The Lower Mainland of British Columbia is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India. They form a highly visible minority but are one of the least understood of Canada's mosaic. For Sikhs standing out in the crowd is not an accident but a result of a unique history.
The roots of the religion reach back to northern India. A series of ten gurus first created the philosophy and incorporated the distinctive martial tradition to combat almost constant persecution. Formalized as the Khalsa Panth, a universal brotherhood, the religion has prospered despite the wide dispersal of Sikhs around the world, far from their village traditions. With the celebration of their 300th anniversary, Canadian Sikh identity is being threatened by community conflicts, negative media portrayals and the influence of western culture. In The Saint Soldier, Sikhs talk about their lives and their faith. From a nationally honoured teacher to a controversial female radio personality, a temple elder to a high-tech entrepreneur and an elderly immigrant who first abandoned the symbols of his religion to try and assimilate, they all explore what it means to be a Sikh in Canada today.
The Saint Soldier was written, directed and produced by Kathryn Newsom and co-produced by Raj Paul Dhillon, a writer of newspaper and magazine articles and producer of films about British Columbia's Sikh community.
Discussion guide available for download here:
The_Saint_Soldier_Discussion_Guide.pdf
