Council considers Indigenous land acknowledgement

Clearview council has agreed to schedule an education session and discussion on a proposed land acknowledgement.
At council’s Monday meeting, Cayla Reimer, donning an orange T-shirt in support of education and awareness about the destructive impact Canada’s residential school system has had on Indigenous populations, presented a report that contained a proposed land acknowledgement: “I would like to begin our meeting/event/gathering by recognizing the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada as traditional stewards and caretakers of the land. We acknowledge that Clearview Township is located within the boundaries of Treaty 18, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Tionontati, Wendat, and is the home of many First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples as part of an intricate nationhood that reaches across Turtle Island. At this time of truth and reconciliation, we welcome the opportunity to work together towards new understandings and new relationships and ask for guidance in all we do.”
Staff has been in contact with area Native friendship centres, Métis councils and post secondary institutions to seek assistance in developing and delivering an educational workshop to council.
In her presentation to council, Reimer quoted the summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada saying, “Too many Canadians know little or nothing about the deep historical roots of these conflicts. This lack of historical knowledge has serious consequences for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and for Canada as a whole. In government circles, it makes for poor public policy decisions. In the public realm, it reinforces racist attitudes and fuels civic distrust between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians. Too many Canadians still do not know the history of Aboriginal peoples’ contributions to Canada, or understand that by virtue of the historical and modern Treaties negotiated by our government, we are all Treaty people. History plays an important role in reconciliation; to build for the future, Canadians must look to, and learn from, the past.”
She pointed out that five of the commission’s calls to action directed at municipal governments including a call to governments to provide education and training 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.”
Another action calls upon governments “to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.”
The vote to proceed with the workshop passed unanimously. Staff is hoping to schedule an online session in October.