Bridging Indigenous and Newcomer Communities

The Importance of the Surrey First Peoples Guide for Newcomers

In 2021, the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) launched the Surrey First Peoples Guide for Newcomers (SFPGN). This guide is more than just a document—it’s an invitation for newcomers to Surrey to connect deeply with the history, culture, and ongoing realities of Indigenous Peoples, specifically the unceded territories the SEMYOME (Semiahmoo), qicəy (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), qʷɑ:nƛ̓ən (Kwantlen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam) and scəwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nations. Its goal is to create stronger, more meaningful relationships between Indigenous communities and newcomers, fostering mutual respect and understanding.

Why This Guide Matters for the Surrey LIP

The creation of the SFPGN answers a call from Indigenous communities for resources that reflect the true history of colonization in Canada —acknowledging the past and building bridges toward a more just and inclusive future. For newcomers, it provides crucial context to understand the land they now call home, helping them navigate their new lives with an awareness of the rich Indigenous heritage that exists here. By deepening this knowledge, newcomers can support Truth and Reconciliation efforts, becoming allies in a shared journey towards healing and belonging.

Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Guide

The Surrey First Peoples Guide for Newcomers was crafted with great care and input from local Indigenous leaders and knowledge keepers. The guide was created by Jeska Slater, a Nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) with extensive experience working in Indigenous communities, particularly in urban and land-based settings. Jeska ensured that the guide was rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, learning, and being.

Key Indigenous leaders from the land-based First Nations in Surrey also contributed to the guide, including Chief Harley Chappell from the Semiahmoo First Nation, Chief Marilyn Gabriel from the Kwantlen First Nation, and Michael Kelly Gabriel, Youth Cultural Ambassador from the Kwantlen First Nation. These leaders shared their traditional protocols and histories to develop a guide that authentically reflects the cultures and experiences of Surrey’s Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous writers and editors, including Crystal Smith, Naomi Kennedy, and Liam Grigg, played a crucial role in shaping the guide’s narrative. Their contributions made certain that the guide’s content was not only culturally appropriate and respectful, but also engaging for both Indigenous and newcomer audiences.

The guide was designed by Nahanee Creative, an Indigenous-led firm; the visual representation of the guide mirrors the beauty and significance of local Indigenous cultures. The project was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a demonstration of the value the department puts to amplifying the Indigenous voice and increasing the understanding of our newest residents of our First Nations and the true history of Canada.

Awards and Recognition

The Surrey First Peoples Guide for Newcomers has received significant recognition for its contributions to reconciliation and community building. In 2022, Surrey LIP was honored with the British Columbia Reconciliation Award by the BC Achievement Foundation. This award recognizes individuals and organizations demonstrating leadership and commitment to furthering the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

This recognition reflects the guide’s impact in raising awareness of Indigenous histories and promoting respectful relationships between Indigenous peoples and newcomers. It serves as an example of how settlement initiatives can actively contribute to reconciliation.

The Guide’s Impact

The Surrey First Peoples Guide for Newcomers has filled a critical gap in settlement resources. Its broad adoption by local organizations, including settlement services, the Surrey School District, Surrey Libraries, and other community groups, reflects its importance. Inspired by the guide’s success, the Surrey LIP has now prioritized “Learning and Embedding Indigenous Perspectives” in its 2024–2029 Community Plan. This commitment focuses on cultivating meaningful partnerships with Indigenous groups and embedding Indigenous knowledge into all facets of the Surrey LIP’s work.

What’s Next?

Neelam Sahota, CEO of DIVERSEcity and Chair of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership, emphasizes the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives into policymaking and community engagement:

“I believe that integrating Indigenous perspectives and considerations into our policies, procedures, and decision-making processes is essential for ensuring inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. This commitment reflects our dedication to honoring the diverse histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples in Surrey. A concrete example of this is our recent Stories from the Land event, which highlighted and shares Indigenous stories and perspectives from Surrey’s Land-Based First Nations. This event provided Surrey LIP partners and community members with valuable insights into Indigenous protocols, cultural practices, and histories. We look forward to hosting more accessible, community events like this moving forward, ensuring that we continue to deepen our understanding and respect for Indigenous perspectives in all our work.”

A Catalyst for Meaningful Conversations

Diana Ospina, Senior Manager, Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement at DIVERSEcity, shares her vision for the guide. She hopes the guide will be instrumental in supporting Surrey’s residents in “their journey of learning and unlearning while fostering awareness of the uncomfortable truths of Canada’s colonial history. I hope the SFPGN will be a catalyst for meaningful conversations, the creation of genuine relationships, and the positioning of newcomers as allies in supporting Indigenous communities.”

Accessing the Surrey’s First Peoples Guide for Newcomers

Developed by the Surrey LIP, the guide is available on its website in 10 languages: both of Canada’s official languages—English and French—and eight additional languages making it accessible to a wide audience and promoting inclusivity across the Surrey’s diverse population. To read the guide in your language, go the Surrey LIP website and click “Bridging Indigenous and Newcomer Communities” under our “Projects” page”. By accessing this guide, you’re taking an important step toward building your understanding and a more inclusive Surrey.

View the Surrey First Peoples Guide for Newcomers