Local Muslims, Indigenous people hold interfaith event

Bannock with wild rice and samosas with halal beef stew were served in equal measure as Indigenous and Muslim Winnipeggers sought common ground at an interfaith event discussing truth and reconciliation Sunday.

The Islamic Social Services Association’s second annual Muslim-Indigenous Solidarity event recognized Orange Shirt Day through conversations with elders, shared prayers and crafting.

Organizer Shahina Siddiqui said many of the people attending the gathering, held at Canadian Mennonite University, share the traumatic impacts of colonialism.

Siddiqui said she herself had attended a Catholic day school in her home country of Pakistan, where she and other students were forced to speak English, and were hurt if they didn’t. Many Muslim-majority countries, she said, have been harmed by colonialism.

“I think the commonalities are there, but it’s about taking the first step and extending our hand,” she said Sunday.

The first gathering last year was inspired in part by the suffering of Palestinian families in Gaza, she said.

“What we are seeing in Gaza, is every child matters, regardless of who they are, where they come from, what colour their skin is,” she said.

“And then I looked into the essence of Orange Shirt Day. It really is to remember and honour and commit that we won’t do this again. And so I thought it was a good time.”

Several Indigenous elders took to the stage to share their own personal experiences with residential schools and racism, and discussed the value of solidarity between marginalized communities.

Among them was David Budd, who acknowledged that at times, he has witnessed fraught relationships between Indigenous Manitobans and newcomers. He said education and compassion is key for building those connections.

“I know it’s hurting, you’re in pain, it’s confusing, it’s frustrating, but you know what? I think we’re all meant to be here,” he said.

He recalled a story told to him by another elder, who had told him once that all people now have space on Turtle Island. When Budd asked his fellow elder what he meant, the man gestured to the medicine wheel, and said people from all directions of the world had found a home here.

Budd carries that reminder with him.

“Now it’s time to get to know one another,” he said. “Now it’s time to build relationships.”

Orange Shirt Day, known Canada-wide as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is on Wednesday. It was officially established as a federal statutory holiday in 2021 and provincially in 2023.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca