The Silk Road Institute: Strengthening Muslim-Canadian Culture

What does it mean to be a Muslim-Canadian? Can we sum up the diversity of the Muslim Canadian experience in a few sentences, or even a few paragraphs? Who defines the Muslim Canadian experience? These, and many related questions, were the focus of a discussion I co-moderated for the Silk Road Institute earlier this year in Montréal. The large and diverse audience present debated, discussed, and shared personal experiences — and even though the conversation extended beyond its originally-allotted two hours — many in attendance felt that we ended it prematurely and that there was much more left to be said.

Many Muslim-Canadians see their identity as a combination of factors. They, and particularly the younger generation, view themselves as bearers of multiple identities. This should come as no surprise. Like that of most of Canada’s diverse communities, the Muslim-Canadian experience reflects and is defined by a broad, collective spectrum of demographic, cultural, and spiritual backgrounds.

Creating a cultural space

Since the Silk Road Institute was founded two years ago, it has become clear that there is a need for spaces where the Muslim community can make its voice heard on the cultural front by exploring and strengthening Muslim-Canadian culture, as well as participating in the broader Canadian cultural discourse. The Silk Road Institute uses the tools of cultural representation — like the arts, literature, and the free flow of ideas — to encourage the exploration of identity and create a platform for cross-cultural exchange.

Since then we have hosted speakers to address a wide range of issues. In our inaugural panel discussion on Quebec, minorities, and human rights, we hosted the National Council of Canadian Muslim’s (NCCM’s) Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee, and Shirley Sarna of the Quebec Human Rights Commission. In early 2014, indigenous rights activist Ellen Gabriel shared her insights on the relationship between indigenous rights and universal rights. In February of this year, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X, Imam Yasin Dwyer — a Silk Road Institute Board member — inspired the audience as he shared Malcolm X’s legacy and contributions to the Muslim experience in North America. To mark the Silk Road Institute’s second anniversary in May, we welcomed Zarqa Nawaz, creator of the CBC comedy series Little Mosque on the Prairie, and author of Laughing all the Way to the Mosque.

The Silk Road Institute’s interest in literature has spawned regular book clubs, during the course of which we have hosted Globe and Mail columnist, and Silk Road Institute Board member Sheema Khan, author of Of Hockey and Hijab. Last year, we organized the Montreal book launch of the English translation of Monia Mazigh’s novel, Mirrors and Mirages.

Active promotion of the arts and cross-cultural artistic exchange form a cornerstone of our work. The Silk Road Institute has hosted a wide range of performing artists through its ‘Viva Voce’ artistic series. Jason ‘Blackbird’ Selman and Kaie Kellough bought their unique spoken word voice to our first event. Suad Bushnaq, Didem Basar, and Ali El-Farouk, entertained a full house with their Levantine inspired music. Recently, we hosted an event showcasing the artistic talents of emerging local artists. At the organization’s second anniversary, Tounkara-Lavoie entertained audience members with their own compositions as well as the traditional music of Mali. 

We also lend our support to local and emerging artists. Through our Viva Voce Studio Sessions, the Silk Road Institute has produced two musical video productions, showcasing the music and directorial work of the artists involved. Additionally, we staged a seven-part photography workshop designed to inspire a new generation of photographers. This Ramadan, we joined with with the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Tessallate Institute to run a national photo contest to mark the fasting month.

Establishing a long-term cultural vision

The Silk Road Institute’s events point to the emergence of a common factor: that much greater effort is needed to strengthen and promote Muslim-Canadian culture and strengthen cross-cultural dialogue. The Silk Road Institute is dedicated to providing such a platform, a space where the Muslim-Canadian cultural experience can be shared among the many elements that shape the Canadian cultural mosaic. The Silk Road Institute is now fundraising in order to hire a full-time staff to strengthen our current structure, which relies currently on volunteers. We are also working to establish a cultural centre dedicated to providing a space where diverse communities can connect, where Muslim-Canadian culture can be supported through theatre and the performing arts. These initiatives require the financial and moral support of Muslim-Canadians.

This natural progression is a result of the expanding needs of our community; Muslim cultural representation and artistic expression should no longer take a back seat. The Muslim community’s support will reflect recognition that cultural and artistic activity and representation is no longer an optional proposition for our community, but an essential pillar of the Muslim Canadian experience.

Cultural representation remains one of the strongest tools for developing identity, strengthening social cohesion, and dispelling stereotypes. By embracing the strength of the various ideas and artistic expressions that define our collective experience, cross-cultural bridges are already being developed. We believe that the time has come for the Muslim community to invest in its future through cultural engagement.

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Mohamed Shaheen

Mohamed Shaheen completed his Bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University, Halifax, before moving to Montreal where he completed his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering at McGill University. Mohamed has been involved over the past decade in several community organizations, where his focus has been on civic engagement, advocacy, cross-cultural exchange, and civil liberties. In 2013, he founded the Silk Road Institute and served as the organization’s Founding Executive Director. He now serves as the organization’s Chair of the Board of Directors.

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• The Silk Road Institute: Strengthening Muslim-Canadian Culture - August 18, 2015