Join Oakville Allies to participate in #ActsofAllyship and celebrate Treaty Day in Oakville

Posted on February 10, 2023

Join Oakville Allies to participate in #ActsofAllyship and celebrate Treaty Day in Oakville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) and Oakville, Ont., February 10 , 2023 – Members of Gimaa (Chief) R. Stacey Laforme’s Ally Leadership Council are inviting members of the Oakville community to commemorate the 203rd Anniversary of the signing of Treaty 22 on February 28 by participating in the Acts of Allyship campaign and in local Treaty Day events.

Join more than 15 organizations who have signed the online Commitment to Truth & Allyship or those who have created their own, including Sheridan College, the YMCA of Oakville, Oakville Public Library and the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, and share Acts of Allyship online.

Launched at Sheridan College during Treaty week in November, the Acts of Allyship and Grateful Treaty Person campaign is a community-based initiative like Random Acts of Kindness, encouraging individuals and organizations to engage in actions to propel reconciliation forward throughout the community. Acts of Allyship encourages residents to sign the online commitment form and download the Grateful Treaty Person Toolkit, an online learning resource, in preparation for Treaty Day on February 28th.

“Allyship is not an end, it is a beginning,” said Gimaa Laforme, “An understanding that must welcome all. A voice for the future, for our people, for our children, for our planet.”

“Governments won’t fix racism or enable true reconciliation. It has to be the people of Canada who do the work and make it happen,” said Lead Debwewin Advisory Council, Elder Peter Schuler. “I think that community to community, people to people is the way to go.”

“The Foundation is pleased to share a new report, “Friendship, Peace and Respect for All Future Generations: Oakville-based treaty relationships between the Mississaugas and the Crown”, which explains the original intent of the Treaties, outlines the shared history between the communities of Oakville and the Mississaugas, and explores why the Mississaugas are no longer in Oakville,” says Wendy Rinella CEO of Oakville Community Foundation. “We are grateful to the Oakville Public Library for hosting the event, the report author and many advisors as well as the sponsors for supporting this report including RBC, Sagen, the Larry and Gerry Wilson Family Fund and the Kenny Family Foundation.” 

A local Treaty Day event will be held at Oakville Public Library’s Central Branch. The report’s author, Emma Stelter, MCFN’s Governance and Policy Analyst, and MCFN’s Debwewin Lead Georgia LaForme will discuss the main themes of the report and respond to questions from attendees. Attendees will also have an opportunity to become an Ally by signing the Acts of Allyship Commitment Form.

On March 4th, local community representatives will be traveling to MCFN where a feast and performances will take place. RBC is the Title Sponsor for this community treaty celebration featuring Juno Award winning singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark, with special performances by Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton’s Steel Pan Drummers and Calypso Singers and ArtHouse Hip-Hop Dancers. Selected poets from the recent post-secondary Allyship Poetry contest will be showcased. Mohawk chef Tawnya Brant of Top Chef Canada will cater the event. 

“This first annual event serves as an opportunity for the Oakville community to give thanks and acknowledge our allyship and reciprocity with the Mississaugas,” said Jeff Bradley, Regional Vice President Halton for RBC and Ally Leader Council Member, “RBC is pleased to support this inaugural event at MCFN and we look forward to celebrating with members of the Oakville and Mississauga communities.”

The March 4th event is open to all people living or working on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Residents of Oakville will have the opportunity to watch the performances virtually.

The Foundation is also providing copies of the Mocassin Identifier Kits to all Oakville Elementary schools leading up to Treaty Day. Check the Debwewin website for other local events.

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About Debwewin: The Oakville Truth Project

Debwewin: The Oakville Truth Project, a collaboration between the Oakville Community Foundation and MCFN, is proud to present this integrated community celebration in recognition of Treaty Week and the signing of Treaty 22 in Oakville. The Project relies on an Advisory Council led by Elder Peter SChuler and  local allies through Gimaa’s Ally Leadership Council.

About the Acts of Allyship and Grateful Treaty Person campaign 

Launched at Sheridan College during Treaty week in November, the Acts of Allyship and Grateful Treaty Person campaign is a community-based initiative like Random Acts of Kindness, encouraging individuals and organizations to engage in actions to propel reconciliation forward throughout the community. Acts of Allyship encourages residents to sign the online commitment form and download the Grateful Treaty Person Toolkit, an online learning resource, in preparation for Treaty Day on February 28th.

 

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge all our relations, we acknowledge the first relationship with Mother Earth, the original nations of the trees and plants, the original stewards of the four legged, the flyers, the swimmers, the crawlers. We acknowledge the waters as being life and sacred as we acknowledge the carriers of those teachings, the females. We acknowledge the grandfathers, as well as Father Sun, Grandmother Moon and our distant relations, the stars.

We acknowledge Oakville Community Foundation is located on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, as well as the Traditional Territory of the Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat people. Further, we acknowledge that the Town of Oakville is covered by Treaty 14, the Head of the Lake Purchase (1806) and Treaty 22 (1820).

 

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

Mississaugas of the Credit are an Ojibwe (Anishinaabek) First Nation with 2,600 Members, 850 of whom approximately live on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Reserve near Hagersville, Ontario. 

 

Oakville Community Foundation

The Oakville Community Foundation is a local charitable solutions provider, delivering the tools to realize your charitable passions. The Foundation acts as a philanthropic medium, investing donations to generate new money for our community. We conduct local research to provide our diverse donors with knowledge and solutions to make an impact in the local community, both today and in the future. Thanks to the visionaries in our community who started The Foundation more than 25 years ago, The Foundation has granted more than $57 million to support charities locally and beyond.

 

Media Contacts:

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Contact:

Georgia LaForme (she/her) 

Communications and Engagement Lead 

Gov.Comm@mncfn.ca  | 905-516-1830

 

Oakville Community Foundation Contact:

Michael Salem

Director – Communications

michael@theocf.org | 905-844-3562 x. 312