Coming Together For Collective Healing

With a spate of shocking residential school discoveries this summer, it has been a difficult year for Canada's Indigenous communities. The horror of these harrowing discoveries looms large today as we mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Truth and Reconciliation Day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools and their families and communities, and establishes a formal public commemoration of the tragic, painful and ongoing history of residential schools.

CCMW joins communities across the country today to recognize the multigenerational legacy of Canada’s residential school system. We honour First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and stand in solidarity with them in remembrance of generations of injustices that are all too often overlooked. Today, we are also reflecting on our relationship with the original peoples of this land and on our treatment of them, both past and present. We are taking stock of what we have achieved with regards to our Indigenous communities and all that we have to do to move forward towards reconciliation with them.

The residential school system is not just another chapter in Canada’s history but a foundational part of colonial violence against Indigenous Peoples that continues relentlessly to this day. Settler society was built upon these injustices and as settlers, we are all complicit in these crimes.

Starting tomorrow, Muslim communities across Canada will mark Islamic Heritage Month. The month offers all Canadians a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and learn more about the history of Islam in Canada, and the cultural diversity of Canada’s large Muslim community. With an alarming rise in Islamophobia and a preponderance of Islamophobic threats and attacks, Canada’s Muslims have also experienced a difficult year. Fittingly, this year's Islamic Heritage Month theme is 'Anti-Indigenous Racism and Islamophobia: Coming Together for a Month of Healing.' This serves as a great opportunity for Canada’s Muslim and Indigenous communities to come together in the spirit of learning, sharing and healing.

So as Muslim settlers on these great lands, let's mark today as a day of education, reflection and conversation. Let's spend the day in honest discussion about our roles in the reconciliation process and strive to help improve the relationship between Canada's Muslim and Indigenous communities. We all have a lot to learn about our past and present to be able to contribute to a better future for this country. Let’s take the time today to educate ourselves about First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and their vibrant cultures and rich traditions. Let’s enlighten ourselves about the dark history of colonialism and how it has, for decades, suppressed and undermined these cultures and traditions.

Increasing our understanding and awareness is just one step we can all take. Let’s then use our learning to educate each other and to start important conversations about reconciliation and allyship. Let's use our learning to help raise further awareness about the residential school system and make sure that the precious children that were taken from their parents, their families and their communities through this system are never forgotten. Let’s pledge today to act as the catalyst for positive dialogue and meaningful change to help create a better future for our country. A better future for Indigenous Peoples and Muslim settlers alike. Let’s recognize that change starts with every one of us and each of us can make an impact. Let’s start our healing today and commit to continuing it through these actions, not just today or during Islamic Heritage Month, but every day of the year.

CCMW stands in solidarity with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. We are committed to fighting for truth and justice for Indigenous Peoples and supporting and amplifying Indigenous voices.

We invite you to explore our Hate2Healing campaign and to engage on this important project to help expand anti-racism footprints across Canada. 

Elder Irene Compton spoke about Racism and Reconciliation at the Hate2Healing Launch Event last week. You can check out her speech here.

In Solidarity.

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