Volunteers needed for Yellowknife's multicultural celebration
The Multicultural Community of Yellowknife says it needs volunteers for the 2024 edition of the Sǫǫ̀mba K’è Multicultural Festival, to be held on Sunday.
The annual event offers a variety of demonstrations to celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day, which takes place on June 27.
Participants from different countries showcase dance and musical performances, engage with the community through interactive booths and put on a fashion show.
Last year, the group even hosted yoga classes, said Yellowknife resident and first-time MCY board member Stephanie Yuill.
"I moved back to Yellowknife in September after being gone for a few years. I felt one of the best ways to get back into this city was volunteering with the Multicultural Community of Yellowknife," Yuill told Cabin Radio.
"I was a newcomer to Paulatuk in 2020 and I was enveloped by the community. It really helped made my transition to living in a small, remote community of 300 people easier. So I hope I can be able to do that for people that are new to Yellowknife."
MCY president Natasha Bhogal said several non-profits – NWT Literacy Council, Fédération Franco-Ténoise, Intercultural Centre, BACupNorth, CDÉTNO and the Wolf Foundation – make up the festival's planning committee.
Though there are 20 volunteers "putting in a lot of sweat, blood and tears" to make the event successful, she said the board would benefit from an extra 30 to 40 hands.
"Our community is only richer from having all sorts of people from different languages, backgrounds and countries. Food brings people together, so we'll have lots of food, dance, art – these are all things that tie our community. That is what we are hoping to have this year, as we've had in the past years," said Bhogal.
"Because of funding cuts federally for arts for different areas, we have been scrambling for funding, but we've been supported by different sponsors."
The NWT Human Rights Commission, Collège Nordique Francophone, De Beers Group, NWT Power Corporation and Yellowknife Co-op are among this year's sponsors.
Yuill said she hopes more locals sign up for the event, which is an opportunity for newcomers to build connections.
"We need people running around, we need people directing, helping with garbage pickup, we might need help putting up tents ... If we want to be successful, we definitely need more people coming out to help," she said.
"I think one of the benefits is just getting to know a lot of different people from different countries and different cultures. What a great way to expose yourself to the incredible diversity that is Yellowknife now."
To volunteer for the Multicultural Festival on June 30, contact organizers by email.
Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio
