With the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Thursday, two evenings worth of events recognizing the effort will begin Wednesday.
At 7 p.m. the Prince Albert Multicultural Council will host a screening of the movie The Gold Bracelet, a fictional story about Muslims in the post-Sept. 11, 2011 world.
“It deals with issues that are really relevant to some of the changes happening in Saskatchewan, around the greatly increased faith diversity and cultural diversity that we’re seeing rise in drastic ways,” Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan executive director Rhonda Rosenberg explained.
The provincial group is travelling throughout the province with the film, with Prince Albert’s viewing the first of nine.
“I think where this film is touching that in terms of the faith diversity that has increased so much in the province,” Rosenberg said. “Saskatchewan people need to learn how to accommodate difference in that area.”
The lessons learned in the movie about acceptance and understanding of other cultures can be extrapolated to more cultures than just those featured in the film, she added.
“There’s still lots of discrimination against First Nations and Métis people that we can see in daily inter-personal incidents, as well as some of our institutional processes that are still requiring adjustments.”
There’s still lots of discrimination against First Nations and Métis people that we can see in daily inter-personal incidents, as well as some of our institutional processes that are still requiring adjustments. - Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan executive director Rhonda Rosenberg
Open dialogue between those of different cultures is the best means of preventing racial discrimination from taking place, she said.
Such is the atmosphere the Prince Albert Multicultural Council tries to create with their occasional potluck dinners, with one set to be held on Thursday at 6 p.m.
“Because it’s around food, and food is one form of art -- of expressing yourself culturally or personally … it gives people an opportunity to express or share part of their culture,” director Shayne Lazarowich said.
“It is an opportunity for integration for newcomers, and that is one of the main reasons we do the events that we do -- to provide opportunity for integrations.”
Integration is a two-way street, he said, noting that multiculturalism requires that people from all cultures within a community understand and know one another.
Wednesday’s screening of The Gold Bracelet will begin at 7 p.m., after which a discussion led by David Katzman will take place about the movie and the audience’s reaction.
Thursday’s potluck dinner will take place at 6 p.m., and like all potluck dinners at the centre will be open to the public.
The Prince Albert Multicultural Council is hosting both events and is located at 1301 Central Ave.
