Land Acknowledgment Statement

The Municipality of Clarington recites a land acknowledgment statement at the start of all public meetings, including Council and Committee meetings. The land acknowledgment statement is also be read at the start of civic celebrations and official events hosted by the Municipality. A land acknowledgment statement recognizes the traditional territory of the Indigenous people(s). It is a sign of gratitude and respect.

Clarington's land acknowledgment statement reads:

The Municipality of Clarington is situated within the traditional and treaty territory of the Mississaugas and Chippewas of the Anishinabeg, known today as the Williams Treaties First Nations. Our work on these lands acknowledges their resilience and their longstanding contributions to the area now known as the Municipality of Clarington.

The Municipality consulted local First Nations communities and asked Dave Mowat, former Chief of Alderville First Nation, to help develop the land acknowledgment statement.

"The land acknowledgment statement recognizes a vital part of our history. It's a recognition that if we want to do better in the future, we need to learn from past mistakes to further the reconciliation process," said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.

For more information about the land acknowledgment statement, read report CSD-010-19.

Pronunciation of First Nations communities

Chippewas: chip-uh-WUHS
Anishinabeg: uh-NISH-in-NAH-bek