Land Acknowledgement

DemocracyXChange takes place in Tkaranto (Toronto), on land that is part of the Dish With One Spoon Territory. This treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas, and Haudenosaunee established a commitment to share and protect the land in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. Today, this agreement extends to all who live here, including settlers and newcomers.

 

We also acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation in 1805. It is the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations, including the Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and is now home to diverse urban Indigenous communities.

 

As we gather to explore ideas of democracy, civic engagement, and community, we honour the original stewards of this land and do so on land that has long been a site of governance, diplomacy, and relationship-building among Indigenous Peoples. We honour these traditions and recognize that building a just future begins with understanding the past. 

 

We encourage all participants to reflect on their own relationship to land and place, and to seek deeper understanding of the histories and responsibilities that come with it. Tools like Whose Land and Native Land offer pathways to begin this journey.