Housing Registry. The waitlist for subsidized housing

challenges adjusting to a new country, community and culture.

is long, and it can take years for families to find housing. However, applications for our reduced market properties are generally

Since 2016, Pacifica has housed an increasing number of refugee

processed faster with shorter wait lists.

families, many of whom have escaped conflict in Syria. One of these families includes Faten Hamsho, her husband Mohamad

As seen in Faten’s story, we receive referrals from VIRCS, the Inter-

Dib Hamsho Kaba, and their children. When Faten first arrived

Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), and the Anglican

in Victoria, they were living in a house in Sidney paying $1,500

Diocese of BC. “We enjoy working with our community partners in

each month in rent. The location was a long commute to school

the immigrant and refugee settlement field, and take seriously our

and the community by bus, and the high cost of housing required

role in providing housing in an inclusive and culturally sensitive

Mohamad to find work despite having a heart condition. After

way,” says Colleen Cybulski, Pacifica’s Director of Property Services.

connecting with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS), the family found a safe, permanent, and more

Our staff members are trained to work with clientele that come

affordable place to live through Pacifica.

from different cultural places and backgrounds. At Pacifica, we have partnered with the ICA to offer diversity training for our staff,

Pacifica Housing is one of the largest providers of affordable

and became the first housing agency in Victoria to participate in the

housing on Vancouver Island. We house more than 1700 people in

Google We-Speak Translate project. Our ongoing partnership with

37 properties across Greater Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo. The

Royal Roads University provides opportunities for International

types of housing we provide include subsidized family housing,

Students to volunteer at various Pacifica events and become part of

with rents geared to 30% of a tenant’s income; affordable market

our family. Providing a local response to global issues is important

housing where tenants pay 80% to 90% of market rate and market

to us, and we want to provide the most accessible services we can

housing, with rents are in line with the current rental market.

to our growing and increasingly diverse community.

Located at 616 Goldstream Avenue in Langford, Oak Park will be completed by December 2018 and will include 73 units of affordable family housing.

LEARN MORE Web: www.pacificahousing.ca Phone: 250-385-2131 52 SUMMER 2018 HEREMAGAZINE.CA