PEACE & UNITY PROJECT

The Peace and Unity project, in collaboration with Memoria Viva and Migrante Alberta, aims to foster understanding and connection among diverse communities in Edmonton. By bringing together artists and youth from various ethno-cultural backgrounds alongside Indigenous artists and youth, the project seeks to promote dialogue, appreciation, and collaboration across differences.

Utilizing art as a powerful medium for expression and communication, the project facilitates exchanges of cultural knowledge and experiences. Through a series of activities, including festivals, film screenings, and community gatherings, participants will have opportunities to engage in intercultural dialogue, learning, and collaboration.

The project kicks off with a dynamic Peace and Unity Festival on June 29th 2024, showcasing the talents of artists representing diverse ethno-cultural communities. From music to performance to visual art, the festival celebrates the richness and diversity of Edmonton's cultural landscape. The Festival stands as a beacon of harmony, bringing together diverse communities in a collective effort to nurture understanding of cultural traditions and combat discrimination. This festival encourages the celebration of diversity while addressing the wounds inflicted by prejudice and violence. As a free event, it serves as a platform for learning from diverse experiences, promoting cultural pride amidst adversity.

The festival involves a full day of activities including prayer, dialogue, creativity, expression and learning.  In the morning, we'll commence with teachings and a ceremony in Tipi led by Philip Campiou. Following this, we delve into sharing and arts based spaces, with circle dialogue, alongside various art spaces, including the Freedom Wall and Healing Rocks Garden. The afternoon will host the Stories of Resilience and Unity Youth Stage, offering a platform for young artists to share their experiences and aspirations. Finally, the evening will be enriched with cultural Performances and speakers. It promises to be an empowering day of unity, learning, and artistic expression.

We want to thank the Government of Alberta for their support in making this event a reality.

Continuing beyond the festival, the project will offer a film series and additional community gatherings, providing platforms for deeper exploration and understanding of cultural diversity. By creating spaces for collaboration and connection, the project aims to foster solidarity and combat hate, discrimination, and misinformation in our increasingly divided world.