Beaver River Valley (Kimberley, Ontario) Land Statement and Acknowledgement
Beaver River Valley is a part of the lands that have been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning. I extend my gratitude for those generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years. Beaver Valley is also currently part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere, The Bruce Trail Conservancy and Grey Bruce Highlands.
First Nations and Métis people in Ontario have a unique relationship with the land and its resources and this relationship continues to be of central importance to First Nations and Métis communities as well as other communities who are committed to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s recommendations.
In particular, I acknowledge that this Biosphere is on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek, Petun, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples. I acknowledge that the Biosphere is within the territory of the Dish With One Spoon treaty among Indigenous peoples – the first agreement for the sharing of the land. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and Haldimand Treaty between Indigenous peoples and the Crown according to the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
I work, live and play in the Beaver Valley, recognizing my deep appreciation for First Nations historic connections to this place and their committed stewardship of the land I call home. I strive to steward these lands myself and with my community in the pressing resistance of oppressive development threatening the land, water and species of this place. I also recognize the contributions that 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.
This recognition of the contributions and historic importance of Indigenous peoples must also be clearly and overtly connected to our collective commitment to meet the promise and the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities.
My knowledge of Indigenous territories and treaties and our recognition of the importance of the First Nations past, present and future grounds me in this ancient earth and land. I am deeply grateful for their teachings and wisdom and hope it will be a source of awareness to all peoples who are affiliated with the Beaver River Valley and its surrounding areas.