About Asian Heritage Month
Asian Heritage Month at the University of Saskatchewan honours the legacy and contributions of members of the Asian communities that span East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, Western Asia and Central Asia. It is a time to listen to and learn about these broad and diverse communities that span across our campus, province, and beyond. Everyone is welcome to join USask during the month of May for activities and learning opportunities about Asian Heritage Month.
The 2024 theme for the inaugural panel event for Asian Heritage Month at USask is "Locating ‘Asian’ communities at USask: Complexities, challenges, and opportunities.” Together, we can uplift and celebrate the unique stories, contributions and achievements of the Asian community in our province, country and world.
Attend an event
Panel Discussion: Locating “Asian” communities at USask: Complexities, challenges, and opportunities
Join us for the kickoff event for Asian Heritage Month at USask. Everyone is welcome to join. This inaugural Asian Heritage Month panel discussion presents an exciting opportunity to explore the complexities and differences as well as the unique contributions of the Asian communities at USask coming from a variety of backgrounds, settlement and community experiences, and differing racial attachments.
Panelists will share their lived experiences related to unconscious bias that may hinder leadership, economic/social/career opportunities for Asians, along with their contributions, and discuss the opportunities/challenges the university community has to “be the university the world needs”.
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 3 – 4:30 pm
Location: North Concourse, Place Riel
Discussant: Dr. Baljit Singh (Vice-President, Research)
Panelists:
- David Chuong (Human Resources Coordinator, Shared Services) - Chinese/Vietnamese Canadian
- Isabella Barrieses (Office Administrator, International Student and Study Abroad Centre)- Filipino Canadian
- Dr. Xulin Guo (Professor and Head, Department of Geography & Planning, College of Arts and Science) - Chinese
- Khin Chan Myae Nyo (Undergraduate student, Finance, Edwards School of Business) - Myanmar/ Burmese
Riceboy Sleeps Film Screening and Conversation, College of Education
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm (doors open at 5 pm, food and refreshments will be served)
Location: Film Screening: Quance Theatre (EDUC 1003, Education Building, 28 Campus Drive), and Post-Movie Conversation: Education Students’ Lounge (EDUC 1005)
Register to attend
About the film: A Korean single mother raises her young son in the suburbs of Canada determined to provide a better life for him than the one she left behind. After losing her husband, So-young relocates to Canada in the 1990s with their young son, Dong-hyun in tow. There, they must fight for acceptance and respect. Dong-hyun is brutally bullied by his classmates, and he isn’t helped by the timid, distinctly Canadian racism of his teacher and principal, who consider the family “troublesome.” At work, So-young battles loneliness and racist and sexist comments. As they negotiate with their separate circumstances, the rift between mother and son grows. Unwelcome news sparks an unplanned return to South Korea — and the in-laws So-young hasn’t spoken to in many years — but might open up the possibility of mutual understanding.
This film by Anthony Shim is a critically-acclaimed TIFF winner and also won Best Original Screenplay at the Canadian Screen Awards.
Following the film screening, Dr. Hyunjung Shin will lead a team of faculty colleagues to help guide the conversation interacting with the audience. Audience members will share what resonated with them from the theme of the movie.
Meet the USask community
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Leung Far Eastern Studies Collection
A gift-in-kind from former USask professor Dr. Man-Kam Leung to the University Library, The Leung Far Eastern Studies Collection honours both Dr. Man-Kam Leung and the origins of East Asian studies at the University of Saskatchewan within his original academic department in the College of Arts & Science—the Department of Far Eastern Studies.
The collection consists of approximately 45,000 print items including monographs and individual journal issues. Dr. Leung collected the material during frequent research trips to Asia over the course of his career, bringing back to Canada material not only reflective of Chinese history, but relating to a broad range of far-eastern history and culture, including material relating to Japan, Mongolia, Malaysia, and Tibet.
This collection remains one of the largest and most significant Chinese book collections in Canada.
Dr. Man-Kam Leung (1937 - 2019) was born in China and attended the University of Hong Kong where he majored in Chinese history, philosophy, and literature. He graduated in 1963 with high honours and went on to the University of Hawaii, where he obtained his MA and PhD. In 1965, he joined the newly founded Department of Far Eastern Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, teaching Chinese and Japanese history, classical and modern Chinese, Southeast Asian history, Chinese philosophy and Chinese literature. In 1984, he transferred to the History department, where he taught Chinese and Japanese history until his retirement in 2005. He eventually relocated to Ottawa in 2013 following the 2010 passing of his wife, Joan, to live closer to his daughter, Elaine, and her family.
Enjoy a rich mix of Asian literature, art, and history from the Leung Far Eastern Studies Collection on the Ground Floor and the First Floor during the month of May 2024. Visit Murray Library at any time during operating hours to explore the collection, or browse the collection in the Library's online catalog.
Visit other USask library locations to explore more resources and learning opportunities during Asian Heritage Month:- Science Library: Dive into the innovative contributions of Asian scientists.
- Law Library: Learn about the fight for justice and equality for Chinese Canadians.
- Education Library: Discover different Asian Folklore.
Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage
The Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture has curated a selection of exhibits and collections to enable Canadians to learn more about the historical contributions made by Asian Canadians and to celebrate their achievements in Canada. Their mission is to persistently, explore, support and promote artistic expressions and creativities pursued and produced by Asian Canadian artists.
Significant events in the history of Asian communities in Canada
Explore significant events in the history of Asian communities in Canada with just a few examples of the numerous diverse communities of Asian heritage which trace their ancestry back to more than 40 different countries, each with their own unique history and lived experiences.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
As our University Plan 2025 states, our ambition is to be the university the world needs, and the world needs safe and welcoming spaces for everyone. This is a commitment outlined in our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy. The university believes equity, diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation, and creativity in all domains.
In March 2024, USask introduced a new website that shares our EDI Framework for Action that has been endorsed by all three USask governing bodies. The goal of USask’s EDI Framework is to bring equity, diversity and inclusion to the core of the university and to make USask a university for everyone – unlocking untapped potential for excellence in teaching, research and outreach.