Compiled by the founder of the organization the current board of directors at the 23rd Annual Conference, April 29-30, 2011 in Calgary, Canada
After the chemical bombing of Halbja in spring of 1988, the Kurds in the United States found it necessary to coordinate their efforts against their oppressors in the Middle East. In the middle of July, 1988 a preparatory committee was formed to arrange and organize a Kurdish National Meeting to study the possibility of creating a Kurdish umbrella organization. The committee saw a need for an effective organization to speak on behalf of all Kurds in the U.S. and Canada, that has no specific ideology, and whose goal is to defend and promote Kurdish interests in the United States and Canada.
KNC was formed and the committee organized the agenda for the first KNC conference which was held on August 27-28, 1988 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Fifty-five delegates came from many parts of the U.S. and Canada and attended the conference. KNC was able to explain Kurdish issues to news media, to members of the US senate, US congress, and the US government employees. The goals of KNC included:
- To defend and promote Kurdish interests
- To make itself known to the U.S. Government, U.S. Congress, United Nations, Canadian Government, Canadian Parliament, and the news media
- Work to establish an immigration quota for Kurdish people and help newly arrived Kurdish immigrants
- Encourage Kurdish young people to study and help find admission for Kurdish students at colleges and universities and help them complete their studies
- Establish grants to universities for master’s theses and Ph.D. dissertations on the Kurdish problem, Kurdish human rights, Kurdish history, Kurdish language, art, and music, etc.
- Publish a Kurdish journal, scientifically respected, whose articles are refereed.
- Publish a Kurdish newsletter
- Support social functions, such as a yearly campout and Newroz party.
- Support the Kurdish Library
- Help find jobs and business opportunities for Kurdish people
Since its founding KNC has been very active. The most important achievement of KNC was establishing an organization where Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan and with all different ideologies, religions, and political inclinations can join and participate in its activities.
Throughout its history, KNC has played a leading role in promoting the Kurdish cause within the United States and Canada. Some of KNC