Asian Heritage Month

The month of May marks Asian Heritage Month, established in 2002. It is an opportunity to learn about the contributions and experiences of those of Asian descent in Canada. This includes a culturally rich heritage coming from East Asia, South Asia, Western, Central and Southeast Asia.

This year’s theme is “Recognition, Resilience, and Resolve” and to celebrate this month, we are highlighting some resources available through the Queen’s community as well as resources that are openly available online. 

Streaming Films

• Hatsumi (2012) Director Chris Hope’s tribute to his grandmother, Nancy Hatsumi Okura, who is a survivor of Canadian internment
• The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has created curated collections of films showcasing the experiences of Asian communities throughout Canada
  • Asian Communities in Canada
  • The Chinese Canadian Experience

eBooks

• Being Chinese in Canada, by William Ging Wee Dere (2019)
• Korean Immigrants in Canada by Samuel Noh, Ann Kim, Marianne Noh (2018)
• Seeding Buddhism with Multiculturalism by D. Mitra Barua (2019)
• Unmooring the Komagata Maru: Charting Colonial Trajectories Edited by Rita Dhamoon, Davina Bhandar, Renisa Mawani, and Satwinder Kaur Bains (2019)
• Voices Rising: Asian Canadian Cultural Activism by Xiaoping Li (2007)

Primary Sources, E-Texts, and other sources

• Asian American Drama
• BookSG – National Library Board, Singapore
• China: Trade, Politics and Culture 1793-1980
• Chinese Posters
• South Asian Newspapers
• Stones: Chinese History (Exploring Kingston’s Social History)

Additionally, the Education Library has put together a gallery of books for Asian Heritage Month that showcase Asian characters, cultures, and storytellers. Books are available to read online or can be requested using the library’s curbside pickup service. Also included are a few online films that highlight Asian heritage and history in Canada.