Honoring Reconciliation

Honoring Reconciliation Although late, Muslim Canadians are reaching out to the Indigenous people and finding shared traditions

BY SHAHINA SIDDIQUI

Matriarchs from the three host nations on whose land Vancouver is situated wove a prayer rug to fill the mosque installation

Muslim Canadians and organizations are pro-actively building relationships, standing in solidarity and collaborating on social justice issues with Indigenous communities. These sincere efforts are guided and inspired by Prophet Muhammad’s (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) life, and the Quran’s injunctions that Muslims stand for justice and with the oppressed.

For example, the Quran reminds Muslims to strive for human unity and dignity because all human beings were created from a “single male and a female, and from them came numerous diverse nations so that you may know, respect and honor each other” (49:13).

The Indigenous community’s history in the Europeanized-colonized Americas has been one of genocidal policies, crimes against humanity, persecution, pillage, ethnic cleansing, tearing apart families and racism. Tragically, even today in the supposedly “postcolonial era” we see the emotional, physical and spiritual scars and trauma still impacting their intergenerational relationships and the continuation of racist anti-Indigenous policies that have infiltrated Canada’s public sector.

This reality begs the following question: Why have Muslim Canadians stayed indifferent and isolated from reaching out to this land’s original inhabitants for so long?

Today however, inspirational work is being done in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. Long-term outreach work in Ontario between a few visionary Muslim leaders and Turtle Lodge elders through conversations and sharing of each tradition’s spiritual teachings is now bearing fruit — for the uninitiated, the lodges are gathering place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples from all Nations, founded upon spiritual, land-based teachings and the pursuit of mino-bimaadiziwin (the good way of life).

More than three years ago, Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies (CCMS; www.sfu.ca/ccms.html) began to increase its community engagement in terms of this vision. One of the key priorities was to increase Muslim-Indigenous interaction around the issue of European colonialism. Both communities have had long, complex struggles against this phenomenon, as well as with European racism and White supremacy. SFU and CCMS coordinator Aslam Bulbulia, who resides in Vancouver, which is unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territory, British Columbia (BC), reports that both groups have diverse and complex intra-community dynamics. The City of Vancouver acknowledges this land as unceded because the First People and the settlers did not sign any treaties.

The first CCMS-hosted event, convened in early 2018 to discuss decolonial solidarity, drew participants of diverse backgrounds from the Philippines to South Asia, South Africa to the Indigenous communities, to share some of their common experiences and to think of ways to stand alongside one another. In March 2018, a dialogue was held specifically for Muslims so that they could begin to think about what “Being Muslim on Unceded Land” (https:// www.sfu.ca/ccms/community/community-conversation-series/uncededland.html) means. Participants explored the spiritual implications of earning and eating food grown on stolen land and delved deeper into this land and its peoples’ history.

Over the next two years, CCMS worked alongside Vancouver Biennale as they installed a life-sized mosque made of chain fencing designed by Saudi artist Ajlan Gharem (https://www.vancouverbiennale.com/ artworks/paradise-has-many-gates/). It was set up in what is today Vanier Park, but what was once the Squamish village of Senakw. This provided Muslim and Indigenous artists a unique opportunity to engage, learn from one another and work together. Here, participating weavers and graphic artists created a series of prayer rugs, thereby recognizing their shared artistic heritage and experiences of relationship building over the project’s course.

The following year, matriarchs from the three host nations on whose land Vancouver is situated wove a prayer rug to fill the mosque installation. The frame for the weavings was the collaborative effort of a Muslim graphic designer and poet. The Indigenous creators handed the weavings over to the Muslims, who had gathered there to receive it and place it into the frame.

CCMS has also used the arts to bring Muslim and Indigenous communities together through its 2018 and 2019 Islamic History Month programs. This was the result of Muslims recognizing that they should no longer ignore the land’s original inhabitants when celebrating their own history here, as well as the need to make space for other marginalized voices while making space for themselves.

Many people who attended a daylong Vancouver Public Library event that allowed Muslim and Indigenous artists to share their work and stories found themselves transformed. As the virus made it impossible to gather in person for the 2020 event, Islamic History Month opened online with a welcome

from Indigenous elders. CCMS and Indigenous communities in accordance with the recomcreated a new website to show- mendation #60 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. case a curated display of Muslim This project, which is funded by the Winnipeg Foundation and Indigenous artists’ work and being implemented in partnership with Ma Mawi Wi speaking to the themes of joy and Chi Itata Centre, Inc. (https://www.mamawi.com/), focuses solidarity, hosted a dialogue on on increasing knowledge of each other through recreational, Muslim and Indigenous Sacred spiritual, social and educational events. Space, screened “The Feeling of During the past 10 years, the Canadian Muslim Leadership Being Watched” and followed it Institute (https://cmlichangemakers.wordpress.com/), with with a discussion of how both logistical support from the Winnipeg Central Mosque, has communities are subject to state been hosting events, conferences and workshops, as well as surveillance. It also collected 18 organizing anti-racism rallies and vigils that feature both stories about acts of Muslim- communities standing shoulder to shoulder to denounce Indigenous solidarity to share injustice, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Indigenous hate. with a broader audience. ISSA has stood with the Idle No More (https://idlenomore.

In addition to these events, THIS REALITY BEGS ca/) movement and participates in the Moose Hide Campaign many other efforts are being made to bring the two communities closer in terms of spirituality. For THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: WHY HAVE (https://moosehidecampaign.ca), which fasts in prayer for the murdered and missing Indigenous girls and women. In Winnipeg, Indigenous elders, community members example, during Ramadan 2019 MUSLIM CANADIANS and organizations join with Muslims, be it a vigil for the a community “Sharing the Fast” iftar was held at the Vancouver STAYED INDIFFERENT Quebec City Mosque massacre, anti-Islamophobia or antihate forums, offering smudge and honor drumming. Our Aboriginal Friendship Centre. AND ISOLATED Indigenous compatriots come to mosques and stand in prayer, There, attendees learned from Indigenous peoples from the FROM REACHING as well as attend Muslim celebrations, while Muslims partic ipate in Indigenous ceremonies. East Coast, Prairies and West OUT TO THIS ISSA has recognized Indigenous leaders for their services to Coast about their fasting practices and then broke the fast LAND’S ORIGINAL justice and community. So far, it has presented its IHSAN and ANSAR awards to Calvin Murray Sinclair (former Canadian together. This was the first time INHABITANTS FOR Senate member and First Nations lawyer who chaired that many Muslims had visited SO LONG? the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation a friendship center and heard Commission [2009-15]), James Falvel (co-founder Bear Clan firsthand about the similarities Patrol), Michael Redhead Champagne (member, Shamattawa in the two spiritual traditions. Cree Nation) and others.

Finally, CCMS (https://www.sfu.ca/ccms/com- Manitoba Muslim youth have been enthusiastic participants in events co-ormunity/muslim-community-fellowship.html) has ganized with Indigenous youth, such as the Bell Tower gatherings, anti-racism hosted Indigenous guests to share their stories and events, advocating for clean water on reserves and workshops. work with young Muslim leaders to understand how Over the years, Winnipeg Muslims have donated qurbani meat and grocertheir future work can be grounded in this land and ies to First Nations communities and reserves, courtesy of the Zubaida Tallab done in solidarity with its original people. Foundation. For example, in 2013 the foundation delivered 3500 lbs. of food to

In Manitoba, social justice and anti-racism efforts Attawapiskat First Nations. have been the driving forces behind Indigenous and The Edmonton-based Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA; Muslim collaboration, outreach and relationship www.ifssa.ca), whose executive director Omar Yaqub resides in Treaty 6 territory building. For nearly two decades, the Islamic Social (a traditional gathering place, traveling route and home for the Nehiyawak/Cree, Services Association (ISSA; www.issacanada.com) Tsuut’ina, Niitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, has led the way in recognizing the atrocities com- Dene Suliné, Anishinaabe/Ojibway/Saulteaux and other Indigenous peoples), mitted by settlers against the Indigenous people and has been working closely with the Bent Arrow Healing Society (https://www. acknowledging that Muslim Canadians, who have facebook.com/Bent-Arrow-Traditional-Healing-Society-161127157279047/). also inherited this dark colonial burden, are obliged This cooperation includes welcoming newcomers at the airport and collaboratto stand with the Indigenous people. ing on Roots of Resilience (RootsResilience.ca) — a celebration of Indigenous

ISSA has tapped into the strong ties that bind Peoples Day and World Refugee Day (http://share.islamicfamily.ca/Indigenous). both communities in shared values and traditions The Canadian prayer rug (https://www.canadianprayerrug.ca/) produced by of community service, caring and nurturing family, IFFSA is a gift that reflects the similarity of both communities’ commitment to along with helping neighbors and protecting the preserving the environment and seeking signs of the Creator in nature. environment. Islamic History Month Canada has promoted themes for Canadian cities to

ISSA volunteer executive director Shahina Siddiqui organize celebrations devoted to Indigenous and Muslim interaction, relationship resides in Treaty One territory, the heartland of the building and sharing. ih Métis people. ISSA board staff and volunteers have Shahina Siddiqui, LLD, volunteer executive director of ISSA, is human rights and social justice activist, speaker, freelance undertaken reconciliation work between the Muslims writer, author and spiritual counselor.