A Promise Broken
The Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre (KWMC) exists on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Chonnonton peoples. This land forms part of the Haldimand Tract which comprises six miles on either side of the Grand River. This land was promised to be protected for the Six Nations of Grand River to maintain their traditional way of life– by the British in the 18th century – in return for their role in the American Revolutionary War of Independence.
Currently, the Six Nations reserve makes up less than 5% of the original territory and this area remains the subject of an ongoing land claim. We recognize that Canada has been complicit in a structure of settler colonialism. One of the products of this structure has been the cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples through the Indian Residential School system. We recognize that settlers to this country continue to benefit from the effects of this history and structure.
Reconciliation Begins
As an organization, we are committed to the work of reconciliation between newcomers and Indigenous peoples. We are committed to following the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and enacting the relevant Calls to Action. Amongst the 94 Calls, the final two were specifically aimed at newcomers. Call #94 has been completed while #93 remains in the process of completion. As such we reiterate the following: We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the national Aboriginal organizations, to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal peoples of Canada, information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools. In the past we have worked on a quilting project that connected newcomers and Indigenous peoples from the surrounding area to share their stories, teachings and history. We have collaborated with the local Indigenous community to create walking tours in Kitchener, lobbied to have a monument put at Victoria Park (to talk about the significance of the land), and have had local Indigenous groups host drumming sessions, talk about their connection to this place, and perform at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival.
Our staff, interpreters and translators participated in Indigenization training that focused on an introduction to Indigenization and foundational knowledge, the legacy of residential schools (including a tour of the Woodland Cultural Centre) Indigenous pedagogy and learning about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Calls to Action.
A New Start
In 2022, we moved into a new building. As another way to further the TRC’s Calls to Actions for newcomers to Canada, we have decided to name the meeting rooms in our new space after the Indigenous nations of this territory. In collaboration with a local Haudenosaunee educator, names chosen are; Tuscarora, Wyandot, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Cayuga, Mohawk and Mississauga. Each meeting room will have a plaque with detailed information about each nation so that people can read and learn more about the ongoing history of this place and its people.
We chose Indigenous names in recognition of the importance for newcomers (and settlers who have been here for many generations) to engage with the “truth” that is necessary before reconciliation. We are hoping to encourage our clients, staff, partners, and any visitors to our office to have discussions and ask questions so that we can continue the dialogue and education around history, current issues, and the responsibility to uphold good relations with the Indigenous people of this territory.