Rights and Freedoms March 2015

On April 17TH, 2015 a historic event took place in Vancouver, British Columbia. The first ever Rights and Freedoms March, was held to commemorate both American and Canadian, Civil Rights Activists. Tuskegee Airmen and Women, joined with their Canadian friends in celebration of the unity that exists between all people, who were inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a former Prime Minister of Canada. Both men made it their life's work, to develop Rights and Freedom for all people. Inspirational Keynote speeches from Colonel Richard Toliver, Tuskegee Airman, Lost Canadian Author, Don Chapman, City of Vancouver Proclamation read by King Wan, Student Advocate Teyana MacLean-Mio, MC Alfred Woo -Pacific Unit 280, and a special song from Musician Riley Inge.

History of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Many Canadians were not in favour of the idea of the Charter. Some thought defining enforceable rights would be impossible. In the early 1980s, during a series of meetings with the Provincial Premiers, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau led the provinces to agree to the inclusion of the Charter in the Canadian Constitution. Quebec did not support the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Red Tails and Dragon Tales

A powerful video that bears witness to a historic event involving the Tuskegee Airmen from the United States, Chinese Canadian Veterans and First Nations Veterans. These three groups shared insights about their respective difficulties from a past of racism, discrimination and oppression before acquiring their hard earned recognition and success. This uncut version provides the legacy speeches in their entirety from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Vancouver, BC. 

Pierre Trudeau: Charter of Rights and Freedoms

From Youtube: "In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com speaks with Trudeau biographer and former politician John English to learn more about how Trudeau strived to give Canada a sense of self with its Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and how Trudeau affected multiculturalism and bilingualism across the country."

Unwanted Soldiers (A National Film Board Documentary)

Unwanted Soldiers by Jari Osborne, National Film Board of Canada

A striking documentary from the National Film Board of Canada. Synopsis: "This documentary tells the personal story of filmmaker Jari Osborne's father, a Chinese-Canadian veteran. She describes her father's involvement in World War II and uncovers a legacy of discrimination and racism against British Columbia's Chinese-Canadian community. Sworn to secrecy for decades, Osborne's father and his war buddies now vividly recall their top-secret missions behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia. Theirs is a tale of young men proudly fighting for a country that had mistreated them. This film does more than reveal an important period in Canadian history. It pays moving tribute to a father's quiet heroism." (National Film Board)

Peggy Lee, World War II Veteran

A short clip of Chinese-Canadian War veteran, Peggy Lee, one of the first Chinese-Canadian women to join the Royal Ambulance Corps in the whole St. John's Ambulance Corps during World War II. Peggy's courage amidst an era of racial and gender discrimination continues to inspire us today. Thanks to the contributions of brave individuals such as Peggy, Canadians from different backgrounds can enjoy equal rights and freedoms today. 

Edmonton Oilers First Nations Ceremony: Surviving Residential Schools through the Game of Hockey