Wahida C. Valiante

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Wahida C. Valiante has been and continues to be a leader among North American Muslim women^[1] in social justice advocacy, human rights, anti-racism, inter-faith relations, and in research on community health, Islamic culture and roles of political advocacy. She has been instrumental in connecting Muslims and non-Muslims through events like Islamic History Month Canada^[2] held annually since 2007^[3] (by decree of Canadian parliament).

Wahida has also been involved in various community-based advocacy projects including testimonies before parliamentary committees, House of Lords' committees, and human rights cases.^[4]^[5]

As one of this country’s most proactive Muslim women, she is a frequent guest speaker, panelist, consultant, or interviewee on a variety of political, social and international issues, firmly establishing herself as one of Canada’s leading Muslim woman thinkers and one of Islam’s important Western voices. For her work, she has received awards and international recognition.^[6]

Wahida is particularly admired for her strong, positive voice on behalf of Muslims, whether in speech, writing, or action. Her passions for grassroots social justice, accurate research, and “trickle up” solutions to local and global problems motivate others to emulate her affirmative strategies. She has been a transformative agent for issues historically tainted by confrontation.

Wahida is also a leader who is capable of responding to the challenges of the time, place and people without violating the policies and secular nature of the institution and without altering or distorting the basic Religious Principles.^[7]

For the fourth year in a row, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013/2014 Wahida has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious publication “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World,”edited by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin, Islamic Studies scholars at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Among the core criteria for inclusion in the 500 is that each of “These women have been trailblazer as their respective fields, often as the first woman to have influence in breaking social boundaries through her efforts. In addition the “individual be both a model citizen of his or her country and of the “Ummah,” the worldwide Muslim community comprising more than 1.6 billion followers of Islam^[8]

In 2012, she was named in the "100 Extraordinary Muslim Women Past and Present" by Women Islamic Initiative in Spirituality ad Equality (WISE Muslim Women).^[9]

Through writing, administration, and personal contact, Wahida has positively influenced thousands Canada’s estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 Muslims. She has touched thousands more through her international commitments in support of global peace, understanding and justice issues.

As former U.S. Congressman Paul Findley affirmed: “Her wise and persistent leadership on behalf of dignity and decency for people of all faiths has lifted the spirits and hopes of untold thousands of Canadians and people beyond. These endeavors are especially effective on behalf of the Muslims who struggle under unwarranted but often fierce passions against Islam. We need more Wahidas.”^[10]

Biography

Early life

Wahida Chishti Valiante (née Chishti), the youngest of four children, was born in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, formerly part of Kashmir before the 1947 Partition. She is a direct descendant of Moinuddin Chishti.

She was just a child when Pakistan and India underwent their tumultuous partition in 1948. A couple of years later she arrived in London, England as an orphan – her father having fallen while hunting in Kashmir’s mountains years earlier and her mother having only recently died of a burst brain aneurysm. With her two older sisters and brother she lived in England for another 11 years. There she attended the Royal Polytechnic to study A levels. In 1961 she arrived in Canada and began studying towards a degree in Chartered Accountancy at Concordia University (formerly known as St. George University). In 1963 she married an Italian immigrant (who was a Muslim Canadian) and raised two sons who now respectively contribute to the health and environmental well-being of the nation that has given them so much.

Her, father Qiam Ali Chishti was a public prosecutor in Jammu and Kashmir, and her mother Hydiat Sultana was a high school teacher. She was a scholar of Islam and fluent in Urdu, English and Arabic. Her mother introduced Wahida to social activism, human rights and anti-racism at a very early age that planted the seeds that later grew into her lifelong passion for social and human rights activism. Even as a child, Wahida enjoyed following her mother’s discussion of issues of poverty, health and gender inequality. It was this early exposure to social and human rights issues that helped set her course towards changing these inequalities. Since she lost her mother at a very young age it left a maternal void in her life.

Education

Wahida returned to university later while still balancing the many obligations of home and family, making University of Toronto Dean's List of Scholars in 1991. She holds a BA (Psychology), BSW (Honors)from York University and an MSW from the University of Toronto, as well as a diploma in Family Mediation. She is trained in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy;^[11] trauma, loss, grief and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders; and race relations leadership.

She received her Clinical and Counseling training from two Toronto hospitals, Doctors Hospital and Scarborough Grace Hospital, specializing in Psychosocial Assessment and Family Interventions from Multi-theoretical and Multi-Model approaches with Psychiatric Patients, Families and Groups. She has extensive experience in working with refugees from war torn countries: especially with women and children, who were victim of rape, trauma, and psychological violence.

Publications

Wahida is a published author on South Asian family, South Asian women, domestic violence and social work interventions. She has also published several papers on the methodology of providing culturally, racially and religiously appropriate social work intervention to families who have experienced domestic violence, child abuse, inter-generational conflict and sexual abuse.

In addition to her writings and speaking on domestic violence and family therapy, Wahida also writes and speaks on social justice, human rights, occupation and oppression, racism, child poverty and political issues that impact on the life and liberty of people.

Her recently published book attests to that passion. "A Mosaic of Thoughts"^[12] is the first anthology of her writings covering these very topics that are beyond the narrow spectrum of only addressing religion and families.

A list of some her publications can be found here:

Social work practice with South Asian Women: Issues, Concerns, and Problems, South Asian Symposium 199l: A Reader in South Asian Studies. University of Toronto Press 1992

Domestic violence in the South Asian family: Treatment and Research Issues, South Asian Symposium 1992: A Reader in South Asian Studies. University of Toronto Press 1993

Multi-Cultural and Multi-Racial Family Practice in the 90s, The Journal of Ontario Association of Professional Social Workers: Vol. 21, No.1. Spring 1994

Reflections on Ramadan, From Violence to Blessing: Novalis, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada, 2002.

Raising Children as the Citizens of the World, The Quest for Sanity: The Muslim Council of Britain, United Kingdom. September 2002

International Conflict and mediation, Religious and Multicultural Perspective: Novalis, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada, 2004

Academic Presentations

Wahida has made numerous presentations and training to academic institutions and professionals, both nationally and internationally, on the development of human personality and the role of religion and family.

She has also presented several major papers on contemporary theories of family therapy and towards the development of an alternative model of treatment based on the Qur'anic concept of human personality and human relationships. Wahida is a pioneer in the field of developing therapeutic interventions for treating family conflict and inter-generational issues, from an Islamic concept integrating both the contemporary and the Muslim traditions in psychotherapy.

For several years Wahida has been a regular television panelist helping to promote interfaith dialogue on ethical, moral and social issues from an Islamic perspective. She is regularly invited to speak at mosques, Islamic centers and Muslim conferences, as well as on television, radio, and for the print media.^[13]

Some of her presentations are listed below as follows:

Partnerships: A cross-cultural perspective. Presented at Family Service Conference, held in Nov. 1994, Halifax

Towards The Development of an Islamic Approach to Family Therapy. Presented at the 23rd annual conference of Association of International Muslim Social Scientist, held in Chicago, Nov 1995

Collaboration: A Social Development Approach to Community Development. Presented at the third national conference of multicultural health, held in Montreal, May 1995

Muslim Families at a Cross Road. Presented at the conference of the World Call Society, Trinidad, 1999

Strengthening Families from an Islamic Perspective. Presented at National Family Service Conference, held in Toronto, October 1997

Introduction to Islamic Concepts of Human Psyche and Muslim Tradition in Psychotherapy. Presented at the Orthopsychiatric Conference, held in Toronto, March 1997

Reflections on Muslim Families: The challenges and opportunities. Presented at the Sixth General Congress of the World Islamic Call society, Indonesia, 18-23 Sept 2000

The Qur'an, Gender and Social Work practice. Joint Conference of the International Federation of Social Workers and the International Association of School of Social Work, held in Montreal, July 29-August 2, 2000

Family Therapy and Muslim Families: A Solution Focused Approach. Presented at the Mediterranean Congress in association with World Psychiatric Association, the Italian Institute for Transcultural Mental health, the World Islamic Association for Mental Health (WIAMH), the Italian Society of Transcultural Psychiatry, Eastern Mediterranean Council for Mental Health in Narni (Terni), Italy 9–14 June 2003^[14]

Li-Tara’afu: to Know One Another. Presented at the second International Muslim Women’s conference, Trinidad, Dec.12th.2003

Muslim Women as a Minority in Canada: Changing the Status Quo. Presented at the International Symposium: Islam in Canada: 28–30 May 2004

Children: Our Most Valuable Resource, National Children's Alliance (NCA) Symposium, March 26, 2004, Kananaskis, Alberta

Towards the Development of an Islamic Approach to Family Therapy, X111 World Congress of Psychiatry, Cairo, September 10–15, 2005, Egypt
in 2010, she invited to speak by the Canadian Shia Muslims Organization (CASMO) on the event of the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima SA.
Description:Sister Wahida Valiante is the National President of Canadian Islamic Congress. The event was organized by Canadian Shia Muslims Organization (CASMO) to celebrate the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima SA.^[15]

Family Therapy and Canadian Muslim Families, Short Course for Imams, Community leaders and all those interested in working with Muslim families.” Canadian Islamic Congress, Toronto: 4th Sept 2005
On May 20, 2012, she presented 'Li Ta'arafu: To know each other' at the event Family of the Heart.^[16]
Participated in ISNA Canada's all Muslim women confenerence 'Reshaping the Future' in November 2012.^[17]

Awards

1999 Remarkable Woman Award – for outstanding contributions in the area of violence against women and children awarded by Rubena Willis Counselling Centre for Assaulted Women and Children

1999 Canada Day Muslim Achievement Award – in appreciation of initiatives for betterment of Muslims from the Association of Progressive Muslims of Ontario

2008 Community Award – awarded by the Federation of Muslim Women for selfless service to the Muslim Community in particular and the mainstream community in general

2011 Appreciation Award from the ambition for continuous support for this Newspaper in the cause of Allah – awarded by The Ambition

2012 Award for many years of dedicated and selfless service to the Muslim Community – by ICNA Sisters Canada

2012 Excellence in Equity Award – from CASSA in recognition of the outstanding contribution to Health Equity

2012 CASSA Health Equity Award^[18]^[19]

2013 Award for Educator of Distinction – from Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Mississauga Chapter

Invited Presentations

First OIC Observatory Report on Islamophobia', May 2007 to March 2008 ^[20]

Muslim Women as a Minority in the West: Challenges and Opportunities^[21]

Community

Wahida Valiante has demonstrated a long outstanding commitment on many levels to health, social and community issues. Since 1993, she initiated many health related counseling programs for women and children in addition to organizing a Social Club for Muslim Women in neighborhood high school gym in Thornhill, Ontario.

Wahida is a founding member and past president of the Ontario School of Islamic Studies in North York,^[22] which was that region's first Islamic school. She is also a cyber-counselor with Islam on Line and a long time member of the National Christian Muslim Liaison Committee.^[23]

She is a longtime political and social activist. Wahida sits on several organizational committees whose focus includes the alleviation of child poverty and implementation of social reform. She also maintains Hidayet Muslim Family and Child Centre private cross-cultural consulting, training and counseling practice in Toronto, Ontario.

Wahida is the past chairperson of the communications committee of Al-Shura, the Consultative Committee of Greater Toronto, and a past member of the South Asian Consultative Committee of Metro Police in Toronto. She is a past board member of Griffin Centre and the Coalition of Agencies serving South Asians; a founding member of the task force on Shirly Samaroo House for Battered Women; and past member of the advisory committee of the Barbra Schlifer Clinic for the training of Cultural Interpreters for victims of domestic violence.^[24]

Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)

Wahida Valiante is a founding member and former national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC). She has served CIC (a federally registered NGO) for thirteen years – ten as its vice-president and the last three as national president.

CIC was not yet a year old when the tragedy of 9/11 took place, and that pushed CIC into the role of serving as the voice of Canadian Muslims.

Islamic History Month Canada (IHMC)

After serving as founding national chair of Islamic History Month Canada since its inception in 2007, and being in the forefront of its genesis for years before that, Wahida Valiante stepping down in 2011.^[25]

The Islamic History Month Canada takes place in October every year since 2007.^[26]

Politics

Wahida Valiante is the only Muslim woman who has been so actively involved in Canadian politics. Here is a list of publications, involbements and media appearances over the years:

Wahida spoke in the Standing Committee on Finance in the Parliament of Canada in November, 1999.^[27]

In 2000, she wrote an article for the Globe and Mail on the situation in Israel and Palestine called 'Who are the victims here?'.^[28]

She wrote a position paper presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade by the Canadian Islamic Congress called 'Relations with Countries of the Muslim World' (May 6, 2003).^[29]

As the Vice President of the Canadian Islamic Congress, Wahida presented to the Constable Selection System Conference in 2007.^[30]

At the CASHRA 2008 National Human Rights (OHRC) Conference, 'Collective Strength: Commissions to communities and back', Wahida was one of the panelists arpund the discuiion about the roles of commissions and the media and implications for human rights. She joined Alan Borovoy (Canadian Civil Liberties Association), Mel Sufrin (Ontario Press Council), and Pearl Eliadia (Human rRights officer) in a lively debate on human rights protections and legal limits for freedom of expression alongside freedom from discrimination.^[5]

Wahida was selected to join Prime Minister Harper in fulfilling his 2011 election promise to open an office of religious freedom within the department of foreign affairs.^[31]

In 2012, Wahida was asked to speak on Rawal TV, hoseted by Urz Heer, to speak on a session called 'Canadian Politics and You'.^[32] She spoke alongside Asma Warsi.

In 2012, Wahida was interviewed in an article 'Politics: Taking careful aim', written by Yamina Tsalmlal to speak on the vulnerabilities of the ethnic vote.^[33]

She is also part of the Campaign Against Child Poverty (CACP). This is a national, non-partisan coalition of faith communities, social justice groups, business representatives, child advocacyorganizations, and other concerned citizens. This message was made possible through financial support from the faith leaders and organizations listed above, and Canadian Feed the Children.^[34]

Controversy

In a 2003 opinion piece for the CIC, The Slave Named Bilal: a Forgotten Page in the History of Islam, Valiante wrote:

Unfortunately, the Jewish idea of being "chosen" not only institutionalized racism, but also set a terrible precedent for human history in general, where racial superiority claims became the norm, the divisive standard by which all others, those not like us were to be judged and treated.^[35]

Rachael Turkienicz, a professor of Jewish studies and education and an officer of Canadian Jewish Congress’ Ontario region, wrote, in an open letter to Valiante, published on the CIC website, that:

This statement repeats one of the most classic and damaging canards about the Jewish religion... to assert that it is the Jews that are somehow responsible for having institutionalized racism in the world. To even say such a thing is to fundamentally misuse anti-racism education; indeed, it deploys a purportedly anti-racist message in the cause of its own prejudice.^[36]

Valiante replied to Turkienicz, apologizing for her interpretation of the term "chosen people", and stating that it was "inconsistent with its meaning in the scriptures of the Old Testament."^[36]^[37]

References

Persondata
Name	Valiante, Wahida C.
Alternative names	Chisti, Wahida
Short description	Social worker
Date of birth
Place of birth	Mirpur, Azad Kashmir
Date of death
Place of death

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