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Land Acknowledgement |
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The Muslim Students’ Association at the University of Toronto acknowledges that our office and student club operate on the sacred territorial land of the Nishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee people. This land has been a site of human activity for 15,000 years. It is the territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. The territory was the subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy and Confederacy of the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. Today, the meeting place of Toronto is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and gather in the community, on this territory.
The legacy of this meeting place should inform our course, especially how we think about anti-oppression and allyship. We want to honour this land’s original peoples and we invite others to also think about the past and present-day realities of these communities and to holistically question colonial practices that disrupt connections to families, homes, and the Earth. As Muslims residing on this land, we need to acknowledge that we continuously benefit from the colonial injustices. It is our duty as Muslims to learn, address ongoing injustices, and stand in solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized. Allah says, “O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Quran 5:8) Furthermore, recognizing the colonial history this University is built upon, it is vital for different communities in this space to centre ideas of responsibility, reciprocity, and resilience in our work and be accountable to the treaty relationships we are bound to. |
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Condensed History |
Founded in 1965, the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) at U of T was the first MSA to be established in Canada, and has since grown to be U of T’s largest student club with a membership of over 1,500 students, faculty, and staff. The purpose of the MSA is to serve and represent the needs of Muslims on and off campus. What started as a club to facilitate prayer for some 20 students has now grown to a club that is at the forefront of social justice, community service, faith practices, academic support and campus social life.
Throughout this period, the Muslim Students’ Association has been part of many historic initiatives, such as the inclusion of women in Hart House, the hosting of the Mayor of Sarajevo during the midst of the Bosnian War, and the establishment of national Muslim organizations that now serve as a representative for Muslims in the western hemisphere. Guided by three virtues – Service, Fellowship, and Excellence – the MSA strives to be a vibrant, integrated and contributing member of the campus and the Toronto community.
Throughout this period, the Muslim Students’ Association has been part of many historic initiatives, such as the inclusion of women in Hart House, the hosting of the Mayor of Sarajevo during the midst of the Bosnian War, and the establishment of national Muslim organizations that now serve as a representative for Muslims in the western hemisphere. Guided by three virtues – Service, Fellowship, and Excellence – the MSA strives to be a vibrant, integrated and contributing member of the campus and the Toronto community.
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