National Capital Region Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group

 

In May 2002, the Federal Government signed an official declaration designating May as Asian Heritage Month (AHM). This declaration recognizes the contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage to the growth and prosperity of Canada. The National Capital Region Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group (NCR-DVMAG) marked AHM on 12 May in the main concourse of the NDHQ.

 

Just after organizing the Black History Month celebration event which took place in February, DVMAG went right into work preparing for AHM. We divided up tasks and made contacts with different organizations within and outside DND/CF (e.g. the Ombudsman) to get showcase material such as posters, two giant display walls showcasing Chinese-Canadians and Japanese-Canadians in military service during WWII, PA and video/audio systems set-up (provided by 76 Comm Gp and Shared Support Services). We also contacted the various Asian communities to ask them to partake in this event by providing cultural info and picture displays/kiosks, performing traditional dances, parading ethnic clothing, serving food and demonstrating art work.

 

At 1000hrs on the event day, MGen Dennis Tabbernor, the regional Champion, delivered his opening speech by making reference to Canada’s past in particular that our country was not always open to and accepting of Canadians who were members of a visible minority group. They were denied citizenship and were not allowed to volunteer their services to the Navy, Army and Air Force during WWI and WWII.  Despite all of these injustices and obstacles, a few hundred persisted and were reluctantly accepted by the Canadian military into all three services and served their country with valour, duty and honour. They were courageous in facing discrimination by the different levels of their own governments in that era. They were, in fact, fighting wars on two fronts: a war against discrimination at home and the world wars abroad. Their bravery and sacrifices have earned them equality, dignity and respect and they have paved the way for all Canadians of visible minorities today.

 

As the highlight of this year’s event, we were very honoured and pleased to have a Canadian WWII veteran, Mr. Jack Nakamoto, as one of our guest speakers. (I wrote a story about Jack’s experience which was published in the Maple Leaf issue, Vol. 12, No. 27, detailing how he had tried to join the Canadian Army during WWII and was turned down by every recruiting centre in every town from Vancouver to Montreal.  Link: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=5540). Mr. Nakamoto spoke about how he used to admire, as a kid growing up in Vancouver’s Japantown, of the Japanese military but was later disgusted when he saw photographs and learned about the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers and officers against civilians including elders, women and children in the countries they had invaded during WWII.  Mr. Nakamoto briefly spoke about his discrimination experience training in Petawawa even after he was allowed to join the Army. During his station in England, his work in translating intercepted Japanese documents/newspapers into English contributed to the Allies’ victory over Japan.  One must also be able to empathize that during his service to his country at the time, his family and thousands of other Japanese-Canadians were stripped of their freedom and sent to live in internment camps. Their properties were devalued and sold off by the Canadian government.  In retrospect, Mr. Nakamoto has forgiven those who discriminated against him and is very pleased with his decision to join the Canadian Army and has proudly served his country with honour. Mr. Nakamoto pointed out during his speech that he is a full-fledged Canadian with Japanese features.

 

Ms. Nawal Ateeq, who represents Canadian Association of Pakistani Origin, spoke about Asians who immigrated to Canada and brought with them new ideas and new prosperity. They are identified by their ethnic roots as they cannot change the way they look (as members of a visible minority). The recognition and acceptance of who they are by the Canadian government, the Canadian people and employers such as DND/CF have solidified their sense of belonging in this multicultural society. They are Canadians but with a twist, proud of both their ethnic roots and of being 100% Canadian.

 

I spoke about my experience in Canada and in the CF. My family came to Canada as refugees from Laos more than 30 years ago when the country fell under communist rule in 1975. We are very fortunate to be living in Canada and I have spent more than twenty years of my life serving with the CF. My overall experience in the CF has been a positive one in comparison to Mr. Jack Nakamoto’s. I am grateful and owe Mr. Nakamoto and many other Asian Canadians like him, who had bravely fought against all odds and whose sacrifices contributed in one way or another to making Canada a just society for all to live in and the Canadian military an employer of choice.

 

After A/Comdt of CFSU(Ottawa) LCol Lew made his closing remarks, guests and spectators were invited to stay and enjoy a Palestinian traditional dance, Indian dances and a fashion show of Indonesian traditional women’s dresses. At the end of the shows, all were invited to check out Ikebana (a Japanese traditional flower arrangement demonstration), DVMAG info kiosk, Ottawa AHM Society kiosk, Ombudsman info kiosk, Turkish info kiosk, a Palestinian cultural display, a pictorial display of Thailand, while at the same time sampling traditional Indian, Malaysian and Middle-Eastern food.  The event was a success and concluded around 1230hrs.

It is noteworthy that DVMAG does more than just organize fun shows, dances and food for such events as Black History Month and Asian Heritage Month. The following is a brief history of how DVMAG came about.  In 1994, the Deputy Minister of DND endorsed the forming of Advisory Groups for four designated groups: Aboriginal Peoples, Visible Minorities, Women and Persons with Disabilities. On 9 October 1997, the Defence Diversity Council (DDC) approved the participation of CF members in these Advisory Groups. In 2001, two National Co-Chairs were appointed: Mr. Mark Paine, the Civilian Co-Chair, responsible for providing the perspective of DND civilian employees, and CWO Kevin Junor, responsible for providing the perspective of the CF service members. In July 2003, DVMAG approved its Charter and held its annual general meeting to elect the National Executives. In February 2005, military and civilian Co-Chairs were elected to lead the newly formed Visible Minority Advisory Group for the NCR regional (NCR-DVMAG) to advise DND/CF on employment equity and discrimination issues that impact visible minorities in the region. Its Vision is “to be a leader in influencing the transformation of the DND/CF into a fully inclusive and diverse workforce” and its Mission is “to give voice to the Visible Minority members of the DND/CF in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, by identifying and recommending ways to eliminate systemic barriers.” For more information, please refer to NCR-DVMAG site: http://cfsuo.mil.ca/dvmag/ncr_dvmag/intro_e.asp and National-DVMAG site: http://hr.ottawa-hull.mil.ca/dgmp-dgpm/dhrd-ddpd/ag-gc/dvmag-gcdmv-eng.asp.

 

 

(DVMAG photo) From L-R: Lt(N) Esrom Tesfamichael, Cpl Javed Syed, Mr. Regie Alam, Maj Samson Young, Mr. Gabriel Nicholas, LCol Ning Lew, MGen Dennis Tabbernor (NCR Champion), Mrs. Maida Caklo, Lt(N) Shaharyar Ansari, LCdr Wafa Dabbagh, Mr. Swithin D’Souza, Mrs. Zelma Buckley, Cpl Derek Tang, Sgt (Ret’d) Joan Buchanan, Mr. Henri de Souza, 2Lt Yousef Shaath. Absent: Capt Erin Kjosness, Jenille Prince, Jin Zhu, Kumar Dalvi, Jamaliah Traboulsi, and Denise Moore.