The term “Seenaa,” meaning “History,” serves as a poignant reminder that comprehending our origins is fundamental to shaping our future. It is through this understanding that we can honor the rich tapestry of experiences and lessons passed down through generations. By celebrating our past, we equip ourselves with the wisdom and resilience needed to navigate the challenges of today and tomorrow. TICO is committed to fostering this sense of historical awareness and cultural pride among our youth, ensuring they have a strong foundation upon which to build their future aspirations. Together, we can create a community that not only remembers where it came from but also confidently strides toward where it is destined to go.
TICO preserves and shares Oromo history, identity and traditional democratic values, such as the principles of the Gadaa system, through educational workshops, storytelling and cultural gatherings.
By anchoring our youth and community in their heritage, we cultivate pride, resilience and strong community roots.
The Native Tuulamaa Oromo have a rich tapestry of indigenous traditions, heritage, beliefs and history. This vibrant cultural landscape faced serious threats, particularly from northern Abyssinian settlers.
Before the 1800s, settlers began to encroach on Tuulamaa land. Their territorial expansion brought a systematic attempt to erase the indigenous culture of the Tuulamaa Oromo: traditional practices, beliefs and historical narratives were suppressed and replaced with foreign customs.
The pressure continued after the 1800s, further eroding indigenous traditions as an imposed culture overshadowed a heritage that had once flourished.
Yet the spirit of the Tuulamaa Oromo remained unbroken. They held on to their traditions and beliefs and passed them down through generations. Their history, though under threat, lived on in the hearts and minds of the people.
The Native Tuulamaa Oromo (NTO) community continues to experience displacement and ethnic violence, along with deteriorating public, educational, healthcare and social services. TICO documents these human rights concerns and calls for urgent intervention.
Our long-term community networking and empowerment project aims to unite the Native Tuulamaa Oromo through an institution that bridges political and religious divides, strengthening community ties through shared socio-cultural traditions and economic resources. It begins in Finfinnee and will extend across all four zones of Tuulamaa land.
The Tuulamaa Oromo are an ancient and resilient people, indigenous to the Horn of Africa, and historically the guardians of the Gadaa system, a UNESCO-recognized democratic socio-political system that guides community life from birth to death.
They are a branch of the wider Oromo nation, sharing a common language, culture, history and traditions rooted in the Gadaa civilization, while carrying their own distinct traditions and experiences of colonialism, segregation and displacement.
Through music and dance, the Tuulamaa Oromo tell the stories of their ancestors, celebrating victories and remembering hardships so every generation understands its roots. Their craftsmanship, from jewellery to textiles, carries symbols of their history, beliefs and land.
In Canada, our people are a vibrant and growing community: doctors, students, labourers and artists contributing to Canadian multiculturalism. TICO is the unifying thread for this diaspora, so that while we integrate and thrive in cities like Calgary, we never lose our deep sense of Oromummaa (Oromo identity): resilience, hospitality and commitment to justice.
Our story is forged from a powerful vision: safeguarding the unique identity of the Tuulamaa Oromo community and uplifting its welfare. From humble roots to significant milestones, our journey is a living testament to the strength and spirit of our people.
We foster an inclusive environment built on mutual respect, dignity and intergenerational connection, celebrating diversity while honouring the heritage, values and traditions of the Oromo people and all racialized communities we serve.
We teach our youth this ancient democratic system of governance and its principles of social justice, women’s rights and community responsibility.
Regular workshops on Afaan Oromoo and Tuulamaa history so our heritage thrives in multicultural Canada.
Indigenous celebrations and holidays, including Irreechaa Malkaa and Irreechaa Gooroo.
Goobee players honour the head of the household and bless family members, land, property and wellbeing.
A traditional ground-hockey championship for adult men, one of our best-loved cultural sports.
On Girls’ Day, Qaammee singers visit homes with fresh grass, bringing joy and blessings to families.
Afaan Oromoo is more than a means of communication: it carries our history, our wisdom and our values. For decades the language was suppressed in an attempt to erase Oromo identity. Today, we wear it as a badge of honour.
TICO creates environments where Afaan Oromoo flourishes alongside English. Bilingualism is a superpower: teaching children their mother tongue gives them the wisdom of their ancestors, and sharing it with our Canadian neighbours through song, poetry and dialogue enriches Calgary’s cultural landscape.
“Ummatni keenya Afaan, Aadaa, Safuu, Duudhaa fi Sirna Gadaa jabaa, Addunyaan har’a Dimokiraasii jedhee waamu, jaarraa hedduun dura kan itti bulaa turee fi bulchaa ture qaba.”
We also support Amharic, Kiswahili, and French speakers with English language training and translation.
Donate, volunteer your skills, or partner with us to build stronger, more inclusive communities in Calgary and abroad.
