Speakers Event in Surrey on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Educates about struggles worldwide

On August 9, at the occasion of International the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Uyghur Muslims in collaboration with other allies, organized an empowering event at Holland Park in Surrey.
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed resolution 49/214 which declared that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is  to be observed every year on August 9th. The organizers asked settler and non-Indigenous communities to do the same: to take the time to listen, take action and stand in solidarity with our indigenous communities – both locally and globally.
The event was organized to help further societal awareness on the issues and struggles that Indigenous peoples have faced throughout history and up to today. These include, but are not limited to: mental health awareness, accessibility needs to essential services, benefits and resources, and the harmful impacts of systemic and cultural oppression.
The event opened with a dynamic speech by Annie Ohana, a Surrey board teacher and an accomplished Indigenous Teacher advocated and anti-oppression curriculum specialist. Annie encouraged everyone to dare themselves to be a changemaker and take action against the oppression of Indigenous peoples. Afterward, MC Helen Pahou invited speakers advocating for international indigenous communities including Faraz (Syria), community, Yasmin Ullah (Rohingya community in Myanmar), Aida (Afghanistan), Amin (Iraq), and Kabir Qurban (Uyghur community in China). Each speaker spoke about the struggles of the indigenous populations in their countries and many drew parallels to the residential schools’ legacy and oppression of Canada’s Indigenous population. Everyone was encouraged to educate themselves, have a dialog with other, and use social media to raise awareness about the struggles of Indigenous communities worldwide.
People from diverse backgrounds came out to support the cause and learn about the plight of indigenous populations in Canada and abroad and left feeling enlightened and a list of concrete actions to take to stand in solidarity.