May is Asian Heritage Month. With 51 countries comprising the 45 million km² of the Asian continent, that's a lot to cover in only 31 days. However, the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba takes full advantage of this time to celebrate the diverse diaspora represented in this community. For Jié Yang, Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for those not historically represented to share their stories. Find out about the Asian community in Winnipeg, preserving cultural spaces, and numerous events celebrating Asian culture with Yang on this episode of U Talk. https://www.asianheritagemanitoba.com/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

You may have witnessed an interesting procession in Winnipeg's North End this past weekend. This was a procession for Santo Cristo and the first time the Winnipeg Portuguese Community has been able to hold it since the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 80 percent of Portugal identifying as Roman Catholic, traditions such as Santo Cristo and The Miracle of Fátima are significant to their culture. Henrique Braga has been active in Winnipeg's Portuguese Catholic Church for most of his life. Henrique comes onto U Talk to explain these Portuguese traditions. Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

What is it that makes a Canadian? For Paulo Bergantim, the exciting thing about Canada is that we have people with origins from all around the world. Whether you're Indigenous, someone whose family has been here for generations, or just arriving, our unique stories and cultures make us Canadian. Check out more stories of extraordinary Canadians at https://u-channel.ca/

Regional Connections supports the settlement of newcomers, immigrants, and refugees in Winkler, Morden, Altona, and Dauphin. Steve Reynolds, the Executive Director, says they take a holistic approach, helping in all areas when they arrive. Photo provided by Regional Connections. https://regionalconnections.ca/ Music: Mind Games, Matthew Mcguire

Elder Betty Ross advocates for Indigenous rights and preserving Indigenous culture and language. From Cross Lake First Nation, Elder Ross has experienced the residential school system with her story inspiring the book Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story. ⁠https://u-channel.ca/we-stand-together/⁠ ⁠⁠"We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Elder Betty Ross advocates for Indigenous rights and preserving Indigenous culture and language. From Cross Lake First Nation, Elder Ross has experienced the residential school system with her story inspiring the book Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story. https://u-channel.ca/we-stand-together/"We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Rosemary is from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island and attended Spanish residential school when she was 8. When she first arrived, she knew no English besides yes or no. Wakegijig worked as a teacher for over 40 years, and even in retirement, she teaches others in her community as an elder. She believes in letting things in the past go and living each day as a new beginning. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Taken at the age of 5, Martina Osawamick would remain in the residential school system until 12. She could not recall most of her memories of that time for many years, having repressed those experiences. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Henry Pitawanakwat has a unique perspective on residential schools. Although he did not attend, his mother did, and he witnessed the effects it had on her as he grew up. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Flora Northwest lives in Treaty 6 territory, the land of the Plains Cree. When she was five, she attended day school at a church only about a mile and a half from where she lived. When she turned six, she was sent to Ermineskin residential school. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Deborah Hayward is from Haisla Nation, known as Kitamaat Village. One day when she returned from school, her mother packed her bag, telling her she was going to Port Alberni residential school. Hayward would attend residential school for two years, or as Hayward refers to it, genocidal prison. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

It's been a long journey for Anishinaabe artist Brian Waboose. Experiencing abuse within the residential school system and feeling lost, art helped Waboose find a path in life. After his son tragically passed away, art helped him again. https://brianwaboose.com/ "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Vivian Ketchum, a writer and photographer, tells her stories and what reconciliation means from the Indigenous perspective. The residential school system took a tremendous toll on Ketchum, costing her much of her language and the beginnings of her story. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Anti-Racism is the active practice of opposing racism and promoting racial equality. Although sometimes it feels like racism is a thing of the past, unfortunately, there is still systemic and overt racism in our communities. In response to newcomer communities' experiences of racism in sports groups, the Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign was started. The campaign will hold the Access and Inclusion to Sport Conference this weekend. https://antiracisminsport.ca/

Each year, to bring in Asian Heritage Month, Calgary and Winnipeg hold the FascinAsian Film Festival. The festival celebrates Asian Culture and local filmmakers and professionals while bringing communities together to enjoy the art of cinema. Let's chat about Hollywood, cultural representation, the film industry in Manitoba, and the upcoming festival with President Alan Wong. The FascinAsian Film Festival takes place May 4-7. https://fascinasian.ca/

Art is such an essential part of life. However, sometimes there are barriers to seeing it. That's why artists like Jag Nagra create art that's accessible to everyone. If you go for a walk in downtown Vancouver, you might see Nagra's work on a wall or some stairs. But she does more than create amazing art inspired by South Asian culture. As a proud queer woman, she advocates and works to end the stigma against 2SLGBTQ+ people. https://www.jagnagra.com/

Mabel Horton is from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Horton shares her experiences with residential schools so that newcomers to this country can learn how many Indigenous peoples were treated at these schools. "We Stand Together" is a series to understand better these schools' history and its impact on Indigenous communities. Join Ryan Funk and Lisa Muswagon and listen to the stories and experiences of residential school attendees and their families.

Sexual violence is an unfortunate reality for many. In Canada, sexual assault victimization was more than five times higher among women than men (Statistics Canada, 2021). Of Self-reported sexual assaults, nearly half (47%) were committed against women aged 15 to 24. Winnipeg-based filmmaker Danielle Sturk addresses this grim reality in her new film Why? Sexual Violence and Teens. The film follows young men who share their observations on male culture and society and young women survivors of sexual assault. Watch Why? Sexual Violence and Teens

Yuliia Kovalenko is the next guest in our series on U Talk, exploring the stories of the U Multicultural team. A civic journalist, Yuliia first started as A Ukrainian journalist to tell the stories of the Ukrainian diaspora here in Winnipeg and Manitoba. Have a story you'd like to share? You can contact Yuliia at [email protected].

Born in Syria and arriving in Dubai when he was two, Zuher Almusre lived in the United Arab Emirates for many years. He would eventually make his way to Canada in 2019. He now works as a Civic Journalist at U Multicultural, telling the stories of Winnipeg's diverse communities. Learn about Ramadan, parenthood, and journalism on this episode of U Talk. Contact Zuher Almusre to share your story and explore civic issues at [email protected].

Finding one's purpose in life can be a challenge. That one thing you feel you are just meant for. As a pediatrician, Dr. Eddsel Martinez has found just that. But he's more than just a doctor. He's a father, husband, and lover of fantasy. Let's take some time to learn about the man beneath the white coat and stethoscope.

Life has peaks and valleys. It can take a toll on physical and mental health. For some, the recovery process is quick. For others, it can be a long and excruciating process. Having faced physical and mental hurdles, Vivek Mehmi has taken to music to explore healing. Migraine Love is the latest project in that journey. https://www.vivekmehmi.com/

From June to October 2022, Pakistan was hit by devastating floods. Heavier monsoon rains and melting glaciers that followed a severe heat wave caused immeasurable loss of life and displaced millions. Extreme weather events like this are linked to climate change. A Sufi singer-songwriter and acousmatic composer combined traditional storytelling with poetry and sculpted with environmental sounds to create a music project that brings awareness and climate action forward. Check out Shumaila Hemani's work!

One Winnipegger has made it his goal to showcase content important to his community. Noticing a lack of representation here in Canada, Solomon Baleke created Winnipeg Swahili TV. For the past three years, he's been doing what he can to feature content in the language of more than 200 million speakers worldwide.  Winnipeg Swahili TV

In 2018, 79% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported volunteering. Of this number, a majority were people of an older age.  If you're younger and haven't, that's okay. Many young people deal with a lot at school or work. However, volunteering has many benefits when you're young, as you never know the people you'll meet or the opportunities you may find. Volunteer Manitoba is the place to find those opportunities. https://www.volunteermanitoba.ca/

In 2021, Canadians lost $231 million from scams and frauds - and that's just what's been reported. With technology becoming an increasing part of our daily lives, knowing how to spot potential scams and what to do if you fall victim to one is essential.  Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Every February, events and activities celebrate the legacy and accomplishments of Canada's Black population, and although it's come to an end, celebrating Black Canadians is something we should do year-round.  That's why the Black Canadian Creator Directory was started. With over 500 Black creators, from Youtubers to bloggers and writers, it's making it easier for the public to find them.  Find the Directory at these links: https://caseypalmer.com/black-canadian-creator-directory/ https://comfygirlwithcurls.com/black-canadian-creator-directory-bloggers-influencers/ https://chonillanetwork.com/the-black-canadian-creator-directory/

With a background in radio broadcasting and a fascination for podcasting, Sherley Joseph created a podcast show to highlight Black Canadian creators both off and online. Sherley and U Talk host Ryan Funk talk about how the podcast has grown, Black History Month, white privilege, and learning about the cultures and communities around us.  Want to see more Black creators? Check out the Chonilla Network: https://chonillanetwork.com/

The pandemic had a lot of challenges. For some, it could have been a sense of isolation. For others, no support systems around them. One group is trying to help out where they can and bring people together. The Mutt Movement celebrates community and encourages people to get involved and volunteer.  Check them out on Instagram @muttmovement

Whether it's making professional videos or engaging documentaries, Eyes Multimedia does it all. But what does it take to become a great Filmmaker? Award-winning multimedia journalist Elton Hubner shares the tools one needs to tell enthralling stories. He also talks about what he learned during the production of their latest documentary, "Brother Rick," which will be playing at the Victoria Film Festival on February 10.  https://www.eyesmultimedia.com/docs

The Scandinavian Cultural Centre hosts clubs from the five Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.  With sold-out shows at Folklorama, Awarded the  2021 Mural of the Year, and St. Lucia celebrations, it's been a busy year for the centre. Let's check in with Sonja Lundstrom and find out what's happened and what's in store.  https://www.scandinaviancentre.ca/

The New Year is a fantastic time, an opportunity for reflection and celebration. Looking outside the west, there are even more celebrations after December 31. One of those Celebrations is the Lunar New Year.  Now that we're in the Year of the Rabbit, or the year of the cat for Vietnam,  it would be fun to learn more about this tradition across Asia. Who better to tell us than historian Tina Chen?  https://wcccc.ca/

For Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a lot is going on for 2023. Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze comes onto U Talk to share the educational and community programming available at the Synagogue. She also chats about understanding one's emotions and how to healthily react to them, getting involved in the community, and bringing positivity to those around you.  https://www.szwinnipeg.ca/

January 13-15, people worldwide don black shirts to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. Last year, over 130,000 participated in #BlackShirtDay, and Anti-Racism Coalition Vancouver is excited to engage with even more.  The 3-day event goes even further, encouraging conversations around racial injustice and commemorating the ongoing struggle fought by Black and racialized Canadians. Executive Director Steve September says education is one of our greatest tools. http://www.antiracismcoalition.org/

The end of the year can be an exciting moment for many—gifts, food, family and friends. However, that's not the case for everyone.  15.9% of households in the ten provinces were food-insecure in 2021. That number can only have grown as things have gotten even harder for families. In Winnipeg, Peg City Kindness Crew is helping out in whatever ways it can.  https://www.facebook.com/PegCityKindness Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Seeing someone unabashedly be their authentic self can be incredibly motivating and exciting. There's no better example than the all queer all-women synth/rock pop band Hyaenas. Sophie, the lead singer and guitarist of Hyaenas, sits down with us to discuss how they create music through a queer feminist lens.  Catch the Hyaenas streaming on U Radio. https://hyaenasband.com/ Photo from Hyaneas Facebook. Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

It can sometimes feel disheartening to hear what's happening worldwide. When it comes to politics, things are more divisive than ever. Thursday evening, Winnipeggers stood together to make a difference, marching for the Take Back the Night movement.  Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

You can easily get lost for hours browsing videos of memes or following your favourite creators. Sometimes the algorithm graces you with new creators who put tremendous time and passion into their work.  Denis, who goes by LambHoot online, is one of those creators deconstructing the media he consumes to understand better the content within their mediums and how they reflect the world around us.  Watch LambHoot on YouTube Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Halloween is a highly anticipated aspect of October, a much more important part of October is as a heritage and history month. One of those recognized heritages is Canadian Islamic History Month. Take a history lesson with the Manitoba Islamic Association and learn about the Islamic community in Winnipeg.  https://www.miaonline.org/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

When travelling through rural Manitoba, it may feel impossible not to bump into a Mennonite. Another group you may run into are Filipinos, with approximately 80 thousand living here in Manitoba. In reflection of this new Manitoban dynamic, a group has come together to create a sitcom celebrating these two communities. The show is called Maria and the Mennos.  Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

The Annual International Career Fair is back and ready to celebrate its 4th event. Hosted by Ido Media, this event connects companies to employees of diverse backgrounds and invites all to attend this Thursday, October 13, in Winnipeg. They also are looking to attract attention internationally.  http://iscareerfair.ca/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

An exciting new event is taking place this weekend in Winnipeg. From October 7 to 8, Winnipeg's Asian community collaborates for the first-ever Chinatown Night Market. The celebration with music, vendors, food, and comedy, is just one of many ways the community is doing to reinvigorate excitement and interest in Winnipeg's Chinatown.  Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

A Vancouver organization uses film to educate its community, develop safe spaces, and save lives. We examine the challenges queer individuals face, counselling services, representation, and the importance of working within your community with Alex Sangha, a Canadian social worker and founder of Sher Vancouver.  https://www.shervancouver.com/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Winnipeg is getting ready for a night like no other. With contemporary art, lights, community, and fun, Nuit Blanche is an event you don't want to miss. Event Organizers and installation creators are on U Talk to get you excited for Nuit Blanche on September 24. Winnipeg is getting ready for a night like no other. With contemporary art, lights, community, and fun, Nuit Blanche is an event you don't want to miss. Event Organizers and installation creators are on U Talk to get you excited for Nuit Blanche on September 24. https://www.instagram.com/illumiskatethenight/ https://nuitblanchewinnipeg.ca/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

There's still time to sign-up for an initiative in support of Indigenous women, girls, and 2-spirit folk. The 5KM Run/Walk/Roll event, in partnership with the Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign, is bringing communities together and raising funds for programming for Indigenous women, girls, and 2S folk. Representatives from the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Council and the Anti-Racism in Sport have everything you need to know on U Talk. MASRC Run Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Many people got pets during the pandemic, but with a return to the office, we've begun to see a surge in pet surrenders.  If you're a first-time pet owner or a newcomer unsure about caring for pets or any by-laws around pets, the Winnipeg Humane Society has everything you need to know to ensure all pets find their forever homes.  https://winnipeghumanesociety.ca/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Why is there so much talk about moving towards a more plant-based diet? Many have taken this question to heart as they look for ways to feed themselves and their families. People have been considering reducing their meat consumption for their health, for animal activism, for environmentalism, or all those reasons.  For those wanting to learn more, find some local vendors, and connect with their community Winnipeg VegFest is taking place this weekend.   https://www.winnipegvegfest.ca/ Intro and outro music: Mind Games - Mathew Mcguire.

Two hundred years ago today, the then-prince of Portugal declared Brazil an independent nation. In celebration of the Bicentennial Anniversary,  the Brazilian Association in Winnipeg is holding several events to build community and increase awareness of Brazilian culture. 🇧🇷 To tell us what's all happening, here's Maggie Demarchi. Find out more about BRASIW.