ANNUAL REPORT 2015 - 2016

Diwali (Festival of Lights) Celebrations beyond India
“Traditional celebrations are an excellent opportunity for intercultural exchange and understanding, explains Nish
Prasad, ICA President. “These celebrations help us learn about other cultures.”
Events like the Diwali celebration, bring the community together and allow for celebration of cultural continuity;
communities can share their culture with others while also contributing their communities and to the growth of
multiculturalism in Saskatchewan.
UCAS Karibu Project
Uganda is a country with more than 50 tribes, speaking different languages and observing different customs.
In Saskatchewan, there are a number of Ugandan tribes represented including Acholi, Baganda, Banyankole,
Banyoro, Ma’di, Lugbara, Iteso, Kakwa, and Bagishu. Within the Ugandan community, they each share their
cultures and learn new values and traditions from one another each time they meet. Through the project, Karibu,
the Uganda Canadian Association of Saskatchewan Inc. (UCAS) is able to bring together these different Ugandan
cultures through singing, dancing and dialogue.
UCAS achieved greater participation and public presence of
Ugandan-Canadian cultures through their cultural continuity
project “Karibu”. It increased intercultural collaboration
through performances within and outside Regina. In Regina,
Karibu was part of the Cathedral Village Arts Festival,
Regina Jazz Festival, and AfroFest. UCAS participated in the
intercultural drum circle at the Multicultural Celebration
hosted by MCoS and the MacKenzie Art Gallery during
Saskatchewan Multicultural Week.
Karibu performances in other parts of Saskatchewan
enhanced participation with UCAS. A drumming workshop
in Saskatoon with a Ghanaian instructor gave them the
opportunity to collaborate with a local Japanese drum group
who helped find a venue. Karibu performers learned about
Japanese drumming culture in Canada and Japan, leading to
plans for future collaboration with both the trainer and the
drumming group. As part of Culture Days, Karibu performed
in Melfort, at a celebration in honour of 100 years of Dr.
Alfred Shadd’s legacy, an event organized by the Melfort
Museum and SACHM.
“We share our rich, diverse culture with other communities
through music, dance, drama and dialogue, and also learn
a lot from other diverse cultures within the community,”
explains Victor Semugooma, UCAS Projects Coordinator. UCAS performed at the 2015 Cathedral Village Arts Festival.
“Diversity enriches our lives and we value greatly the …
strong diverse community standing together as one as Canadians.”
24 Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan