Asian festival celebrates culture
The Southern Alberta Ethnic Association hosted an Asian Heritage Festival on Saturday at the Multicultural Centre. Guests could experience Asian culture, its foods, dance performances and cultural activities throughout the course of the afternoon.
The performances were from Chinese, Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese.
“We’ve got a lot of participation with dances,” said Jackie Stambene, SAEA membership coordinator.
“And lots of the Asian community has come together and really celebrating Asian heritage month which is May right now. But also celebrating their cultures and encouraging everyone else to get involved.”
SAEA wanted attendees to know that Asian culture is a part of their organization.
“We have a lot of Asian members from many different countries (as a) part of our organization,” she said.
“And as well, we want people to just celebrate all the cultures. We want people to be exposed to all the things we do here.”
Stambene agreed that food and dance is a big part of not only Asian culture but all cultures.
“Food is a big important part because families sit down (and) friends sit down together and share food, and they communicate that way,” said Stambene.
“And it’s also in the sharing of food that they welcome new visitors and new people to their culture and to their community.”
Food was available through the same nationalities with addition of Pilipino.
Door prizes at the festival was from local Asian owned businesses.
“Well because we want them to be involved not only in their own communities, but be involved in what we do here,” said Stambene.
“And if that encourages them to get involved, that’s great.”
Stambene thinks what makes Asian Culture unique is its steeped in long standing traditions.
“There’s many, many traditions that go back a very long way,” she said.
Organizers said there were over 500 people in attendance.