ARAB REFUGEES
Between November 4, 2015, and April 30, 2019, 63,938 Syrian refugees were admitted to Canada, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This section focuses on Syrian refugees for this reason. They are the most recent Arab newcomers to Canada; therefore, it is important that we help these students in our classrooms by developing an understanding of where they came from, and what they came from. The above video is the trailer of a documentary released in 2019 called Tiny Souls about the life of a Syrian refugee.
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While it is important to recognize the massive influx of Syrian refugees to Canada in the most recent years, it is equally important to recognize that there are other Arab refugees who attend our schools. Refugees from Iraq, North Sudan, Libya, Yemen, etc.
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STORIES
The Arab Spring took place in 2015. This was a series of uprisings in the Arab world which led to civil unrest. This led to civil wars between governments/government supporters and the people. There have always been problems in the Middle East, far before the Arab Spring; however, these problems do not define the Arab people. Arabs are known for far more than being victims of war and violence; they are scholars, teachers, Doctors, lawyers, Engineers, caretakers, Nurses, etc. They are educated peoples who have been stripped of their stories because they have all been titled victim.
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There is a clear Western perspective on the Middle East. A perspective on the women, the men, the children, the culture, etc. For example, there is this idea that women in that part of the world are not allowed an education. This idea is promoted constantly, and many people in the West highlight this claim to make it seem like they are doing these women a favor. This is called White Saviorism. People in positions of power in the West constantly highlight this claim.
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This is a video of the Hollywood actor John Cho telling the story of a Syrian teacher. This is a good video because it sheds positive light on the culture, while validating the refugee experience.