Context: Humber international students writing conference

Before we begin, I would like us all to take a few minutes to acknowledge the land, in the spirit of a new beginning the traditional values should not be forgotten. Keeping in mind the wrongdoings in our history, we need to acknowledge the land that we now reside in and give it due credit.

The purpose of this land acknowledgement is not just to remember the origin of this land but also to acknowledge the indigenous communities and cultural sensitivity.

Humber College is located within the traditional and treaty lands of the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation, Anishinaabe, the Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. Toronto is covered by the treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with the multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. The City of Toronto has been acknowledging the traditional territory since March 2014. Due to conversations with Indigenous leaders, including the Aboriginal Advisory Committee as part of the 2018 Toronto for All Campaign, the language, the City of Toronto uses has evolved.
 It is home to many indigenous communities who inhabited these lands since time immemorial. This land acknowledgement portrays the grave injustices indigenous communities have faced by getting their land snatched away. The feeling of losing land depicts social injustice which makes it a grave sin. It is equal to stealing someone else identity from them. These communities have not only lost to these social injustices but are still facing them, the water contamination issues, loss of education, indigenous women being mistreated and whatnot. The government of Canada has still not made it their duty to keep an eye on the communities who have given their everything to this land and still ended up losing everything they once had.

Having a keen interest in writing Basil H Johnston is an indigenous author who wrote 30 books, urging readers to gain a better understanding of indigenous people and culture. His books were about penitentiaries, reformatories, exile, dungeons and other major issues rolled into one. His most inspiring book is “Indian School Days” which is a great read. It depicts the harsh reality of indigenous people.

Another inspiring poetry is by Katherena Vermette “North End Love Songs” who wrote about the beauty of nature in contrast to crime and drugs. She personifies the beauty of nature and then brings the readers back to the harsh surroundings filled with crime where everyone is in danger. This poetry will dig into deep emotions and will help a reader understand what is still not right. Both are indigenous writers who became a victim of exploitation.

In the end, I hold a deep grudge against all the wrongdoings, genocides, and exploitation. As a settler myself I hope that all the listeners here would take the initiative to help be a part of a society that could still right all the wrongs. The land that was stolen cannot be handed back by us, but we can take a step towards a change.

Thank you.