Shaken by a Grim Discovery, an Imam Builds a Bridge to Indigenous Communities

Inspired by this collective mission of the Prophets, I set out to develop trusting relationships between Muslim and Indigenous communities to stand against injustice and be a bridge of healing.

Trust is an important factor in developing and sustaining relationships. However, having largely lost trust in faith institutions and the legacy of centuries of cultural genocide and spiritual violence by the very religious groups they were forced to assimilate into, Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers are not widely included in interfaith discussions. Hence, using learning and dialogue to rebuild trust and authentic engagement were made as the foundational values for the Muslim-Indigenous Connection program.

It is not that the Muslim communities in Canada have never engaged with Indigenous communities. There have been shining examples from across the country. However, like many instances of cross-cultural engagement, these efforts have been reactive in response to an immediate need such as relief work after a natural disaster, or demonstrative actions such as attending public protests. These efforts have merit but are not designed to build trust or sustain relationships. Many of these efforts did not engage youth, which led me to ask how youth could be brought together to model relationship building and sustainable solidarity.

The Muslim-Indigenous Connection program, also known as MIC, started with training 25 Muslim youth on the art of dialogue to encourage reconciliation. It continued with providing multiple opportunities for youth to learn about native spirituality, values, beliefs and struggles from Indigenous elders themselves. It continued with Muslim youth going on a site visit to the Six Nations Indian reserve to internalize what they learned so far through sights and sounds and meeting people on the ground. It culminated in participants implementing micro projects in small groups to effect change for the common good.

One group raised funds for the only dual-language immersion high school in the Six Nations reserve to preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages, culture, identity, and way of life for current and future generations. Another group learned about mental health struggles and intergenerational trauma shared by both Indigenous and Muslim youth in Canada, while another group prepared care packages to support a women’s shelter that supports Indigenous women and children recovering from the traumas of violence and homelessness by providing culturally inclusive, safe spaces to offer spiritual healing and maintain their identity, self-esteem, and economic and physical well-being. Finally, one group created a blog to document their experience of this unique, first-of-its-kind journey to share with the wider Muslim community.

The seed we planted has grown into a beautiful plant. I can see its growth when we are asked to run similar programs in other cities. I can see its progress when we are asked to develop customized curriculum for Muslim high schools. I can see its impact when we are encouraged by community and organizational leaders to scale the program up. I can see its relevance to the Canadian community when we are invited by other faith communities to share the MIC experience and replicate it with their youth.

For me, the biggest blessing of this experience has been seeing Muslim youth actualizing the 4-Rs of Trust (Responsibility, Relationship Building, Respect, and Reflect) with their Indigenous counterparts. It is observing Muslim youth beginning from a place of vulnerability and humbleness by consulting the Native leaders before starting the micro projects. It is seeing them signing up to become the youth coordinators to support the next cohort in the fall. It is witnessing MIC youth proudly signing the Pledge of Allyship at the end of their 5-month training to commit to this journey as true ambassadors of this vision.

When one of the graduates read out the Statements of Allyship at the graduation ceremony, I instantly knew it came from a place of sincere solidarity and conviction, the true foundation of interfaith cooperation.

Irshad Osman is a recipient of a 2021 IFYC Racial Equity & Interfaith Cooperation Alumni Award. Applications are now open for the 2022 awards, which support IFYC Alumni in creating experiences and opportunities that build bridges across lines of religious, spiritual, and secular differences while simultaneously seeking racial justice.