Stories to Celebrate MCoS’ 50th Anniversary

As MCoS Celebrates its 50th Anniversary we have also been collecting stories from other the years. These stories have been shared from past board and staff members, current board and staff members, partners, and community members! If you have a good memory, story, or highlight with MCoS from the last 50 years that you wish to share please reach out to our Communications and Marketing Manager – Ali at co************@**os.ca.

Check back often, we’ll update this post as more stories come in!

MCoS’ Former Past President, Meka Okochi spent 11 years on the Board of Directors!

“I find MCoS to be one of the… best organizations in terms of board I’ve sat on. I’m incredibly proud of the work the board, Rhonda, the staff have done together in ensuring that … we have a workplace that genuinely cares about the employees and is focused on values and work that is important to them and our members,” he said in an interview with MCoS.

These are the things Meka is most proud of when he looks back on his time spent with MCoS.

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Past President Herman Slotsve served on MCoS’ Board of Directors from 1990-1997.

Throughout his time with the organization MCoS’ work was heavily focused on the province’s youth and developing youth programming including a Human Rights Conference at Fort San. Slotsve strongly feels that, “Investing in youth is the best investment you can make.”

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Today we’re throwing it back to November of 2015 with a story from our annual report. A Multicultural Celebration took place at the Mackenzie Art Gallery hosted in partnership with the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan.

This event was part of Saskatchewan Multicultural Week. The focus of the event was celebrating cultural diversity through drumming across cultures. Four experienced drummers and groups from several cultural traditions (Ranch Ehrlo powwow drum group, Uganda Canadian Association of Saskatchewan (UCAS), Carol Rose GoldenEagle and Muna De Ciman) took turns sharing their styles and teaching
everyone to join.

Allen Ssemmanda, a member of UCAS, and one of the featured drummers shared her experience of the event, “I love to hear how the others play their drums and see how they relate with others. I appreciate having the
freedom to play my music.”

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Wendy Swann reflects on working with MCoS and specifically MCoS’ Executive Director, Rhonda Rosenberg through numerous anti-racism programs. She notes, “I have been involved with the Southwest Newcomers’ Welcome Centre for about 15 years.  During that time I have had many opportunities to experience the dynamism of Rhonda Rosenberg’s leadership in various anti-racism presentations.  Witnessing her expert handling of delicate situations especially with some kids who lack empathy is awe-inspiring.  Rhonda has a direct approach that also communicates her belief the best antidote to racism is education and experience.”

 

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“Being part of MCoS has shaped me as much as I’ve contributed to it. I’ve gained a stronger awareness of our communities, our province, and the incredible people and stories within them.”

– Kinikinik Bage

 

 

My name is Kinikinik, and I’ve been connected to the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS) in one way or another since I was 15 years old. After over a decade, I’m happy to still be involved with the organization.

My journey started as a participant in an anti-racism workshop that MCoS holds every year around March 21, as part of my high school ACT team. The following year, my teacher and ACT team lead, Margo Campbell, gave me a little nudge (or maybe a poke and a prod!) to step up as a volunteer facilitator. Honestly, if it weren’t for her, I may never have thought to get involved at the level I did.

I said “Yes”. At first, it was intimidating, speaking in front of groups from several different schools, with peers and adults older than me, but I quickly found it rewarding. I continued as a volunteer facilitator for about five years, right through high school and into university, until 2020 when everything shifted. During that time, I was also volunteering elsewhere, which led to being nominated for the MCoS Multicultural Youth Leadership Award in 2019, an award I was both surprised and honoured to receive. (Don’t go looking for that interview, though, I was a nervous mess!)

Through the years, I worked alongside Rhonda Rosenberg and Yordanos Tesfamariam, helping facilitate workshops for high school and university students, and even contributing to workshop design. Eventually, I was encouraged to consider running for the MCoS Board of Directors. The first time I said no, I had just started teaching and wanted to get settled. But true to her word, Rhonda came back a year later to ask again. That time, I attended the information session and thought, this is something I want to do.

In 2022, I was elected to my first two-year term on the board. Serving as a director has given me a whole new perspective, getting to see the work that goes on behind the scenes, shaping the vision and future of MCoS beyond the workshops and community programs most people see. In June 2024, I was re-elected for another term, something I’m deeply grateful for.

Being part of MCoS has shaped me as much as I’ve contributed to it. I’ve gained a stronger awareness of our communities, our province, and the incredible people and stories within them. Even now, I still return to workshops as a co-facilitator, stepping away from my board role to reconnect with where my journey started.

These past 11 years have been a blessing. Working with MCoS has been amazing, full of hope, planning, and vision. We’re not only thinking about the needs of today, but anticipating what Saskatchewan will need tomorrow, and ensuring we can meet those needs before they become gaps.

MCoS has been here for 50 years, and I believe it will be needed for many more, another 50, another 100. I’m excited to continue this journey and to see where we go together.

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