Mississauga Further Strengthens Its Commitment to Indigenous Communities

This week, Mississauga Council approved the recommendations in the City’s Annual Reconciliation Report and Land Acknowledgement Renewal; an important step in the work towards reconciliation and strengthening Mississauga’s commitment to Indigenous Peoples and communities.

“In light of the horrific discoveries made at the sites of formal residential schools and the complicated history of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples, I along with my colleagues on Council, remain more committed than ever to strengthening our relationship with our Indigenous neighbours and partners through action,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “The process of reconciliation means looking at our municipal processes and hearing truths which are uncomfortable and challenging. It is through these actions, that we will build meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non Indigenous people based on mutual respect and understanding.”

“It is important for the City to reflect on and ensure that we are consistently working towards building relationships with our diverse communities,” said Paul Mitcham, City Manager and CAO. “It is only by reconciling with our past and understanding the truth of what happened to our Indigenous Peoples can we move forward. Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is a top priority for us here in Mississauga. I have committed to meaningfully advancing our EDI efforts as an organization as we continue to do the work and create a truly diverse and inclusive workplace and city.”

Highlights of the recommendations include:

• Mississauga Council and the City of Mississauga will recognize the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the framework for reconciliation; and implement changes from this recognition in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
• A report of progress towards reconciliation will be provided to Council, the National Council for Reconciliation and made available to the public annually.
• A renewed Land Acknowledgement and Statement of Reconciliation will be used at all Standing and Advisory Committee meetings moving forward.

The Land Acknowledgement is a refresh on the existing Indigenous Land Statement, which was formally adopted in 2017. The renewed statement reads:

“We acknowledge the lands which constitute the present-day City of Mississauga as being part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations. We recognize these peoples and their ancestors as peoples who inhabited these lands since time immemorial. The City of Mississauga is home to many global Indigenous Peoples.

As a municipality, the City of Mississauga is actively working towards reconciliation by confronting our past and our present, providing space for Indigenous peoples within their territory, to recognize and uphold their Treaty Rights and to support Indigenous Peoples. We formally recognize the Anishinaabe origins of our name and continue to make Mississauga a safe space for all Indigenous peoples.”

Over the past year, in response to the Government of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “94 calls to action”, the City has taken steps to renew and strengthen its relationships with Indigenous communities and residents. Of the “94 calls to action,” nine are directly actionable by the City of Mississauga. Some of those actions include:

• Providing the Peel Indigenous Network with leased office and programming space.
• Ensuring Indigenous Peoples can easily access public spaces freely within City facilities and park spaces upholding their Treaty Rights.
• Integrating Indigenous feedback and knowledge into public space design and multiple park projects.
• Engaging with our Treaty and traditional territory partners on all City-led land development projects.
• Recognizing National Indigenous Peoples Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation through programs focused on raising awareness and education.
• Participating as a municipal partner with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation in the Moccasin Identifier project.
• Providing learning opportunities to raise cultural awareness through Indigenous speakers, Equity Alerts and an Indigenous Learning Tool kit for City staff.

To learn more about City’s commitment to building and evolving relations with Indigenous Peoples and communities in Mississauga, read the Annual Reconciliation Report and Land Acknowledgement Renewal and visit mississauga.ca.

Tags

• Indigenous Relations