Homage to Muslim-Indigenous interfaith relations
In 2019 the Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton, Canada’s oldest Mosque, published the following reflection piece on Islamic History Month:
“For Canadian Muslims in particular, Canadian Islamic Heritage month may serve as a beam of hope for many of us who wish to have the practices of our peaceful religion normalized in our Canadian society, in coexistence with (and held in the same esteem as) rituals and practices of various other religious groups living amongst us here in multicultural Canada. We, as Muslim Canadians, belong to this country and its communities just as much as any other Canadian of any other faith, heritage or upbringing. Additionally, Canadian Islamic month may also be a great opportunity for Canadian Muslims to raise awareness about the determined Muslim pioneers (of Lebanese descent, etc) who settled in Canada in the 19th century onwards and developed strong working partnerships with indigenous counterparts for the purpose of mutual trading and community building. And this designated month may one day serve as an opportunity to take the time to build Muslim-Indigenous interfaith relations here in Alberta and other Canadian provinces and territories, and pay strong tribute to Indigenous peoples role in being the original inhabitants and dwellers of this country that we (as Canadian Muslims) call home. We as Canadian Muslims do share a lot of commonalities with Canadian Indigenous peoples, given that we both identify as visible minorities and both continue to face nuanced types of painful systemic oppression and discrimination while trying to navigate this society.”