Going Further with the
Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. We also recognise the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples.Nous reconnaissons que nous sommes accueillis sur les terres des Mississaugas des Anishinabes, de la Confédération Haudenosaunee et des Wendats. Nous voulons également reconnaître la pérennité de la présence des Premières Nations, des Métis et des Inuits.

Today, wherever we are in Ontario, we are on traditional indigenous territories.We thank indigenous peoples for sharing the land with us.We recognize the role that colonialism has played to shape a societyand an education system that has oppressed indigenous people on this land,and in our school system.The settlers among us recognize that oursettler ancestors committed genocide against indigenous people.We also recognize that the school system welead is a reflection of that colonialism and genocide.In the spirit of truth and reconciliation.we gather on these traditional indigenous territoriesand recommit to transform our education systemto decolonize our practices and minds and to honor indigenous histories,culture and perspectives todayand every day in our systems, schools and classrooms.*This is a student from Agnes MacPhail who is an academic braille reader, accessing all course materials in contracted Unified English Braille.

Excerpt from Indigenous Ingenuity: The Hiawatha Belt is extremely old. This belt was created at the beginning of our confederacy of peace. We do not know when this belt created, but we know we have had this belt long before the French, Dutch and English explorers made their way to our lands.When the peace was made between the 5 nations, the Peacemaker told us to think of us all living together under one longhouse. Just like a longhouse, every nation will have their own council fire to govern their people.  But they will govern their people under one common law, one heart, and one mind.  The Peacemaker changed 50 evil thinking men to good thinking men (Hoyane/Chiefs) to lead the path towards peace for the people.  The Peacemaker also gave the power to the women (Clan Mothers) to replace and remove the leaders.  The Hiawatha belt is comprised of 5 symbols joined together and when reading the nations of the belts, we follow the path of the sun, starting in the East.The first nation on the belt and the first nation to accept the peace is the Mohawk, our Eastern Doorkeeper of our common longhouse. Any nation willing to enter the lands of the Haudenosaunee from the east must seek permission from the Mohawks first.  There are 9 Hoyane (Chiefs) sitting in the Mohawk Council.The next symbol represents the council fire of the Oneida, the People of the Standing Stone. There are 9 Hoyane (Chiefs) sitting in the Oneida Council.The third symbol (the tree) represents Onondaga. Here the Peacemaker uprooted the tallest white pine, the Tree of Peace, which leaders buried their weapons of hate, jealousy, and war beneath it (they buried the hatchet). Since Onondaga lies in the middle of the peace, the Peacemaker also titled them the Firekeepers of the Haudenosaunee. The Onondaga are entrusted to keep the council fire to continue burning for the confederacy to come and meet. This often referred to as the fire that never dies. There are 14 Hoyane (Chiefs) sitting in the Onondaga Council.The fourth symbol is that of the council fire of the Cayuga, the People of the Swamp. There are 10 Hoyane (Chiefs) sitting in the Cayuga Council.The fifth symbol belongs to the council fire of the Seneca, the People of the Great Hill. The Seneca Nation is the Western Doorkeeper of our common longhouse. Like the Mohawks, if anyone wishes to enter the territory of the Haudenosaunee from the west, they must seek permission from the Seneca first. There are 8 Hoyane (Chiefs) sitting in the Seneca Council.Together all five symbols unite to make the Hiawatha Belt.  When there is a Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee, the Hiawatha Belt is present to remind the leaders to maintain the peace and to make decisions for only to today, but the future Haudenosaunee citizens yet unborn.

Treaty & Agreements:Here are some websites to explore positioning and identifying Indigenous Nations, Territories, and Communities across Canada:Native LandWhose LandMap of Ontario Treaties and ReservesThe Toronto Purchase Booklet