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. \u00a0Allyship 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.<\/p>\n
Here are a few definitions of who allies are:<\/p>\n
\u201cAllies 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 <\/em>frequently) and trying again, over and over. It\u2019s not so much about being right as it is about being unwilling to allow wrongs to persist unchallenged\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Nadira Adeye. Being an ally versus Being a nice Person. Daughters of Eve. <\/em>March 1, 2013.<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/em>Allies are people who recognize the unearned privilege they receive from society\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019 feelings of helplessness because of a disability.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Anne Bishop. On Becoming An Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People
\n<\/em>(Fernwood Publishing, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2001, Second Edition).<\/p>\n
\nWhy be an Ally?<\/h3>\n
Immigration is important to Canada for many reasons:<\/p>\n
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- Canada will need more workers<\/strong> to support the economy.<\/li>\n
- With the birth rate and worker:retiree ratio declining, these are likely to be immigrant workers<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Our future economy and health of our communities depends on us making them feel welcome<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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