Land Acknowledgement 

 

When I returned to York University to earn my History Degree I was fortunate to enroll in several undergraduate courses in North American and Global Indigenous Studies. I do not consider myself an expert, but rather someone with greater awareness and enlightenment about First Nations Peoples. I am grateful for the opportunity to better understand the rich history of Indigenous peoples. It also immersed me in past, current and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples all over the world. Colonization has left a dark legacy of systemic issues undermining Indigenous efforts to retain their cultural identity. This is an ongoing struggle to this day.

 

First Nations peoples have continually been proud to be environmental stewards of the land. I acknowledge that throughout the world, all land was the traditional territories of the original, local Indigenous nations. It should be acknowledged. An example is where I live now in the Niagara Region of Ontario, not far from Toronto. The Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples are now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. I also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

 

I reached out to the Six Nations of the Grand River, which is very close to my home. I was most grateful for a representative named Peter Graham in returning my queries. His advice was most welcome. It is with great pleasure that I include the Six Nations of the Grand River/Haudenosaunee traditional and treaty territory as a local area acknowledgement. I would also like to acknowledge the Attawandaron/Neutrals, who inhabited the land for thousands of years before being absorbed into Six Nations.

 

- Steve H. McLellan

​