Land acknowledgement

We wish to acknowledge that the OSRP operates on unceded aboriginal land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning. We thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years. Long before today, as we gather here, there have been aboriginal peoples who have been the stewards of this place. In particular, we acknowledge Tokaronto, the Meeting Place where the trees meet the water. We recognize the contributions of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous peoples, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and our province and country as a whole. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

As settlers, this recognition of the contributions and historic importance of Indigenous peoples must also be clearly and overtly connected to our collective commitment to make the promise and meet the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities and, in particular, to bring justice for murdered and missing indigenous women and girls across our country.