Expand Your Perspective This Summer
Summer often brings a welcome change of pace. Whether you're enjoying time at the lake, relaxing on a patio, travelling across Canada, or simply taking a break from your regular routine, the longer days offer something many of us struggle to find throughout the year: time.
Why not use some of that time to learn more about the lived experiences of people whose stories may be different from your own? Expand your horizons!
For example, building intercultural competence doesn't require enrolling in a university course. It begins with curiosity. Reading a book by an Indigenous author, attending a cultural festival, watching a documentary about the inclusion of persons with disabilities, or listening to the experiences of newcomers will deepen our understanding of the diverse communities that make Canada stronger. And, if you are a newcomer, why not take some time to learn about Canadian culture – values and norms – to better understand your new neighbours and coworkers.
Learning doesn't have to feel like work. It can be interesting, inspiring, challenging, and above all deeply rewarding.
In addition to Summer events, I’ve put together a list of books, films and videos for you. You can explore Indigenous experiences, cultural differences, gender identity, resilience, and compassion, and more. I won’t promise that these are easy to experience because, unfortunately, some of the truth is hard to swallow. This Summer expand your mind. Be brave. Be gentle with yourself but also, challenge yourself. You’ve probably heard the phrase “get comfortable with being uncomfortable”. So, here we go...
Attend a Community Event
Summer is one of Canada's richest seasons for cultural celebrations. Consider attending an event such as:
Indigenous Powwows and other experiences held across Canada. Check out
o Indigenous experiences in Saskatchewan
o 3-Day Tipi Camp in Southern Alberta
Caribbean Festivals including
o Toronto's Caribbean Carnival
o Afro-Caribbean Festival in Red Deer
o Caribbean Days Festival in Coquitlam
Pride Festivals like
Multicultural festivals, refugee welcome events, women’s festivals
o “Belonging” (Great Northern Peninsula Heritage Network)
o Muslim Heritage Festival (Edmonton)
o Irish Festival on the Miramichi
o She is Wild Festival (Boston Bar, BC & Bearpaw Ranch, Drayton Valley, AB)
o Sakred Circles Women’s Festival
And SO many more, of course!
Tips:
Look for events on sites like Eventbrite and MeetUp.
You can also explore your local art gallery and museum.
When attending events, remember that you are a guest. Approach each event with curiosity, compassion and courage as well as respect, and a willingness to learn rather than simply observe. Do some research to find out what attire to wear (or what NOT to wear) or which customs you should be aware of.
Let the conversations be two way – be prepared to share something about your own experiences.
Summer Reads
Stories told by those with lived experience move us beyond assumptions and stereotypes to understand the human impact of history, systems, and everyday interactions.
Some books I’ve read, loved and learned a lot from (in no particular order) (I know I’m going to think of many more as soon as I post this!):
· The Woo-Woo: How I survived Ice Hockey, Drug-Raids, Demons, and My Crazy Chinese Family by Lindsay Wong
· The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan (Really, anything by Amy Tan is excellent)
· How to Pronounce Knife and Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa (both Scotiabank Giller Prize winners!)
· The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
· Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
· Details From the Edge of the Village by Pierrette Requier (French-Canadian Poet)
· The Bee Keeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
· Firekeepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley
· Indians on Vacation by Thomas King (Yes, I’m aware of the controversy around him. The book is still very good.)
· Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese (Also, anything by Richard Wagamese!)
· Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
· How to be an Anti Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
· Ten Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong
Tip: Your local library is a perfect place to being your search for a great read.
Films That Moved Me
Film has an incredible ability to educate and foster empathy.
Consider watching:
· Departures (Japanese)
· Bones of Crows (Indigenous, Canadian)
· Coming Home (Chinese)
· A Friend of Dorothy (Short, British)
· Reserve 107 (Canadian)
· Indian Horse (Indigenous, Canadian) (Also a book)
· Rabbit-Proof Fence (Australian)
· Crash (USA)
· Elemental (Disney)
· We Were Children (National Film Board – NFB)
· Life at the residential school in Kamloops, B.C., 1962 (CBC)
· Waste Land (Brazil/Portuguese)
· Call Me By Your Name (Sony Pictures)
Tip: If you have a library card, (and a lot of the time the library cards are FREE) you probably have access to an app with free films. Also, libraries have wonderful in-person programming so check out the calendar at your local library.
YouTube
There is extensive and free educational content on YouTube.
Some excellent channels include:
· TED
· Canadian Museum for Human Rights
· The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Videos
Even spending twenty minutes watching a thoughtful conversation can introduce perspectives that challenge stereotypes and encourage greater empathy.
Here are a some of my favourite videos:
· Racism – Indigenous Perspectives with Senator Murray Sinclair
· 8th Fire Wab Kinew 500 Years in 2 Minutes
· Understanding Cultural Communication Differences
· Canadian Apartheid: Chinese Head Tax and racism’s legacy
· Cracking the Codes: Joy DeGruy, A Trip to the Grocery Store
· Science of Racism Documentary (with English subtitles)
· It Gets Better - Royal Canadian Mounted Police (BC)
· Heineken - Worlds Apart, #OpenYourWorld (2017)
· Gender Identity and Pronouns
· Beauty standards of looks are a form of bias
· A Class That Turned Around Kids' Assumptions of Gender Roles!
Practice the Three Cs
At Fostering Diverse Communities Canada, we have learned the practice of incorporating the Three Cs in our learning journey:
Curiosity: Ask respectful questions and remain open to learning. Also, just observing is a wonderful way to learn.
Compassion: Recognize that every person's experiences shape how they see the world. Try to consider that something is not “wrong” – it’s just different from what you know to be “right” or “normal”. “Normal” means different things to different people.
Courage: Expose yourself to new things. It’s ok to be more comfortable learning from the comfort of your own space rather than attending in-person events. Pick something on the list you can explore yourself and the find a friend or colleague to talk about it with.
These practices can help you move your learning into thoughtful and meaningful action. You don’t have to do everything on these lists. Explore what resonates with you.
Small Steps Create Lasting Change
Exploring the diversity of our communities and country isn't about knowing everything. It's about committing to lifelong learning. I am constantly learning and I expect that I always will be.
This summer, choose one book. Attend one cultural event. Watch one documentary. Listen to one story that challenges your perspective. Expand your view of the world and develop greater understanding, deeper empathy, and a renewed commitment to helping create communities where everyone feels safe and has a sense of belonging.
Explore more and do what I did – look things up on Chat GPT and Google! It’s so easy. And, if you find a great resource, please send me a message through my Contact page on my website or on Messenger on my Facebook Page – and please follow me there!
Happy learning! I’d love to hear how it goes for you.
Tymmarah Mackie, MA
Founder & President, Fostering Diverse Communities Canada
