Peter Baker (Canadian politician)

Peter Baker (1887–1973), born Bedouin Ferran, also known as Ahmad Ali Ferran[1] and Faron Ahmed upon death, was a Lebanese-born Canadian trader, politician, and author.[2] As the first Muslim elected to public office in Canada, he played a fundamental role in the history of Islam in the Arctic and Subarctic regions.

Early life

Baker was born in 1887 as Bedouin Ferran or as Ahmad Ali Ferran[1] on the territory of Levant, which is now Lebanon.[2]

At the turn of the century, he emigrated to Canada from the Turkish (Ottoman) conscription for young Arabs whom Turkey made to fight against the Yemenis.[1]

Ferran worked at a Holy Cross College as a labourer, and in 1909, was given his anglicised name by the college's Catholic priest. Thereonafter, he moved to the province of Alberta.[2]

Canada

In 1910s, Baker began work as a trapper[3] and trader of northern fur and essentials with Canadian First Nations, establishing with his native trading partners novel and adaptive ways of both trade and credit.[4]

After his trade ended, Baker entered politics, and was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for the period of 1964–1967.[5] He was one of the earliest Muslim politicians in Canada.[6]

Baker's funeral took place on 13 November 1973 in Al-Rashid Mosque in Edmonton, Alberta. Notably, Baker was identified in the 17 November 1973 press of Edmonton Journal's Deaths and Notices section as "Faron Ahmed, 62".[2]

Baker authored a book, Memoirs of an Arctic Arab, published posthumously in 1976.

References
  1. Waugh, Earle (March–June 2010). Re-Imagining Purposive Journeys: Rihla in Canadian–Middle Eastern Immigrant Writing (PDF download). Canadian Review of Comparative Literature. Canadian Comparative Literature Association / University of Alberta. p. 74 (PDF:5). Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  2. Kassam, Karim-Aly S. Muslim Presence in Alberta: Contribution and Challenges (PDF). pp. 187 (book) / p. 5 (PDF), 195 (b) / 13 (PDF). Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  3. Okpik, Abraham (2005). Louis McComber (ed.). We Call It Survival: The Life Story of Abraham Okpik (PDF). Life Stories of Northern Leaders. 1. Nunavut Arctic College. p. 97. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  4. Colpitts, George (2013). "Itinerant Jewish and Arabic Trading in the Dene's North, 1916-1930". Vol. 24 no. 1. Journal of the Canadian Historical Association / Revue de la Société historique du Canada. pp. 163–213. Retrieved 2017-02-12. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. Morrow, John Andrew (2016). Restoring the Balance: Using the Qur'an and the Sunnah to Guide a Return to the Prophet's Islam. p. 59. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  6. Liepert, David (2010-12-01). "The Imaginary Divide". Vol. 13 no. 10. Canada: Albertaviews. Retrieved 2017-02-12. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
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