Jasper Park camping trip brings refugees together from around the world

As the sun set behind theRocky Mountains, thecampers abandoned volleyball and soccer games to gather around the campfire.

Accompanied byguitar and bongo drums, a blend of voices sang inFrench, Swahili, Arabic and English.

Silhouettedin fire light, the former refugees dancedin thetraditional styles of theirhome countries.

These 50peoplebegan their journeysto Jasper National Park this week from all points on the compass from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Liberia and South Sudan.

Most are newcomers to Canada, and most have never been camping before.

The annual trip, now in it's sixth year, is called Learning To Camp.

Many of the campers have lived in Edmonton for less than six months. The trip gave them a chance to meet people, practise English and to try out camping for the first time.

AlexisMbonyincungu, 26, fled the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda in 2011 and eventually ended up in Kenya. He lived through a conflict nicknamed "Africa's World War," which killedsix million and displaced two million over a five year span.

Canadian newcomer tries first campfire hot dog

8 years ago

Duration 0:30

Pharat Rajput, of Pakistan, tries a hot dog for the first time while attending camp for newcomers and refugees. Reviews of the camping staple were mixed.

"I didn't have the liberty to live, or the right to study to get ajob, because every time there was a war,"saidMbonyincungu. "They shoot people.People are dying in the street.Women, children and old men walking many kilometres with their food for fear of the war."

This week, the only intruder hecame across was a deer.Mbonyincunguhas been in Canada for five months, and this was his first time experiencing the Canadian outdoors.

"I was thinking sleeping in the forest would not be easy," he said. "But when I reached here, I felt comfortable."

Catholic Social Services selected the campers, and brought plenty of food. Camping equipment was suppliedfree of charge by Mountain Equipment Co-Op. The large, private campsite was provided by Parks Canada.

Making a campfire was new for many of the campers, as were traditional North American staples such ashotdogs. Many are Muslim, so halalhotdogswere provided.

PharatRajput, who came fromPakistan, asked what condiments were best to add, thentried a hot dog for the first time.

The campers were eager to learn about Canada. They wanted to experience the outdoors, and understand why Canadians actually want to spend their weekends sleepingin a tent, in a forest, where bears are known to roam.

IzdharGiabhadnever cooked on a propane camping stove before. After six years in Canada, she hadnever been camping. Originally from Iraq, she cooked a traditional Iraqi meal for more than 50 people at the campsite. The smells of Middle Eastern spices, stews and rice may not be common Canadian camping food, but at the camp those dishes disappeared quickly.

Cooking Iraqi food in the Rocky Mountains

8 years ago

Duration 1:26

Izdhar Giab cooks Iraqi food on propane camping stoves for a large group of refugees in Jasper . It's her first time camping in Canada after arriving 6 years ago.
For many, the singalong wasthe highlight of the trip. All were included and encouraged to take part, which seemed to mean lot to people who struggle every day to find a balance between adapting to Canadian culture and sharing their own.

Friendships were made among newcomers from different countries, people who facesimilar struggles while adapting to their new home in Canada.

FrankBessaiof Catholic Social Services led the excursion and explained the thinking behind it.

"It's really important for people who are resettling as refugees in our country," he said. "They find our country very strange, because we don't know who our neighbours are, what their names are, and what they do. In their cultures, everybody knows everybody on the street."

For most of the campers, sleeping in a tent in the middle of nowhere wasn't a tempting idea. But they warmed up to it.

"We have to lead them through an orientation process that explains why we choose to sleep outdoors in a tent, and how that's a recreational thing as opposed to something that is out of necessity," saidBessai.

Throw me a paddle: Newcomers take to water

8 years ago

Duration 1:00

A group of 50 refugees and newcomers to Canada try voyageur canoeing and standup paddle boarding on Lake Edith. Many of them can't swim, but overcame their nerves to give it a try.

The trip was also intendedhelp with post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of the campershave experienced violence and fear, or lived constantly on the run. One family from Syria lost a son. A man from Liberia spoke with a hushedvoice; his throat and lungs were damaged during a poison gas attack.

"This kind of experience really allows them to open up, to relax, to breathe and to feel safe in a beautiful natural environment," Bessai said. "They're a little afraid of the elk and the bears."

The campersshowed theircourage whenthey reached Lake Edith. Many couldn't swim. Where they came from, swimming wasn't taught as a recreational skill.Almost all put on life jackets before theyjumped into eight-person voyageur canoes. Some of the braver ones tried stand-uppaddle boarding.

JamilahKanakree andherhusband, and their two children, aged seven and 10, are refugees from Syria. In Damascus, they were caught in the middle of a civil war. They've only been in Canada five months. Kamakree said the trip gave them many new experiences.

"They (her children) want to try everything," she said. "Now they understand English and understand very well.I can now make a tent and can take it down, make a fire and chop wood."

She planned to bring her family again,now that they've learned new skills and gained an appreciation for camping.

Catholic Social Services will pair some of them up with host families to go camping in the future.