Newcomer and Indigenous Allyship – Living into Right Relationships

The journey of truth-telling and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada is an ongoing process. As Chief Justice Murray Sinclair, who headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said, “Residential schools were with us for 130 years, until 1996. Seven generations of children went to residential schools. It’s going to take generations to fix things.”

Newcomers to Canada, and those who welcome them, have an opportunity to be part of this journey; this living into relationship. There are many places and spaces for learning and relationship building to be found in communities across Canada. There have also been resources developed specifically with newcomers in mind and you are encouraged to search out local resources and resource people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to help you mark Refugee Sunday. Here are two examples:

• In 2014, the City of Vancouver produced a very helpful “First Peoples – A Guide for Newcomers”
• From the Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) Navigation Team, an email to the refugee sponsorship community in September 2023. The “Learn” section suggests several excellent articles, videos and books.

Additionally, Alongside Hope has developed an “education for reconciliation” workshop called Mapping the Ground We Stand On (the Mapping Exercise). The workshop explores Indigenous presence and non-Indigenous arrival to Canada/Turtle Island. Trained facilitators across the country are able to offer the workshop in parishes and with community groups (including those involving newcomers) alike. Learn more about the workshop and how you can bring it to your parish/community group.

In the context of Refugee Sunday, as has become practice in many parishes, it is important to begin worship with a land/territorial acknowledgement. Many dioceses and parishes have developed acknowledgements that can be found on their websites. Additionally, you may wish to invite an Indigenous member of the parish or the community in which the parish is located, to offer a welcome.

And among the worship resources offered for Refugee Sunday, the first is, “A prayer of Indigenous peoples, Refugees, Immigrants and Pilgrims.”

If you know of an educational or worship resource that focuses on Newcomer and Indigenous allyship and relationship-building, we’d love to hear about it. Please forward to Suzanne Rumsey, Alongside Hope Public Engagement Program Coordinator.