"One Canada for All,

  All for One Canada" 

   (See also: www.indiandiasporacda.com)

Indian Diaspora North America, incorporated in 2009, is a non-partisan, non-profit cultural organization established to (a) commemorate the historic arrival of Indian Diaspora members to the Americas, (b) showcase their cultural transition over time across the nation to increase respect, appreciation and tolerance among all ethnic communities in Canada, and (c) drawing from the Diaspora trilogy, namely, “Canada – Birth of a Nation”,  “Journey to Canada” and “Journey to Canadian values”, champion the full integration of residents, especially

newcomers to Canada and Canadian youth, into the wider society and their unconditional embrace of Canadian values, the national culture and the Canadian way of life.

From discussions among friends of the Indian Diaspora in Canada and overseas, and from a sober review of the 19th Century phenomenon of men, women and children leaving faraway India and South Asian countries over time to make a new home in the Americas, IDNA officers agreed to undertake diaspora-related research on the content of the Diaspora in the Americas. Accordingly, several business meetings and research over time have produced six pillars of the IDNA initiative: (1) Diaspora Artifacts Museum, Colonial-era and otherwise, (2)  Library of the Diaspora, academic and otherwise,

(3) “Book of Model Canadians”, Diaspora and otherwise, (4) Diaspora Ancestors’ Registry, (5) Tribute to the African Diaspora, precursor to the rise of the Indian Diaspora in the Americas and (6) a Canadian-values, self-tutoring module designed, as noted earlier, to champion the full integration of residents, especially newcomers to Canada and Canadian youth, into the wider society and their unconditional embrace of Canadian values, the national culture and the Canadian way of life and, at the same time, promote, defend and strengthen multi-ethnic diversity within a free, strong and united Canada.

Diaspora Vision and Mission

IDNA’s vision is to champion a Canadian values-driven, multi-ethnic society within a free, strong and united Canada.

Based on this vision, IDNA’s Mission aims to (1) commemorate the arrival, commencing in 1838, of South Asians and their rich South Asian culture to the Americas (Caribbean colonies, and South, Central and North America  colonies and states, (2) emphasize a community’s transition and integration into the wider society to strengthen respect and tolerance among everyone in a free, strong and united Canada, and (3) drawing from the Indian Diaspora phenomenon occurring in Canada and the Americas, influence everyone, especially newcomers to Canada and Canadian youth, to recognize fully their inclusion in the Canadian family, integrate boldly into the wider society and commit fully to Canadian values, the national culture and the Canadian way of life.

Reflecting IDNA’s objective to champion and strengthen a Canadian values-based, multi-ethnic society within a free, strong and united Canada, and to answer the question, “What makes a good and loyal citizen?”, IDNA boldly undertakes the following initiatives:

(a) establish a South Asian Culture & Resource Centre in the National Capital Region to compile historical exhibits underpinning the Indian Diaspora phenomenon of arrival, transition and integration into the wider Canadian society;

(b) Maintain an on-going collection of display-ready Indian Diaspora artifacts and memorabilia, colonial-era and otherwise, including books, printed matter, electronic material, unique tools, household and life-style items, long-ago apparel and apparel accessories, etc;

 (c) Manage a bilingual, digital museum covering an extensive collection of South Asian artifacts, colonial- era and otherwise;

(d) Display a digitized Library of the Diaspora, academic and otherwise, a “Book of Model Canadians”, South Asian and otherwise and an electronic “First Ancestors” Registry;

(e) Pay tribute to the African Diaspora which was the precursor to the rise of the Indian Diaspora in the Americas;

(f) Host an annual “Indian Diaspora Day” cultural gala to showcase a community’s rich culture and members' drive to achieve a full and fulfilling life in Canada.

(g) Establish a School Visitation programme to debate the Indian Diaspora phenomenon of arrival, transition and integration on the one hand, and share the story of a people's "Journey to Canada" and "Journey to Canadian Values" on the other;

(h) Deliver seminars and exhibitions, and off-site promotion events dealing with the Indian Diaspora phenomenon; and

(i) Motivate newcomers to Canada and Canadian youth to overcome obstacles, set and achieve personal and career goals, excel individually and as fully-committed members of the wider Canadian society, and challenge everyone to practise the content of  the statement, “Ask not what your Country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your Country!”

About IDNA's main audience, in the last five years ending in 2010, Canada has admitted around 250 thousand new permanent residents on average each year, or roughly 0.8 percent of its population. Immigration brings in more skills and talent to support and grow Canada’s economy, supports family reunification and upholds Canada’s humanitarian tradition by resettling refugees and desperate people in need of protection of life. As well, the youth population of Canada comprising persons aged 10 to 24 years numbered some 6,481.4 thousand persons in 2012, accounting for 18.6 percent of the country's total population.

To reiterate, the achievement of IDNA’s objectives and the making of a lasting, nation-strengthening imprint on everyone in Canada, especially newcomers and Canadian youth, comprise the mandate of and commitment to the Indian Diaspora North America initiative, and IDNA’s Officials will pursue this goal with dedication and passion.

So, why not join us and together continue to build a free, strong and united Canada.

ARRIVAL. TRANSITION. INTEGRATION

INDIAN DIASPORA NORTH AMERICA

Ottawa, Canada

les.kumar@gmail.com