Land Acknowledgment

Thank you for being here. I acknowledge that the City of Hamilton, where I record this podcast is situated upon the traditional First Nations territories of the Erie, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas and the Chonodon of the so-called 'Neutral tribes'.

Hamilton is also directly adjacent to the Haldimand Treaty territory.

This land is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which extends between Montreal and Fort Erie. It was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe.

That Wampum uses the symbolism of a dish to represent the territory and one spoon to represent the people that are to share the resources of the land and only take what they need.

Hamilton is home to many Indigenous Peoples from across Turtle Island.

And this Land Acknowledgment is a small gesture to recognize the rich history of this land. And so that I can better understand my role as a settler, as well as neighbor, partner and caretaker. I stand in solidarity with all those that fight for justice on behalf of the murdered and missing indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ + , and two spirited people.

I grieve the generational trauma created by the residential school system and the 60's Scoop. I grieve the children and childhoods lost through ignorance and racism.

Miigwech. Thank you.