We Acknowledge
We benefit from the wrongs of the settlers who unjustly and brutally took this land for their own.
But acknowledging those wrongs isn’t enough. We must learn from them, and we must take action.
We acknowledge that this is sacred land upon which we are privileged to live and work.
We recognize the deep connection and the long-standing relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land of Southwest Ontario and of London.
By the year 1600, approximately 2,000 First Nations people lived in 30-40 long houses in the village of Kotequongong near the Thames River - long before European settlement and the renaming to London.
We acknowledge that, as well as the use of treaties - not always fairly - some land was stolen outright and that many Indigenous people were killed, intentionally or unintentionally, due to to the arrival of European settlers. First Nations cultures, languages and traditions were also decimated thanks to these new settlers.
Most recently, this land in the area we call London is the territory of the Chippewa of the Thames, the Oneida of the Thames, and the Muncey Delaware Nation. There are 11 First Nations communities in the region of Southwest Ontario, and over 120 in the Province as a whole.
Today, this land is still home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island.
This land has supported human beings for at least the past 10,000 years.
This land is the traditional territory of:
the Anishinaabeg (which includes the Ojibwe or Chippewa Nation)
the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois, which includes the Oneida Nation)
the Lenape (also known as the Delaware)
the Attawandaron (also known as the Neutral)
and the Wendat (also known as the Huron) peoples
We are deeply grateful to have the opportunity to be in this place.
We acknowledge that this is just the beginning of a process and we commit to a continued journey of listening, learning and building relationships.
Why Reconciliation?
“As recent events in Indigenous communities have dominated the news, I’m struck by the fact that there is pain, there is misery, but despite these, there is tremendous resilience and a desire to find a common future that leads to a good life for all. There is a future to be found, but it is not found in guilt. Guilt means feeling bad – it means feeling bad in the place that you find yourself. Rather, the future can only be found if reconciliation is conceived as a process of hope.”
Read more from Karine at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights website.
What can we do?
Take one small step forward. Then take another.
As part of Canada’s 150 Anniversary, Active History put together a great list of steps that all Canadians can take as small steps towards reconciliation.
“There have been robust discussions this year around reconciliation and we would like to contribute to the conversation. Together, we have written 150 Acts of Reconciliation for the last 150 days of 2017. Many of these are small, everyday acts that average Canadians can undertake, but others are more provocative that encourage people to think about Indigenous-settler relationships in new ways.”
The Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network has a prepared a fantastic Indigenous Ally Toolkit available for download. We highly recommend giving it a read.
Heed the Call to Action
“Sitting in corners wringing hands and wondering what to do is not going to advance anything, including yourself. Read the calls to action, and as you go through them one at a time ask yourself: do I belong in this call?”
Indigenous Peoples in the Community
The Indigenous community in London is vibrant and diverse, with many organizations working to support the reclamation of culture, health and well-being, building community, reducing barriers to employment and much more. Here are just a few of the organizations working in London and area.
Reconciliation and Government
Please click the logos below to learn more about the steps being taken federally, provincially and municipally.
With Our Thanks
The text of this acknowledgement is based on the work of Amanda Kennedy of the Yotuni Social Enterprise / Kuwahs^naha:wi Enterprises and Heenal Rajani of Reimagine Co and is shared here with their generous permission.
Image Credits
Thames River by Ryan Hodnett [CC BY-SA 4.0]
Newfoundland coast by Felix Dilly.
Lake in mist by Alain Audet.
First Nations boat house by Aurore Duwez.
Moose in Rockies by HDSI Design.
Tofino beach by Robert Nathan Garlington.
