BurlingtonGreen respectfully acknowledges that our work with the community takes place within the bounds of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, as well as the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is covered by Treaty 14 – the Head of the Lake Treaty. We honour all the First Nation, Métis and Inuit people who have been living on the land since time immemorial and we recognize their leadership in sustaining Mother Earth. We have the responsibility to honour and respect the four directions, land, waters, plants, animals, and all the wonderful elements of creation that exist.
BurlingtonGreen has much to learn from Indigenous Peoples and we encourage everyone to continually learn from and about the Indigenous community where you live, and how we can each meaningfully honour the calls to action for Truth and Reconciliation.
BurlingtonGreen also acknowledges the Urban Indigenous Action Plan. This is a plan co-developed and co-designed by Provincial Indigenous organizations and the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. The process was informed by the voices of urban Indigenous communities and service providers across the province. This is a helpful resource that provides information about how to engage Urban Indigenous People in your plans.
The National day for Truth and Reconciliation serves as an opportunity to reflect on the “multigenerational and intergenerational trauma and marginalization in the form of poverty, insecure housing or homelessness and barriers to education, employment, health care, and cultural support” that Indigenous Peoples continue to face today. (Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, 2019)
We recognize that this is a process that should not be reserved for a single day of the year, but it is something we should actively pursue every day.
Having the opportunity to increase awareness of the residential school experience was one of the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, which was published in 2015. Following the passing of Bill C-5 in June, 2021, both Burlington and Halton have unanimously declared September 30th as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Burlington has a rich history of many First Nations and the Métis peoples, and today the community is encouraged to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families and to remember and honour those lost while committing to the ongoing process of reconciliation.
We invite you to explore the following resources to learn more:
- Visit and connect with Grandmother’s Voice, an organization that is part of the Indigenous Health Network and is recognized as an Indigenous Led organization with respectable sources of content for anyone looking to connect to the community Nationally.
- Read more on the “Land Back” movement.
- Sign up for the Indigenous Canada online course. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.
- Read the Indigenous Community and History in Burlington and see the steps the city of Burlington is taking to honour and support Indigenous residents in our community.
- Read the Paths to Reconciliation document which outlines the reasons a collective of Urban Indigenous People of Halton began to create the space and programs lacking in our communities.
- Use this map tool to find out if you live near a residential school and hear from some of the school’s survivors.
- Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report and Calls to action.
- Visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website to stay up to date with the latest news, educational material and more.
- View Halton’s response and actions to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities.
- Visit the Burlington Library website for information on Orange Shirt Day.
- Find out whose traditional territories you are on with this interactive map.
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