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I acknowledge the original ancestral people who have taken care of this land known as Turtle Island since time began. It is believed that Niagara is a derivative of the Iroquoian word, “Onguiaahra”, which was anglicized by missionaries. The name appears on maps as early as 1641. The generally accepted meaning is, “The Strait”. Some think this name was derived from the narrow waterway that flows north from Lakes Erie to Lake Ontario. This name reflects the way the land is deeply connected to the waters that have refreshed and nourished countless generations.
I humbly acknowledge that I am an uninvited guest on this Indigenous land. I honour those who have passed and those who are still here. I honour their presence and resilience.
Here in Niagara, the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples lived in harmony and respect with these lands until the arrival of the colonial powers created disruption.
I humbly acknowledge the enduring presence, contributions and sovereignty of diverse Indigenous nations across this country. I deeply value the wisdom and knowledge our indigenous neighbours hold and the way they prioritize the healthy relationships between people and the land in which they live.
The territory of Niagara is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Ojibwe and other allied nations that peaceably share and care for the resources surrounding the Great Lakes. The wampum uses the symbol of a dish to represent the territory, and one spoon to represent that the people are to share the resources of the land and to only take what they need.
The deep roots of Indigenous knowledge were severed leading to long lasting impacts on both the natural and human communities here in Niagara. This land acknowledgement seeks to confront the brutal history of colonization, and its ongoing impacts on Indigenous peoples. It’s a call to action for justice and deep reconciliation. It’s a call to replant and nurture what was uprooted. The story of this land is one of Indigenous stewardship violently disrupted by European colonization as the pressure for expansion grew.
A series of treaties displaced people from their land so that we could live here. I honour the many treaties made in Niagara and recognize that many treaties have not been honored to their original intent. These were not fair agreements between equals but tools of colonization designed to displace Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. Promises were made and not kept. Indigenous people were pushed off their lands and denied resources
The violence and colonization went far beyond land theft. The Canadian government and churches implemented the residential school system, which was a program of cultural genocide designed to kill the Indian in the child. The Canadian government forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families, prevented them from speaking their languages or practice their cultures, and subjected them to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. This system along with the 60’s scoop and ongoing child welfare practices has brought upon intergenerational trauma on Indigenous communities. The colonial projects sought to erase Indigenous identity, spirituality,and ways of life. Christian doctrine was forcibly imposed. Their impacts continue today. Indigenous people today face disproportionate rates of poverty, incarceration, and health issues. The crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls are a strong reminder of the ongoing violence and racism faced by Indigenous communities.
I recognize the harm and impact of colonialism, the destruction of the land, and the loss of language, culture and knowledge of all First Nations People and are grateful for their continued commitment to protecting the land and its resources and for working toward justice.
This land acknowledgement is a small but important step in the work of reconciliation.
Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on this land.