New legislation makes cultural heritage weeks automatic in Saskatchewan

The provincial government will now allow cultural groups to have special weeks declared in their honour with a single application. Wayne Mantyka reports.

The Saskatchewan government is streamlining the process for declaring special heritage weeks that recognize cultural groups in the province.

Currently, organizations must apply every year to have their heritage or cultural celebrations formally proclaimed. However, new legislation introduced will make those designations automatic after the initial request.

Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Alana Ross said the change will remove repetitive paperwork and ensure long-term recognition.

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“People have had to contact our office every year to ask for proclamation of their heritage or special occasions. They will now automatically be recognized every year moving forward,” she said.

Representatives from several cultural organizations attended the introduction of the legislation, called From Many Peoples, Strength.

Ukrainian heritage will be recognized every September.

“Those many threads of Ukrainian culture that have been woven into the fabric of our province will now be formally recognized every year,” said Danylo Puderak with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

October will be designated as Islamic Heritage Month.

“We are very thankful to see October officially recognized as Islamic Heritage Month,” said Saima Soheil with ICNA Saskatoon.

Filipino Heritage Month will also carry forward annually.

“Over 44,000 Filipinos call Saskatchewan home — we are your health care workers, your entrepreneurs, your neighbours,” said Jenelyn Santos from the Filipino-Canadian Association.

There are more than 160 cultural organizations in Saskatchewan — more than there are weeks in a year, meaning some groups may share recognition periods. However, the government says the new legislation will not lessen the significance of those celebrations.