For thousands of years as well as to this day, Indigenous Nations called this land home far before the arrival of settlers. Their original treaties with other Indigenous tribes were often negotiated using a Dish with One Spoon agreement. This meant that any person who uses the land does so sustainably, so that the "dish" (or land) will never be empty. The land would be taken care of and shared by all who were in the agreement.

Many settlers disputed and ignored the land agreements between the Indigenous Nations and the British Crown. Their sustainably managed lands were taken and exploited. The dish has become empty in many locations across North America.

Today, we are all living together on these lands and we must acknowledge, respect, and learn from these past and present relationships. 

Goderich resides in the Territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Threes Fires known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations. The Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash, known collectively as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, are also the traditional keepers of this land. We wish to acknowledge these Nations as our community partners and the traditional inhabitants of this land we work on.

Land acknowledgement is just the beginning of supporting Indigenous communities. As a grassroots group, we are continuing to increase our knowledge around traditional territories and how significant the Indigenous peoples’ connection to the land is in the fight against climate change.

If you wish to know what land you reside or work on either as a group or just for your own personal home, please check out Native Land Map. But remember, make sure this is just the start of your Indigenous educational journey. We recommend reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer as a great second step to learn about the Indigenous connection to the land.