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I am the bridge…
Racism: a complex and layered issue Jonathan hamelin
Jennifer Jacoby-Smith
According to Lynne Lacroix, with the City of Saskatoon, every year it seems the need for an anti-racism message grows. As Saskatoon becomes a more diverse city, the messages of equality and inclusion never grow old. That’s why the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee at the City continues to hold the Living in Harmony Awards each year. The awards highlight art and literature by elementary and high school students. Recognition Awards area also given for youth, adults who devote their efforts to combating racist attitudes in their community “[It’s an] opportunity to celebrate and recognize individuals and groups within our community who really work hard at promoting intercultural harmony and eliminating or addressing racism and also promoting a socially inclusive community,” says Lacroix. This year the ceremony takes place March 21, at 10 a.m., at the Broadway Theatre. The awards are open to the public and there is no admission charge. T he Committee is also launching the “I am the Bridge…” campaign. Last year the City collected videos of Saskatoon resident talking about the impact of racism on them personally. The videos will be ready to share in the next month or two. “It is intended to be a citizen to citizen campaign. It’s telling stories through the eyes of everyday citizens who live right here in Saskatoon,” comments Lacroix. The response to the call for
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark raises the flag to mark the beginning of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Month on March 1, 2017. P h o t o : C i t y o f S a S k at o o n
Mayor Charlie Clark at the opening ceremony for Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Month, March 1, 2017. P h o t o : C i t y o f S a S k at o o n
video submissions, Lacroix admits, wasn’t as huge as they hoped. “It reconfirms that people are afraid to talk about [racism]. Or don’t think they know enough about it. Or aren’t sure what it is they should be talking about,” Lacroix says. There are also some who avoid the topic simply because they don’t believe they have any racist attitudes. In the end there are roughly
almost 20 videos the City will use in the campaign. “It is power ful,” notes Lacroix. “Hearing it first hand from people… some of the comments that they’ve heard. That they’ve felt.” “I am the Bridge” marks a shift in focus for the city. It is no longer about building bridges between cultures. It is about becoming the bridge – making it a much more personal issue. There is a tendency when
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thinking about racism to conjure up images of the KKK or white supremacists. But there is often a more sinister type of racism that remains hidden. “They think of the white supremacists and the KKK (Klu Klux Klan) and that’s not it. There are often people who inadvertently are racist but don’t recognize that. That’s the ‘I am’ piece. That’s the self-reflection,” she explains. Lacroix maintains racism
is a learned behaviour that can be unlearned. But it takes conscious effort and education. It also takes an attitude of self-reflection. She shares a quote from anti-racism educator Jane Elliott, “You are not born racist. You are born into a racist society and like anything else you can learn it and so you can unlearn it. But some people just choose not to unlearn it because they’re afraid they’ll lose the power if they share some of
that power with others.” The message of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination remains important for the City of Saskatoon. “ This is one day,” says Lacroix, “but it needs to be so much more than that. It needs to be a way of life for everybody. It’s every day and it’s every month that we need to be acknowledging and asking about this.”
Saskatoon Open Door Society offers window to new cultures Jennifer Jacoby-Smith
Since 1980 the Saskatoon Open Door Society has provided assistance for refugees and immigrants coming to Saskatoon. Their programs range from language training, daycare, employment services, settlement assistance and more. As part of their mission, the SODS also offers training for organizations looking to increase cultural awareness and understanding through the Open Door’s Cultural Bridging program. For government agencies or service providers this information and training can be invaluable in reaching and helping newcomers to Canada. “The program itself intersects with our mission and our mission is to provide a smooth as possible settlement for newcomers to Canada and to Saskatoon,” explains Roberta Desnomie, a Cultural Bridging facilitator. “And part of that is helping to pave the way through culturally responsive education and what that means is we’re sort of taking a preventative approach to the reduction of stereotyping through the presentation of facts and data and cultural in-
formation.” Historically, Saskatchewan has been comprised of First Nations people and the descendants of European settlers, but recently the province has thrown open the door to accepting more refugees and newcomers. In a social media post in January, Premier Brad Wall noted the province welcomed roughly 2000 refugees in 2016, many of those from war-torn Syria. That increases the potential for misunderstandings and miscommunications. “Saskatoon is a comparatively newer centre of cultural diversity in Canada,” explains Cultural Bridging facilitator Farrukh Syeer. Originally from Pakistan, Syeer arrived in Saskatoon just four years ago. So he knows the transition and challenges facing both newcomers and the greater community. “Here lies both the opportunity and the challenge. The challenge is to understand and navigate the so far culturally unfamiliar behaviours and expectations, and the opportunity is to explore those visible and deeper differences and forge a way to the possibility of an inclusive community and cohesive
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community,” he says. The language and cultural barriers can lead to newcomers being excluded which can have devastating impacts both within the community as well as within families. “This phenomenon is disastrous to the overall functionality of the society, (and) functionality of the individuals,” he adds. Highlighting the problem of racism in Saskatoon is an important step in creating a more inclusive community and correcting behaviours that may exclude individuals or groups. The Cultural Bridging program is part of the effort to increase awareness and cross-cultural understanding. It is only then that similarities can become apparent. “There’s no such thing as race. We’re one common species. And the only differences that we have are in culture. Once we start understanding what those differences are, because they are cultural, we can understand them, we start to see them as not differences so much as now similarities in our cultures start to stand out in stark relief. So it becomes more the focus,” says Desnomie. “Marking a day like this is very important,” notes Syeer. Special days, such as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, are a good reminder all segments of society to be alert to racist attitudes and be ready to correct them. Ultimately, says Syeer, it’s about returning the community to “their ideals of fairness, equality and cohesion.” Desnomie wishes it was for more than just a single day. “Personally, I think every day should be the day for the elimination of racism. And having one day, I feel like that’s not enough. It’s sort of like reminding people that there’s an issue, but really not incorporating it in their everyday value for communities not only across Canada but the world.” Located on Third Avenue North downtown, the Saskatoon Open Door Society offers a variety of programs and services for newcomers to Canada. For more information visit www.sods.sk.ca.
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission defines racism as “a combination of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination that makes some people think they are superior to people of other ancestries.” However, as Chief Commissioner David Arnot notes, racism is a complex issue that goes beyond a single definition. “Racism comes in many forms,” he said. “Sometimes it can be blatant and identifiable and other times it can be not so blatant and nuanced.” As Arnot explains, many people have experienced or witnessed overt racist behaviour, because it’s out in the open and hard to avoid. It could be a sign that says “No Foreigners Need Apply”, name calling or physical assault. Covert racist decisions, on the other hand, often take place away from the public eye, such as a real-estate agent making a deal with a seller not to show a house to visible minorities. Whatever the form of racism, it can have a lasting effect on the victim. “Having to live and work in an environment of overt or covert discrimination can cause victims to suffer a range of physical and mental health problems,” Arnot said. “Racism is hurtful behaviour that can scar people for life.” And according to Arnot, the causes for racism can be as complex as the issue itself. “One of the things we see in racial discrimination is that it’s often based on a fear of difference and a lack of knowledge, and when I refer to lack of knowledge I’m really talking about ignorance,”Arnot said. “It can very much be a one-size-fits-all mentality.” According to data from public input surveys, Saskatchewan has some work to do when it comes to combatting racism. In June 2016, Environics Institute for Survey Research released a report called Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples. The report found that in Saskatchewan, “Positive views about Aboriginal peoples generally, and with respect to reconciliation,
Chief Commissioner David Arnot and Archbishop Donald Bolen (January 19, 2017) – Presentation of framed print to Archbishop Donald Bolen after his presentation, “Reconciliation and Healing: Churches and the TRC Process Moving Forward” as part of the SHRC’s speakers’ series at First Nations University of Canada (Regina). P h o t o : S a S k at C h e wa n h u m a n R i g h t S C o m m i S S i o n )
are least evident.” According to a NRG Research Group and Peak Communications poll that came out a month later, nearly half of Saskatchewanians (46 per cent) think racism is a big problem.” Saskatchewan does have laws in place that protect people from racist attacks. Under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, it’s illegal for any employer, educational institution or service provider under provincial jurisdiction to discriminate on the basis of race or perceived race, colour, ancestry, nationality, place of origin, or religion in schools, housing, public services, contracts, or publications, or on the job. But as Arnot notes, it takes more than legislation to combat a problem like racism. “We need to have informed and courageous conversations to deal with the issue,” he said. “Saskatchewan is a very diverse province, which is reflected in our motto: ‘From Many Peoples Strength’,” We
need to embrace that diversity because it makes us strong.” One of the key areas the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission is focusing on when it comes to combatting racism in the provinces is education. Through its Citizenship Education program, it is developing education resource materials to fit within the existing provincial curriculum. The material aims to: add a preventative component to the existing education programs at the Commission and to provide web-based education to residents throughout the province; build a culture of respect for human rights and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship; and reduce the number and nature of complaints at the Commission. “When a student graduates from Grade 12, we’re hoping to create a citizen that embodies what I’d call the five E’s: enlightened, empathetic, ethical, engaged and em-
powered,” Arnot said. While there are many long-terms plans in place to deal with racism, Arnot explained that there are also actions that can be taken on a dayto-day basis. He said the struggle to eliminate racism really starts with the individual. “Whether you are a victim, witness or perpetrator, it’s your responsibility to say no to racism, to reject it and to fight against it,”Arnot said. “The truth is, when we see racism and do nothing about it we
become part of the problem. Everyone has a responsibility to reject racism and to support those who are victimized. It’s time to take that responsibility seriously.” The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission enforces the Code to protect victims of discrimination. If you believe you are a victim of racial discrimination, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission can help. Visit http://saskatchewanhumanrights.ca for more information.
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Facilitators Roberta Desnomie and Farrukh Syeer give a presentation as part of the Cultural Bridging program which helps facilitate cross-cultural understanding in the community. P h o t o : S a S k at o o n o P e n D o o R S o C i e t y
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