Canadian High Commission hosts indigenous leader for planning workshops in Pakistan

Elaine Alec will lead a series of workshops, consultative sessions with govt officials, community planners

Renowned Canadian Indigenous leader Elaine Alec, CEO of Naqsmist Storytellers Inc., founder of Cultivating Safe Spaces, and author of “Calling My Spirit Back,” has arrived in Pakistan.

Invited by the Canadian High Commission, Alec is leading a series of workshops and consultative sessions with Pakistani government officials and community planners.

These workshops, organised in collaboration with the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department, Government of Punjab, and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), aimed to support those working with local communities and minorities in the region.

The focus is on comprehensive community planning and inclusive consultation models to advance the rights, perspectives, and prosperity of these communities. Community members and leaders also participated in the training sessions.

Elaine Alec, an expert in community engagement and strategic planning from the Syilx (Okanagan) and Secwepemc (Shuswap) nations in British Columbia, Canada, shared Indigenous planning practices, the history of comprehensive community planning and development, and teachings from the Cultivating Safe Spaces (CSS) framework. This initiative is designed to foster inclusive and respectful environments crucial for effective planning and governance. Alec also reflected on Canada’s indigenous history and culture, discussing how meaningful reconciliation can be supported at individual, community, and government levels.

Globally, Canada is working to advance reconciliation and renew relationships with indigenous peoples based on rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership.

This involves listening to, learning from, and working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, as well as local communities worldwide, to address the unique challenges that communities face.

The workshop in Pakistan, implemented with the Canadian indigenous leader and local partners, reflects Canada’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights, including the rights of women, girls, and minorities in Pakistan.

"Canada is built on the ancestral lands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and has much to share from our ongoing experiences on our path to truth and reconciliation with our Indigenous communities. We in Canada are listening, learning, and advancing reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous leaders like Elaine Alec.

As our reconciliation journey continues in Canada, there are many lessons that we want to share with Pakistan. The workshop with Elaine Alec was delivered keeping in mind the unique experiences of Pakistan’s diverse local communities, so that together, we can learn from each other and support communities to be safe, healthy, and prosperous," said H.E. Leslie Scanlon, High Commissioner of Canada.

Elaine Alec expressed her gratitude, stating, "The invitation to Pakistan is humbling and a testament to the universal relevance of cultivating safe spaces and indigenous knowledge for planning, governance, and decision-making.

This invitation also marks a significant step for Canada in recognizing the importance of Indigenous voices at the international level, particularly in foreign affairs, as it brings an Indigenous advocate to discuss the realities of Indigenous peoples to a global audience in Pakistan.

By sharing these teachings, we aim to empower individuals and organizations to embrace inclusivity, healing, and emotional well-being to support community-driven planning for minorities."

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minorities Affairs, Government of Punjab, highlighted Pakistan’s diversity and commitment to reconciliation.

"Pakistan is a land rich in religious, cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity, where minorities make invaluable contributions to nation-building, peace, and prosperity. Punjab, the most populated province of Pakistan, is the origin of some indigenous communities and religions.

Sikhism originated in Punjab, and there are historic traces of Buddhism along the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains.

"Pakistan is striving for reconciliation, interfaith harmony, and a ‘Safe Punjab’ for minorities. The appointment of a Sikh Minister for Minority Affairs in Punjab is a testament to our commitment to reconciliation and equal citizenship for minorities in the province.

"Our engagement with the Canadian High Commissioner, H.E. Leslie Scanlon, has been a profound experience of friendship and mutual understanding of common challenges and opportunities. The Department of Human Rights & Minority Affairs valued the opportunity to share our strategic planning process with Ms. Elaine, and we greatly benefited from learning how to expand our engagement with communities and include their perspectives in sustainable plans for the province. Cultivating safe spaces is a theme that should be embraced at both the community and government levels in Punjab, and we look forward to continued guidance from experts like Ms. Alec," Arora concluded.

This initiative underscores Canada’s broader efforts to support human rights and inclusivity globally, emphasising the importance of collaborative learning and sharing best practices to enhance community planning and development.