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“We acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples."
On Sunday, May 29, the remains of 215 children were discovered in Kamloops, British Columbia; Kamloops is one of the over 130 residential schools that used to be operating in Canada. Before the discovery, the total number of deaths originally accounted for at this residential school was 50. Now we know this is false. Unfortunately, this was not the last of the tragic discoveries to be determined. By August 1, 2021, approximately 4,120 people were estimated to have died in the Canadian residential school system between 1831 and 1996. However, the number is suspected to be much larger than predicted. Therefore, we do not only mourn for the deceased, but we also grieve with those who are still here today, recovering from the intergenerational trauma they have experienced. To find out more information and currents news on this tragic incident, visit the latest CBC article here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bodies-kamloops-residential-school-not-isolated-incident-leaders-warn-1.6046394
In light of recent events, more attention has been brought to the awareness of the realities of the residential school system. Therefore, it is essential to learn about the land we are on and the people who discovered it.
In Toronto, our land is part of the Toronto Purchase Treaty. More details about this can be found below and on the Mississaugas New Credit website.
Toronto is located on several nations' traditional territories, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It is covered under Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
This website highlights the different areas and their accompanying treaties. In addition, you can use the map function to locate any area and find their accompanying treaties. https://native-land.ca/
To learn more about the Haudenosaunee peoples, visit the Haudenosaunee Confederacy here: https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com/who-we-are/
To learn more about the Anishinaabe and their history, visit the Anishinaabe Nation here: https://www.anishinabek.ca/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/
To learn more about the Wendat peoples, visit the Canadian History website here: https://canadianhistoryworkshop.wordpress.com/indigenous-people-encounter-europeans/wendat
In light of the tragic events that have recently come to light, the On Canada Project set out to create a digital resource with more information about Canada’s dark colonialist past and the actions needed to correct our country’s wrongdoing. It can be found below: https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeaction
Works cited:
CBC, Canada. “Pride Toronto Apologizes for Land Acknowledgement That 'Failed to Recognize' Indigenous People | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 25 June 2019, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pride-toronto-indigenous-land-acknowledgement-1.5188127.
On, Canada. “Settlers Take Action.” The On Canada Project, 30 May 2021, www.oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeaction.
Wilfrid, Jury. “Wendat.” Canadian History Workshop, 26 Sept. 2013, www.canadianhistoryworkshop.wordpress.com/indigenous-people-encounter-europeans/wendat/.
Article by: Anastasia Dimas
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