President’s Message, January 2010

March 10, 2010

The New Year has started with renewed hope and desire for a more peaceful world. It is mid January and all eyes are focused on the tragedy in Haiti. The devastation and violence that has erupted in that part of the world is unfathomable. Canadians, in their inimitable fashion have opened their hearts and wallets to the plight of the Haitian peoples. We are part of a global community and need to always be reminded of our moral obligation to assist those less fortunate not only at home but in other parts of the world.

The National Executive Board (NEB) met in Winnipeg on January 16-17, 2010, to establish priorities for this year, having reviewed the responses to questionnaires that were sent to the membership. An on-going concern for many member organizations is finding an effective and efficient method to record and preserve the history of Japanese Canadians in their community. The Heritage Task Force has been given the job of assisting communities with this important undertaking. One of the issues that was discussed during the NEB meeting was the Community Development Pilot Project Program, which invites membership organizations to submit a proposal that addresses a community need. The deadline for this funding is February 1, 2010. Please consider applying for this program.

The NAJC  Human Rights Committee has been focused on this Government’s funding cuts to various groups and organizations, such as arts and culture groups, women’s rights groups, children’s welfare groups, immigrants and social justice groups, Canadian Arab Federation, etc.  KAIROS is one such group whose funding has been significantly cut and that the HRC has recently researched.  KAIROS is a “faith-based ecumenical organization… that effects social change through advocacy, education and research” and works in Canada as well as internationally. The NAJC has written to the Government requesting that their funding be restored.

An Ad Hoc Committee was struck at the NEB meeting that will examine how our history is presented to the public, in the way of publications, exhibits, museums, etc. Recently, concerns have been raised about information regarding the history of Japanese Canadians during WWII, in the Discover Canada booklet, which is a study guide for new immigrants, regarding the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The NAJC, in the past,  has also submitted a number of concerns regarding the exhibit at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights is conducting round table discussions across Canada, inviting Canadians for their input regarding the content of the museum.  Please consider attending and participating in these discussions. For more information, please visit their website: www.humanrightsmuseum.ca .

The NAJC welcomes comments, suggestions, questions from the readership. Contact us at www.najc.ca

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President’s Message, December 2009

March 10, 2010

The holiday season is upon us and provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect upon the many  gifts that we cherish now and every day of the year. At the Honouring our People conference in Vancouver in October, I am reminded of the gifts that the storytellers shared with the participants, of their experiences during the war years, of their resiliency, their strengths and their desires to build a better life for their children. We have gained as a community from the gifts of past generations.

The NAJC is most fortunate to continue the legacy of the Redress Settlement, through various programs and activities. One such program is the Endowment Fund, which has been granting funds to individuals, groups and organizations, twice a year, for worthy projects and activities. The Endowment Fund Committee (EFC) has just completed the fall allocation and was most impressed by the outstanding quality of the applications.

The EFC feels it is important for the community to know the talent and creativity of many of these applicants and how these projects have benefitted the Japanese Canadian community. Look for future articles by the recipients of the Endowment Fund.

In October/09, the Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee, Village of Cumberland, completed a project that received funding from the NAJC Endowment Fund, as well as the generous donations of former residents and their families. Thirty-one Sakura trees were planted on a former town site, where 31 Japanese Canadian families resided in #1 Mine Japanese Town, prior to the forced relocation of these families to internment camps. The recognition and commemoration of these former communities is part of our history, which is critical to preserve. At the AGM in October/09, a Heritage Task Force was created as one of its objectives, to encourage Japanese Canadian communities to preserve and to share their heritage and history.

The NAJC invites the membership to consider a project under the “Community Pilot Project Program”.  To be eligible for the Community Pilot Project Program funding the program/initiative must concern Japanese Canadian culture and identity, history and education, family values or the promotion of human rights and social justice issues. Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2010. For more information, contact the NAJC office.

On behalf of the Board of the NAJC, I extend warm holiday wishes to all of you, for peace and joy, now and always.

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