Purpose

This document serves to honour the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands are now occupied by the City of Hamilton and Hamilton Mennonite Church (HMC).  We acknowledge that they were the original keepers of the land, we recognize their enduring connection to this land, and commit to fostering right and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities both in the Hamilton area and the broader world community.

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that Hamilton Mennonite Church (HMC) stands on the traditional territory of many Indigenous peoples, and the Mississaugas of the Credit are the Treaty Holders of this land. We also recognize that the Neutral peoples, the Haudenosaunee, and the Mississaugas—“people living at the mouths of many rivers”—have cared for the lands along the north shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario since time immemorial..

Today, the City of Hamilton is home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island. We honour their deep relationship with this land and acknowledge their ongoing struggle for rights, recognition, and justice.

As settlers and as followers of Christ, we commit to seeking right relationships with our Indigenous neighbours—both the Treaty Holders and the wider Indigenous community in Hamilton.

Commitment

HMC respects and honours the Indigenous peoples of this area and their original and ongoing connection to the land. In order to build and maintain right relationships with our Indigenous neighbours, HMC commits to:

  1. Education: Educating ourselves and sharing our learning with others about the history and cultures of Indigenous peoples, including the ongoing impacts of colonization. Specifically, we commit to including Indigenous-settler relations education as part of our faith exploration classes.
  2. Respect: Fostering respectful relationships with Indigenous communities by listening to their voices and supporting their rights and initiatives.
  3. Support: Actively supporting Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives that promote cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and social justice.
  4. Reflection: Regularly reflecting on our own roles in the ongoing legacy of colonization and work towards reconciliation and reparation  in our actions and policies.

Conclusion

By acknowledging the land on which we live and work, and the Indigenous peoples connected to it, we want to move toward fostering understanding, respect, and healing.