Elders to teach London newcomers Indigenous history in new workshop series

Mary-Anne Kechego believes newcomers to Canada have a responsibility as soon as they step foot in the country to make an effort to understand Indigenous history.

That is why Kechego, who is from Oneida Nation of the Thames turtle clan, will be co-leading a new event series at the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre (SLNRC) that aims to connect new Londoners with Indigenous communities.

"It's been my experience working with different newcomers over the years that they don't learn a whole lot when they become a Canadian citizen," Kechego said. "They hardly learn any history about Indigenous people in Canada, and certainly not the atrocities that were inflicted upon us over the years."

"[The event] is a way of teaching them what their roles and responsibilities are, here in Canada as newcomers."

Indigenous-Newcomer Connection is an eight-part series, held weekly at the SLNRC throughout May and June. Each week, newcomers will screen a video about Indigenous history then participate in a sharing circle with two Indigenous leaders to discuss the content, said SLNRC program operation manager Eman Al Sayyah.

"Not everything is clear for [newcomers] at the beginning, and there's a lot of information to provide to them" Al Sayyah said. "For them to learn directly from a person who is Indigenous and who has lived here all their life will be wonderful."

Newcomer Magaly Castillo said she plans to check out the series, with the hope of learning Indigenous traditions and teachings, as well as how different communities interact with nature.

"[Newcomers] want to learn because they want to settle in the country, and who better can teach them what Canada's all about than the people who are the foundation of the country," Castillo said through an interpreter.

The SLNRC and London Public Library have held citizenship classes, which include lessons about Indigenous history, for more than 15 years, Al Sayyah said. However, those classes are only for people who have applied for their citizenship, which she said can take three to four years.

"During that time, they have not built a good understanding of Indigenous culture or the land they are living on," Al Sayyah said, adding that the Indigenous-Newcomer Connection series is open to all newcomers.

"We're lucky to have [this new program] so that newcomers, once they arrive here, can start learning right away."

Through learning this history, Kechego said, newcomers can be active participants in understanding and upholding treaties, and taking care of the environment.

"If you read the treaties and the language of the treaties, we're all responsible," Kechego said. "It talks about sharing and caring for the water, the land, the animals and the plants for future generations."

"It's not just us Indigenous people who have the responsibility to take care of everything," she said. "It's going to be a better world if everybody knows what their responsibilities are."