To recognize Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and honor the contributions, cultures, and histories of these communities, we have pulled together some important resources and encourage you to reflect, learn and continue taking actions that build more inclusivity in our communities and workplace.

Parks, Memorials & Historic Sites (US) Heritage IRL AANHPI Resources Prominent People Watch, Listen & Read

ABOUT ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

HAPPY Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with@Jeanelleats | Google Arts & Culture YouTube

AANHPI IN THE US

May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1992 when Congress annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Source.

AH IN CANADA

Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for us to learn and celebrate the diverse cultures and history of the Asian communities in Canada. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the many achievements and contributions of people of Asian origin who, throughout our history, have done so much to make Canada the country we know and love.

The theme for Asian Heritage Month 2025 is “Asian Canadian Legacy: We Contribute. We serve.” This theme recognizes the long-standing contributions and rich cultural heritage of Asian Canadians, highlighting their legacy of resilience, resistance, and achievement.

One Asian community that deserves recognition, acknowledgement, and our love today is the Filipino community, who right now are reeling from the tragedy that unfolded on April 26 at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver.

“The grief right now and the solidarity with the Filipino community is not just Vancouver, it’s not just British Columbia, it’s national, and it’s even international,” he said.

“This is a community that is suffering right now. We’re going to put our arms around them. As all British Columbians, we’re going to stand with them, support them – just like they support us every single day in this province. It’s their turn. It’s their turn to get care from us.”

– Premier David Eby

PROMINENT PEOPLE

Are You “AAPI” or “Asian American”? It’s Complicated. | A People’s History of Asian America | PBS Voices YouTube

Philip Vera Cruz
Philip Vera Cruz was a Filipino leader in the Asian American Movement, a farmworker and a leader in the labor movement. He also organized alongside César Chávez and fellow Filipino labor leader, Larry Itliong. Read more.
Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee
Born in 1896, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee was an American activist and minister. She was a leader in the women’s rights movement and campaigned for women’s suffrage; and even led a parade of nearly 10,000 people through New York. She was the first Chinese woman to earn a PhD. in economics and was director of the First Chinese Baptist Church of New York City. Read more.
KEW DOCK YIP
The first lawyer of Chinese origin in Canada, Kew Yock Dip (also known as Yock Dip) was born into a large family in Vancouver in 1906. Read more.
Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth is a U.S. Senator from Illinois, in addition to being the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, first person born in Thailand elected to Congress, first woman with a disability elected to Congress, first double amputee in the Senate, and first senator to give birth while in office. She is a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and was the first American female double amputee from the Iraq War, for which she received a Purple Heart. Read more.

Datu Lapu-Lapu
The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honours Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino chieftain who famously defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521 and became a national hero. Learn More.
I.M. Pei
I.M. Pei is an award-winning Chinese American master architect. One of the most revered architects in the world, I.M. Pei is most famously known for designing the glass pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre in Paris and the National Gallery of Art’s East Building in Washington, D.C. Read more.
Vicky Sunohara
Vicky Sunohara is a women’s ice hockey legend, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a seven-time world champion. She was born in Scarborough, Ontario, on May 18, 1970. She is of Japanese and Ukrainian heritage. Read more.
More Noteworthy People
Noteworthy Canadians of Asian heritage

18 Inspiring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

30 Revolutionary Asians and Pacific Islanders to Celenrate for AAPI Heritage Month