What is a Land Acknowledgement?
A Land Acknowledgement is a statement recognizing and respecting Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land.
Through the formal recognition of the land, settlers express gratitude and appreciation to the First Nation, Métis or Inuit whose land on which they reside. This is a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial and is an important step toward reconciliation.
Midland's Land Acknowledgement
Since time immemorial the area which is now the Town of Midland has been the homeland of the Huron-Wendat Nation and of the Anishinaabek people, who are now referred to in English as the Chippewa Tri-Council and comprised of Beausoleil First Nation, Rama First Nation, and the Georgina Island First Nation.
The land which the Town is situated is within a portion of pre-confederation Treaty #5, which was negotiated between the Crown of Britain and the Chiefs of Lakes Huron and Simcoe at the town of York on May 22, 1798. A small portion of Midland is situated within the territory of Treaty #16, signed between the Crown of Britain and the Chiefs of the Chippewas of Lakes Huron and Simcoe on November 18, 1815. These two pre-confederation treaties were also written into the Williams Treaties of 1923.
The land within Treaty #5 and #16, as well as all other Pre-confederation Treaties dealing with the Anishinaabe were obtained through conquest and several peace treaty agreements with the Haudenosaunee peoples, which had the Haudenosaunee people move back into upper New York State and at the mouth of the St. Lawrence in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, until other communities were created in Ontario after the American Revolutionary War. Treaties were made on a Nation to Nation basis between the Anishinaabek and the Haudenosaunee. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt and the Five Nations Wampum Belt speak upon the peace agreements between these two nations.
Prior to the wampum agreements of peace and friendship between the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee, the Huron-Wendat and the Petun Nations were present within the territory of what is now called Simcoe County.
Today, with their enduring presence, the Town of Midland acknowledges that these lands and this area remains the traditional territory of the Chippewa Tri-Council. The Anishinaabek people know these lands as their traditional harvesting grounds, and relate to them through oral history passed down for generations.
The Town of Midland also recognizes that it is the home to many citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario and to a large and diverse community of Indigenous peoples.
Using the Land Acknowledgement
The Town of Midland uses the land acknowledgement statement at the beginning of Council and public meetings, as well as at special events including flag raising and lowering events, celebrations, meetings with dignitaries and other significant community events or gatherings.
Territorial Land Acknowledgements
The Culture Alliance, a joint culture committee serving the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay and Tiny, and Beausoleil First Nation have developed a territorial land acknowledgement for the community to adopt and use as their own. It is currently available in English, French and Michif.
Resources
Learn more about local Indigenous territories and Truth and Reconciliation.
- Beausoleil First Nation
- Georgian Bay Metis Council
- Métis Nation of Ontario
- Ontario First Nations Maps and Treaties
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Girls and Women
Important Dates
May 5 - "Red Dress Day" is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People
June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The month of June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada