Moving to a new community is always challenging, but moving away from one’s home country with the challenge of integrating into a community with foreign customs, often harsh weather, and sometimes a community’s lack of awareness of diverse cultures can feel overwhelming.  The Southeast Newcomer Services (SNS) Laura Eddy along the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Anne Fox help local newcomers integrate into the community and surrounding areas.  This year SWIS kicks off its first annual Anti-Racism Art Week from February 22 to 25 with a grant provided by the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan. 

To promote inclusivity, and to bring awareness to the effects of moving into a new country, newcomer children (8-18 years old) and adults, are encouraged to express and share their experiences through multiple art mediums.  

 SWIS is a school-based outreach program that aims to help newcomer students and families settle in their schools and communities; along with providing resources and services to promote settlement and integration with cultural awareness.   

Anne Fox, Settlement Worker from SWIS shares some of the challenges immigrant families experience, “Language, clothing because of the changes of weather, food, and sometimes racism from the community.” 

When words are not enough, art in its various forms and mediums has a long-held history of providing a vehicle to help lend a voice to express difficult challenges and experiences.   With SWIS, newcomers who may be experiencing language barriers have an opportunity to communicate their unfortunate experiences and their deep desire to integrate and make Canada their home. 

“We are trying to help these kids voice and release their feelings through this movement which is anti-racism,” explained Fox. “We have acrylic paints, clays, paint markers, watercolors, oil paints, and some dyes.” 

The culmination of the art week leads to a newcomer art gallery presentation at the Credit Union Spark Centre which runs from March 18 to 30.   The gallery presentation works to celebrate the individual artists as well as bring awareness to the struggle newcomers experience, while highlighting March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  

To become a part of the SNS and SWIS art program, newcomers can contact Anne Fox at her office at (306)842-9081 or at the SWIS Facebook page here.