We’re Building Our Own Table
Many of us have deep roots that grow between continents, with unique identities that must be acknowledged and celebrated. We feel at home everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere, constantly seeking the true meaning of belonging. Western reluctance towards foreign culture has marginalized the global diasporas and relegated racialized perspectives. Despite this ongoing xenophobia rooted in colonial legacies, our diverse identities undeniably hold untapped potential for enriching international entertainment industries.
The notion of “home” being an intangible idea presents an opportunity to create a global gathering of creatives to galvanize the array of diasporas that exist across the world and have long been underserved, underrepresented, understudied, and unwelcome in the lands they call home.
Now is the time to build bridges from the West to the East East from the West, led predominantly exclusively by those who understand the nuances that connect these continents. This is East By Northwest.
The History of the Northwest Passage
For centuries, many Europeans held a vested interest in the ‘Northwest Passage’: an alternative trade route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. These expeditions were funded by kings, governors, and trading companies who sought luxury Asian goods such as porcelain, tea & spices. Upon reaching land, they mistakenly assumed they’d arrived in Asia, and began to colonize and exploit the land and its peoples. The stark reality of this mistake, marks the violent beginnings of colonial North America, and Europe’s devastating genocide against Indigenous peoples.
EXNW is committed to doing its part to advocate, advance, and achieve the transformative change set out by the ‘94 Calls to Action’ in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and by Indigenous communities across Canada. We’re also passionate about reversing the erasure of the significant contributions made by Black and racialized settlers in building our nation, that have been minimized and diminished throughout history.