Land Acknowledgement
The Buddhist Place respectfully acknowledges that we are situated in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg currently governed by Treaty 20 and the Williams Treaties. We offer our gratitude to the First Nations of this area for their stewardship of the land and their guidance and teachings of right relationship and sharing with the earth, waters, trees, plants, animals, and all elements of life. In making this acknowledgement, may we honour those teachings and aspire to live harmoniously in accordance with them.
More about the land we live on...
This area has long been known by the Anishnaabeg peoples as Nogogiwanong which translates as “at the end of the rapids”. It was given the name Peterborough by the settlers who first arrived here in the 1800’s from England and Ireland.
Prior to European contact, the Anishnaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples made agreement to share the land of Southern Ontario peacefully and with shared responsibility under a Dish with One Spoon Treaty. Frequently when Indigenous peoples made treaties together, they used the phrase Dish with One Spoon, where the “dish” represents the land that is to be shared peacefully and the “spoon” represents the individuals living on and using the resources of the land in a spirit of mutual co-operation. We all eat out of the Dish – all of us that share this territory – with only one spoon. That means we must share the responsibility of ensuring the dish is never empty, which includes taking care of the land and the creatures we share it with. Importantly, there are no knives at the table, representing that we must keep the peace.
Since contact, there have been two treaties signed between the Crown and the Michi Saggig Anishnaabeg of this area, presently represented by the Curve Lake, Alderville, Hiawatha, Beausoleil, the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama, and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations. These are Treaty 20, signed in 1818 and then the Williams Treaty signed in 1923. There was a further court agreement reached in 2018 following suit by the First Nations that the Crown did not act honourably when making and implementing the Williams Treaties. This led to compensation, additions to reserve lands, recognition of their traditional rights of livelihood and apologies from both Federal and Provincial governments.
In the signing of Treaty 20 and the Williams Treaties, there is acknowledgement that the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg are the First Peoples of this area and that this is their traditional territory. On behalf of the Crown, these treaties were initiated to allow for continued settler expansion into the area, which had been happening prior without agreement. The agreements were also intended by the Anishnaabeg to recognize and protect their traditional rights for means of livelihood including hunting, fishing, and harvesting. This was argued in the suit brought in 1992 and settled in 2018.
Prior to European contact, the Anishnaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples made agreement to share the land of Southern Ontario peacefully and with shared responsibility under a Dish with One Spoon Treaty. Frequently when Indigenous peoples made treaties together, they used the phrase Dish with One Spoon, where the “dish” represents the land that is to be shared peacefully and the “spoon” represents the individuals living on and using the resources of the land in a spirit of mutual co-operation. We all eat out of the Dish – all of us that share this territory – with only one spoon. That means we must share the responsibility of ensuring the dish is never empty, which includes taking care of the land and the creatures we share it with. Importantly, there are no knives at the table, representing that we must keep the peace.
Since contact, there have been two treaties signed between the Crown and the Michi Saggig Anishnaabeg of this area, presently represented by the Curve Lake, Alderville, Hiawatha, Beausoleil, the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama, and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations. These are Treaty 20, signed in 1818 and then the Williams Treaty signed in 1923. There was a further court agreement reached in 2018 following suit by the First Nations that the Crown did not act honourably when making and implementing the Williams Treaties. This led to compensation, additions to reserve lands, recognition of their traditional rights of livelihood and apologies from both Federal and Provincial governments.
In the signing of Treaty 20 and the Williams Treaties, there is acknowledgement that the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg are the First Peoples of this area and that this is their traditional territory. On behalf of the Crown, these treaties were initiated to allow for continued settler expansion into the area, which had been happening prior without agreement. The agreements were also intended by the Anishnaabeg to recognize and protect their traditional rights for means of livelihood including hunting, fishing, and harvesting. This was argued in the suit brought in 1992 and settled in 2018.
A pledge from The Buddhist Place...
To bring this land acknowledgement to life, we of the Buddhist Place vow intention to awaken to the history of colonization and its effects within Canada and specifically within Nogogiwanong-Peterborough and its surrounding area. This requires us to step back and look anew at what we have come to know as the history of Canada. For example, a review of oral history and recent scholarship challenges the notion that treaties agreed to by Indigenous peoples with the Crown were ever about surrendering the land but were instead about sharing it. We vow further to become aware, reflect and act on the 94 Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Calls to Action. In the spirit of this we aspire to live in a good way with a good mind in concert with central teachings of the First Peoples who have shared this area. As we do this, we reflect on the Anishnaabe concepts of Debwewin, Truth Telling, and Mino-Bimaadiziwin, to live the good life, and the Haudenosaunee concept of Ganigonhiroh, the Good Mind.
Debwewin is a very strong word—an Anishinaabe word—it not only means truth, it encompasses the heart, the heartbeat of the drum, the heartbeat of the individual, what excites the spirit of the body. If one is untruthful, if they deny Debwewin, things will not go the way we want them to go. Debwewin is one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings—the core ethical and moral teachings of Anishinaabe Elders—to live in “a good way,” to live without conflict or contradiction, and to live in peace with all relations. Debwewin does not mean absolute truth or the only truth. It means to speak only to the extent we have lived or experienced.
Mino-Bimaadiziwin is an active term pointing to fostering the good life and living in balance.
Ganigonhiroh is Mohawk term pointing to the central ethic of Haudenosaunee culture and knowledge. It is translated as the Good Mind, a mind balancing reason and passion and which acts in the interest of peace.
May we, who come together as The Buddhist Place and as inhabitants of the area of and surrounding Nogogiwanong, use stillness, reflection, listening and study to cultivate wisdom and compassion and vow to live in right relation and respectfully on this land and traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishnabeg. May we vow to study and act in concert with the TRC findings and calls to action.
Debwewin is a very strong word—an Anishinaabe word—it not only means truth, it encompasses the heart, the heartbeat of the drum, the heartbeat of the individual, what excites the spirit of the body. If one is untruthful, if they deny Debwewin, things will not go the way we want them to go. Debwewin is one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings—the core ethical and moral teachings of Anishinaabe Elders—to live in “a good way,” to live without conflict or contradiction, and to live in peace with all relations. Debwewin does not mean absolute truth or the only truth. It means to speak only to the extent we have lived or experienced.
Mino-Bimaadiziwin is an active term pointing to fostering the good life and living in balance.
Ganigonhiroh is Mohawk term pointing to the central ethic of Haudenosaunee culture and knowledge. It is translated as the Good Mind, a mind balancing reason and passion and which acts in the interest of peace.
May we, who come together as The Buddhist Place and as inhabitants of the area of and surrounding Nogogiwanong, use stillness, reflection, listening and study to cultivate wisdom and compassion and vow to live in right relation and respectfully on this land and traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishnabeg. May we vow to study and act in concert with the TRC findings and calls to action.