First Multicultural Celebration of the Arts embraces Red Deer’s diversity

“We’re all equal,” said Underwood. “It’s really important that people get together and do the celebratory things; have festivals, be together, eat food, look at art, buy something maybe, dance together. It’s community building and relationship building.”

Sabrina Samuel, Member of the Soroptimist Club of Central Alberta, believes the emphasis on celebration is what differentiates the event from other means of creating awareness.

“Sometimes bringing awareness means going out into the streets and fighting for your rights and standing up and talking about very hard things like racism and things that people face. And when we do this kind of event, we just put that down for a while and we settle in and celebrate who we are, which can be more powerful than expressing dissent. Just celebrating one another and all of the beautiful things that we bring to a community is important,” she said.

At the event, Samuel shared info about the Period Promise campaign, which aims to increase accessibility to women’s menstrual products, as well as the Purple Light Nights campaign for domestic violence awareness. Also a writer and poet, she spoke to women about their period experiences for an upcoming poetry project.

Sabrina Samuel, poet and member of the Soroptimists Club of Central Alberta, stands with her white dress, handmade of menstrual products for the Period Promise campaign at the Multicultural Celebration of the Arts at Festival Hall on Friday. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

Some organizations were brand new like the African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta (ACCoCA). Founder & Executive Director Zainab Mohamoud started the non-profit this June after running her charity organization Education for Somali Girls & Boys Foundation where she opened a school for girls in Somalia in 2015. Selling African pillows, kitchenware and other items, half of the proceeds go towards the school while the remainder stays with the ACCoCA.

Sidi Hamud, Cultural Events Coordinator of ACCoCA and recent graduate of Red Deer Polytechnic in Social Work, said the event resonated with him as an immigrant from Somalia.

“There are some people who are isolated at home so when they see this kind of cultural event it motivates them to interact with each other, talk to people, laugh and smile,” he said.

Zainab Mohamoud (centre), founder & Executive Director of the African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta, and Cultural Events Coordinator Sidi Hamud (right) selling African-influenced products like pillows and kitchenware at the Multicultural Celebration of the arts at Festival Hall on Friday. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

Fouzieh Hosseini echoed that sentiment as a 10-year immigrant from Afghanistan. Setting up her art display with daughter Safora Khierandish, they shared traditional Afghani rugs and bracelets, handcrafted by the family, including her husband.

“We have to know every culture, every tradition, peoples from other countries who come here and how they lived, how they are living here, and how that affects their lives here,” said Hosseini.

Melanie Holland, volunteer for the Vista Grande Association promoting Spanish Culture and Language, believes these events show the community just how many cultural groups are actually present in Red Deer.

“It’s really important for the inclusiveness and for people to know that Red Deer has expanded and there’s so much more diversity,” she said.

For Aaren Howse, from Cree Classic Lash & Boutique, the combination of cultures in one festival is an educational experience.

“I love learning about everyone else’s culture,” she said. “I’m really proud of how many people we have and how many different cultures we have.”

The event will continue Saturday from 10 a.m. -to 6 p.m. with more activities, art markets, cultural displays, food sales and dance troops.

“I feel like I’ve travelled today without traveling,” said Samuel.

by Alessia Proietti

First Multicultural Celebration of the Arts embraces Red Deer’s diversity

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