ANNUAL REPORT 2015 - 2016

BRIDGES: Indigenous Welcomes for Syrian Refugees
The provincial BRIDGES partnership chose to respond to the arrival of government-assisted Syrian refugees
in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw with an initiative to ensure that this group of newcomers
understand our history and current issues, our treaty relationships and have the opportunity to get to know
Indigenous Canadians and their rich culture in an atmosphere of sharing. We worked with local friendship centres,
settlement agencies and multicultural organizations in each location to invite Indigenous Elders, youth and drum
groups as well as Syrian refugees and other recent newcomers, and local leaders to join us. We are able to do this
important work through the support of SaskCulture.
Drum groups played honour songs for a grand entry. Elders shared blessings, cultural values and brief histories
of the relations between Indigenous people and Europeans, including Treaties. Indigenous youth shared their
perspectives on the importance of recognizing people in distress throughout the world and welcoming them to
make a new home in Canada when they must leave. Interpreters were on hand to ensure shared information was
understood by everyone. We participated in a round dance and learned that it is a dance of peace and friendship
that bridges the physical and spiritual worlds. Syrian newcomers shared a lively dance that is also done in a
circle, demonstrating the commonalities between cultures as we explore specific traditions and beliefs.
“MCoS and its partners hope that this sets the stage for respect and understanding of Canadian history and is the
beginning of opportunities for intercultural gatherings for education and sharing,” explains Rhonda Rosenberg,
Executive Director for MCoS.
Over 100 people attended the Indigenous Welcomes for Syrian Refugees in Regina at the Queensbury Convention Centre on
February 26, 2016. Several media attended the event and reps from the Syrian and Indigenous communities were interviewed.
Youth BRIDGES
How did you spend your spring holidays? For about 40 young people in Regina, the answer would be making
new friends while learning about other cultures. The goal was to build relationships between Indigenous and
newcomer youth based on mutual understanding and respect. MCoS coordinated a three-day workshop for teens
(13 and 21 years) from the Regina Open Door Society (RODS) and Newo-Yotina Friendship Centre (NYFC) to learn
about Indigenous culture and history, and relate to peers: Building Bridges between Indigenous and Newcomer
Youth, or Youth BRIDGES.
The first day focused on building a safe and welcoming environment through cross-cultural communication,
sharing cultural practices and a brief history from a First Nations perspective. Day two was the highlight of the
program for many: a visit to Ed Bitternose’s medicine ranch on the George Gordon First Nation, where they
learned the importance of bison, the significance of horses, the meanings of tipi poles and the paintings on it.
Bitternose arranged a tour of the school, a monument to the children who went through the residential school
– this was the last one closed in 1996 - and to the employment training centre to provide awareness of both
hardships and resources. The generous hospitality of the reserve community and the opportunities for informal
interaction allowed participants to appreciate each other and develop relationships. The final day combined
32 Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan