91原创芒鈧劉s Karen community was honoured through film, and in person, on the afternoon of Jan. 18 in Fort 91原创.
A video screening of the short film, The Karen Culture, took place at the Chief Sepass Theatre at 91原创 Fine Arts School.
Edited by Angel Burgueno, the 20-minute video documents how the Karen people have integrated into the 91原创s, and offered insight into their culture and heritage.
The Karen are an ethnic minority in their homeland and have been persecuted by the Myanmar (Burmese) government for years.
A little more than two decades ago, Thailand set up temporary refugee camps and due to overcrowding and its effects (crime, poverty, health problems and more) the United Nations began a resettlement program. About 140,000 Karen ended up in camps.
They have been accepted by Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The first families arrived in 91原创 in 2007.
Among the Karen who have settled in Canada, 91原创 has gained a reputation as a desirable place to live because of the supportive community atmosphere.
Today, roughly 360 Karen people live in the 91原创s.
芒鈧揑 believe we have the largest concentration of Karen in the Lower Mainland at this point in time,芒鈧� 91原创 Community Services Society (LCSS) executive director Bill Dartnell told the 91原创 Advance.
The purpose was to document the culture of the Karen people, not only for those living in the 91原创s but hopefully for their children and grandchildren, so 芒鈧搕hey have a living record on a CD disc,芒鈧� Dartnell explained.
The film explores the Karen people芒鈧劉s customs such as dance and weaving, as well as why they came to Canada, and their experiences in their new country, Dartnell said.
The film also documents the efforts of Karen seniors as they assimilate into Canadian culture.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s much more difficult for seniors than it is for younger folks,芒鈧� Dartnell said. 芒鈧揑f you take very young people and you teach them a second language, it芒鈧劉s very easy. As you get older, it芒鈧劉s a lot more difficult. And when you come to Canada, as a senior, and you don芒鈧劉t speak the language at all, it芒鈧劉s not only the cultural change, it芒鈧劉s also the fact that you don芒鈧劉t have the skills or the language.芒鈧�
Dartnell said the Karen people are beautiful, gentle, and kind.
芒鈧揟hey are independent, almost to a fault,芒鈧� he added. 芒鈧揧ou want to help them and sometimes they want to do it on their own. They are wonderful people to deal with. They are very family orientated.芒鈧�
