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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Qadir Aware, an Iraqi Kurd who went to South Dakota as a refugee in the 1970s. He now runs a multi-cultural center in Sioux Falls.

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LISA MULLINS: Qadir Aware is one of the refugees that decided to stay in the Dakotas. He now runs the Sioux Falls multicultural center that we just heard about in Jason’s story. Qadir Aware is Kurd. He’s originally from northern Iraq. He came to South Dakota in the 1970s. Can you tell us right now is it much different for newly arrived refugees since you came here more than thirty years ago? Is their start rockier or smoother?

QADIR AWARE: Comparing between ’77 I came and right now is a lot more opportunity exists right now for a refugee coming in because the community growing. If somebody came in from Sudan for example or Ethiopia or many other places, there’s already people from their country exist in South Dakota and Sioux Falls to reach out and communicate with them and get them through some of the difficulty they face because they already went through it.

MULLINS: It must be difficult also, as you say, for people of color when they come in and as Jason mentioned in his piece the Dakota’s are 90% white.

AWARE: Oh absolutely. Absolutely. When I came to Sioux Falls, I walk in the street people were slowing down and looking at us – at me and my wife and my seven months old daughter. And many, a thousand, thousand times, I’ve been asked who I am, where I am coming from. When I told them I am a Kurd from Kurdistan of Iraq, 90% of people said we never heard of it. So to me it was bother me very much. That’s one struggle people not recognize which Kurdish people have a history 2000 years before the Christ and people in the United States didn’t know who we are in South Dakota in Sioux Falls was bothering me very much.

MULLINS: Well I’m guessing that some people, if it wasn’t said, some people in the United States would think of from Iraq terrorist.

AWARE: Until finally I went to California and I told people I’m from South Dakota and they said we’ve never heard of it, you know?

MULLINS: No?

AWARE: And so… And that’s kind of adjustment is needed. Right now people know who I am. People who what’s the Kurds. Sometimes tragedy makes people understand who’s other side is.

MULLINS: Well what do you say when people come in, particularly as you said those people not from developed countries? What is the advice that you give them in terms of understanding not only the people for instance of the Dakotas, of the Midwest, but also Americans? I mean is there a kind of a general lesson that you have for people who come in from elsewhere to this culture?

AWARE: Involvement. Involvement in the community. What I did first I start coaching basketball in the community with the YMCA. And I’m still doing it after 22 years. Okay? I’ve been recognized by many parents – mom and dad and sister and brother and grandkids. I walk in the streets once in awhile 6’ feet 5” guys come and say, “Hi Mr. Aware. How are you?” And shake my hand. And I am looking at him, I even not recognize him. And suddenly he says, “You don’t know who I am?” I said, “Not really. I have a feeling for you but I don’t.” He says, “I was a kid you coached me in sixth grade and seventh grade.” You know that’s given me more and finally I’m involved with the community issues. I went to the school board meeting. I went to the city council meeting. I spoke up about some of the difficulty I have people dislike me, especially after ’79 which the hostages taken in Iran. Even some people in my neighborhood tried to abuse us because they thought I am from Iran which I am not, okay? So those issues make me to involve and speak up. I start speaking in a lot of schools, in the high school and the colleges, about who I am; where I am coming from; why I come over here. To understand me. I am not just one individual running away from the border come over here. I have a history. I have a country. I have a family. I was educated in school. I was in the high school. So that’s how I got to be where I am because I involved and that’s one thing I always encourage refugees. If you not involved you not going to recognized.

MULLINS: I’m sure that many of these refugees are extremely grateful to have a roof over their heads, jobs, schools, medical care. What is though the most common complaint that you hear from new arrivals?

AWARE: Well in many different perspective. Some of the complaint they do, I do not agree with them. Like I didn’t get the job because I am black. Do racial issues exist in Sioux Falls? Yes it does. But very small. It’s changing every day for a better. Or I didn’t get the apartment because I am a refugee. It is not. It’s because they don’t understand some of the rule and regulations to follow. Okay? And the loneliness. Their family is not with them. It’s just a wife and husband and two children. Their grandparents… I deal with that still today after 30 years. I have five beautiful children. They never been in activity in the school district with their grandparents. So it’s a lot of different complaints is coming but some of them is legitimate complaint and some of them we encourage them not feel this way. I feel that Sioux Falls is a good place, is a wonderful city. Have a wonderful leader ship and making it be a wonderful for us, for my family.

MULLINS: Alright. We’re glad you made your home in Sioux Falls and it sounds like lot of folks in Sioux Falls are happy as well. Qadir Aware runs the multicultural center in Sioux Falls South Dakota. He is originally from Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq. Nice to speak with you.

AWARE: You’re welcome ma’am.

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