Whereas a stand-alone land acknowledgment without meaningful action is not the ideal situation; and
Whereas the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #57 states:
We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism; and
Whereas the City of Richmond Hill created a course, The PATH - Your Journey through Indigenous Canada, available for employees of Richmond Hill through Richmond Hill University to provide education and training on the history of Aboriginal peoples ; and
Whereas through the above action, the City of Richmond Hill has taken concrete action to implement call to action #57, one of the few calls to action that provide a specific direction to municipal governments; and
Whereas a Land Acknowledgement would reinforce the aforementioned action in a strong show of support to our Indigenous community; and
Whereas the Indigenous Action Committee of Richmond Hill developed a Land Acknowledgement which embodies the goals and wishes of the Richmond Hill Indigenous Community;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved:
That the following Land Acknowledgement be added to the opening of all future Richmond Hill Council Meetings:
The land that we meet on today is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, the Huron Wendat, and is currently home to many diverse and displaced First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
We would like to recognize, acknowledge and thank the people of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Beausoleil First Nation, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, the Mississaugas of the Credit and many others who have cared for the land for thousands of years before us.
We are committed to ongoing learning, and we strive to move forward with good hearts and minds and are committed to doing so with gratitude and respect for the past, present and future caretakers of this land.