We will begin this course by acknowledging that we are meeting on aboriginal land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning.
As settlers, we’re grateful for the opportunity to meet here and 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 – the traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Ojibway/Chippewa and Haudenosaunee peoples.
We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We also recognize the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and our province and country as a whole.
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 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.