On asking Asian Canadians how they carry their culture

Shahroze: The beauty of the question of “how do you carry your culture”  is it encompasses all experiences of what carrying one’s culture looks like. Whether that be drinking chai or wearing traditional clothes or something as complex and intense as what someone’s journey looks like as an immigrant.

Jennifer: It’s a complex question, because it’s not like a backpack or a shirt. It’s not something that you can take off and that’s partly why people have such hesitancy [to speak about it]. It’s a part of you that doesn’t change. Taking a second to reflect on what that means and how that manifests is really important, and something that we sometimes don’t have the time and space to do.

On how they want to see coverage of Asian Heritage Month change

Rana: Before, the idea of Asian Heritage Month was just a month for us to mark off like, “Okay, Asians exist in May and then we disappear.” We saw this as an opportunity for us to change how the newsroom is sharing the stories about past, present and future Asian communities. Being able to create this with an Asian Canadian team at CBC with the newsroom supporting us has been really validating and positive.

Jennifer: For Asian heritage month, we have very saccharine coverage, that’s like “we’re doing great, there are these amazing role models.” While it’s great to see that kind of pride, it’s also true that the other side of the coin exists, that it’s a nuanced, complicated, sometimes painful, sometimes traumatic experience. I think that if we show Asian Quebecers their diversity and all the messy gray areas that we exist in, it’s a representation that’s better for everyone. 

On finding a sense of belonging

Jessica: I feel fortunate that I grew up on the south shore of Montreal, where there are a lot of second generation immigrants. A lot of friends come from all over the world and also have those identity crises. Now we’re all growing up, working in media and storytelling and it’s really interesting that there’s a new narrative coming out and we’re all sharing our experiences. 

Jennifer: When I went back to Korea I had a severe identity crisis. I had figured out how to be Korean Canadian, a term that smashes these two experiences together, but I had not thought about what it would be like when I went back to Korea. Elders that I met told me I’m not really Korean. I finally made peace with this identity when I realized that by insisting that I’m Korean, even though I am both Korean and Canadian, is a grand tradition of Koreans who have said, “No, I’m Korean, no matter what you tell me. I’m Korean, despite oppression or colonization. We are hanging on to our culture.” That’s what my culture means to me, being defiantly Korean and Canadian and feeling at peace with that.