A new community organization in Yellowknife is aiming to promote cultural inclusivity, celebrate South Asian cultures and combat racism.
Several members of the city’s South Asian community said this week they have formally established the Association of South Asians in Yellowknife, or ASAYK.
In a news release, the founding members said they hope the organization “will serve as a collective voice, providing a platform for advocacy, cultural celebration and meaningful dialogue to build a stronger and more inclusive city.”
President Silal Shafqat told Cabin Radio he and others were inspired to start the association after seeing racism against South Asian people in Yellowknife, from posts and comments on Facebook to someone who stood up at a town hall meeting on the NWT’s nominee program and said: “You guys are all invading us.”
“The idea behind the association was just to provide some sort of way for our community to organize and to be able to integrate and become better members of the community,” he said.
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“We don’t want incidents of racism and discrimination happening generally.”
‘It’s a place I can call home’
Shafqat, who is originally from Pakistan, moved to Yellowknife two years ago.
“I’ve fallen in love with this place. It’s a place I can call home and I really want others to be able to feel the same,” he said.
The term South Asian encompasses people with roots in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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The region is home to multiple languages, religions and cultures.
Shafqat said other founding members of ASAYK are from Nepal, Bangladesh and India.
“The community is pretty diverse,” he said. “It’s going to be a little bit of a challenge but the idea behind this was to get people together, get the community together, to understand what our objectives will be. So this is just a start.”
Inclusivity, support and advocacy
Shafqat said he would like to see the organization organize cultural events, bridge gaps, create awareness and encourage members to volunteer at community events and create more visibility around their contributions to Yellowknife.
The press release acknowledged that Yellowknife is located on Chief Drygeese territory. Founding members of ASAYK said they are committed to working with Indigenous communities to promote reconciliation and mutual respect.
The association’s stated objectives include:
- fostering inclusivity by creating a safe space for all South Asians regardless of background, identity or ability;
- celebrating South Asian heritage through cultural events and artistic showcases;
- providing support to new immigrants and established residents to navigate life in Yellowknife;
- advocating for equality and addressing discrimination through dialogue and collaboration with other communities; and
- promoting intercultural understanding to build bridges with other communities in Yellowknife.
Shafqat encouraged all South Asians in Yellowknife and allies to join ASAYK and support its Facebook page.
He said the organization will soon announce upcoming events and initiatives.
