What is one thing everyone in Saskatoon can do to make newcomers welcome? Be An Ally!
Who is an Ally?
Allies are people who are willing to seek first to learn about the experiences of a marginalized group of people, and then empathize with their challenges and build relationships with them. It is more than just acceptance to advance the cause of the newcomer friends, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, co-congregants and others in a wide variety of ways. Allyship is a skill: the more you act, the more it gets developed. The first time you stand up for someone may be an intimidating experience but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Allyship is in our best interest. We all reap the benefits of an inclusive and just society where everyone feels valued and respected, no matter who they are or where they come from. Being an ally is not who you are, its what you practice.
Here are a few definitions of who allies are:
“Allies are people who do the work to examine and question their own privilege. To understand who they are internally, but also how their external appearance or membership in certain groups impacts their societal powers. Being an ally means willing to be uncomfortable, being willing to be wrong (and, unfortunately, doing that ish frequently) and trying again, over and over. It’s not so much about being right as it is about being unwilling to allow wrongs to persist unchallenged”.
Nadira Adeye. Being an ally versus Being a nice Person. Daughters of Eve. March 1, 2013.
“Allies are people who recognize the unearned privilege they receive from society’s patterns of injustice and take responsibility for changing these patterns. Allies include men who work to end sexism, white people who work to end racism, heterosexual people who work to end heterosexism, able-bodied people who work to end ableism, and so on. Part of becoming an ally is also recognizing one’s own experience of oppression. For example, a white woman can learn from her experience of sexism and apply it in becoming an ally to people of color, or a person who grew up in poverty can learn from that experience how to respect others’ feelings of helplessness because of a disability.”
Anne Bishop. On Becoming An Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People
(Fernwood Publishing, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2001, Second Edition).
Why be an Ally?
Immigration is important to Canada for many reasons:
- Canada will need more workers to support the economy.
- With the birth rate and worker:retiree ratio declining, these are likely to be immigrant workers.
- Our future economy and health of our communities depends on us making them feel welcome.
Tips on how to be an Ally
Longer term residents, it’s really pretty simple, but we don’t do it enough – actions that almost anyone can do without having to call for a meeting. And for newcomers, a genuine welcome – at a school, workplace, really anywhere, makes all the difference. We don’t endorse ideas or authors, but the resources below are a good place to start:
- Ways to be An Ally: Lessons from Covid-19
- Being an ally at work
- Guidelines for being strong white ally
- White allyship 101: Resources to get to work
- Becoming an ally and practising Allyship
- A guide to allyship
- Allyship and Equity
______________________________________________________________________________
Give your ideas on how to make Saskatoon more welcoming for newcomers.
Do you have a great idea on how to be an ally to a newcomer in Saskatoon? You can help residents of Saskatoon on how to be an ally and to make Saskatoon more welcoming.
______________________________________________________________________________
Share your “Being An Ally” Story with us.
- Many allies in Saskatoon are looking for a good way to explain why they’re an ally.
- Let us know your most important reason for being an ally to newcomers and share your story!
- Share your thoughts using #BeAnAlly to join the conversation!
Follow along and engage via our social media platforms:
The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness of the benefits of newcomers to Saskatoon, build support for and understanding of newcomers as an integral part of an inclusive, diverse workforce and a welcoming community!
For more information read our news release: Announcing the See Me As I Am campaign
