Residents walk to welcome refugees
Community responds to international crisis
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 10, 2015
INUVIK
Inuvik may be a far cry from what any of them are used to, but residents want the federal government to know that they support bringing refugees to Canada from the Middle East.
Katie Langille, left, and Shashi Gurung turned out with about 30 other people Sept. 6 in front of the Inuvik Post Office to spread the message that refugees are welcome in Canada in the wake of an international refugee and migrant crisis. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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About 30 people turned out for a demonstration in support of welcoming refugees from the international migrant crisis to Canada Sept. 6. Although some said the event was put together on short notice, it didn't dim the fervour of their convictions.
"We're asking the government to step up and uphold their promises," said organizer Sarah Reaburn.
"They said they would take in 10,000 refugees, particularly from Syria. Even in the North, everyone is talking about it. I know this community cares."
Although the migrant crisis in Europe has been going on for months, a photograph of a drowned toddler shocked North America last week and calls for action have been heard across the country.
"I thought that we could organize a small rally," she said.
"I work at the hospital, and I've been hearing over the last week patients and staff talking about it, asking what they could do."
Reaburn said she had heard about the Week of Action and other demonstrations taking place across the country and felt the need to act.
"This community has always been welcoming, and for the people here, there is a tradition of welcoming new people. We just want to ask the government to honour those traditions and to figure it out. It's their job."
Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses came out to show his support for the cause, saying that although the crisis is happening on the other side of the world, it affects everyone.
"Something devastating is happening world-wide, and we care," Moses said.
"Inuvik is one of the most diverse communities in the territory and has been very strong in its support of causes from local, to national, to international."
Moses also said that in his capacity as a territorial politician, he and his colleagues have been working on policies related to getting immigrants to the NWT to fill vacant jobs, if they cannot be filled locally.
"We want to be a role model," he said.
"We want to show the government that they need to step up."
