Tracy Sim, Times-Chronicle
Representing the arts and diverse cultural identity of immigrants in a time of rising racism and a pandemic is a challenge, according to OneWorld Festival organisers. The festival was an online only event this year due to COVID-19, but hopes to return in person again next year.
Through the last two years, the cultural community has been forced to adapt to online meetings and performances and now organisations are learning that this can widen exposure, broaden viewing convenience, and act as a cultural archive.
The South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (SOICS) presented their OneWorld Festival entirely online for the second year. SOICS represents several communities of immigrants from other world communities, including our local Indigenous communities, who live in the South Okanagan.
SOICS Executive Director, Cherry Fernandez underscored the many inroads to cultural awareness that SOICS and the festival provides for individuals from over 110 countries and territories of origin.
“It is important to the SOICS team that we recognize and celebrate the diversity we have in the South Okanagan-Similkameen. We hope that this event is a start to increasing awareness and fostering more inclusive communities. The online component provides cultural dances and music, but it also provides stories and cooking demonstrations.”
Fernandez went on to highlight a new exhibit this year at the Summerland Museum, called ‘Stories of Diversity’. The exhibit will run until July, 2022, and features video featurettes of immigrant stories. “It gives insight into the settlement journey and profiles businesses owned by immigrant entrepreneurs”, said Fernandez about the exhibit.
Fernandez pointed out that the last two-years of presenting the entire festival online has helped the production team gear up for future years where the online component will be an equal consideration in planning and implementation. Festival organisers are already planning the 10th Annual OneWorld for 2023.
Getting a festival off the ground and maintaining its momentum has both challenges and rewards, according to Fernandez. “Online can be challenging as the technology and equipment is new for many of us”, she said.
“All the videos are brought to our community from our small team and youth volunteers picking up a camera and finding ways to share the amazing stories from our region”, said Fernandez. The online content makes the event more accessible as it can be viewed and shared long after the event, which has real value, Fernandez emphasised.
Despite the strong efforts of SOICS and other immigrant settlement agencies, it can still take up to 15 years for newcomers to settle in Canada, with additional delays in smaller and rural communities, Fernandez shared.
Getting here is only the beginning of an immigrant’s struggle. Once they arrive in Canada, immigrants have to adapt to Canadian systems and a different culture. They most often struggle to find employment because our local institutions don’t recognize foreign work experience or credentials. And then there is often a language barrier on top of all this.
Although not new, the pandemic saw an increase in racism and hate crimes, Fernandez said.
“Racism exists in the South Okanagan-Similkameen. It exists in our communities. The OneWorld Festival is a launching pad to increase our awareness of the cultural diversity of the region and promote greater understanding and mutual respect.”, Fernandez concludes.
It’s Fernandez and her team’s hope that participants are encouraged to become agents of change. To continue learning and to do better.
To view the wide-ranging festival content online, visit their website here.
