It is our great privilege to share in the lives and stories of our Indigenous Peoples on this beautiful land, the site of thousands of years of human activity, much of which has been the work of Indigenous women who have maintained cultures rich in knowledge, history, skills and environmental stewardship. We are grateful. We acknowledge that the land we stand upon today is the traditional territory of the Anishinabe, the Haudenosonee and the Neutral peoples. We recognize the First Peoples continued stewardship of the land and water.

Today many Indigenous Peoples continue to call this land home and act as its stewards. And this responsibility extends to all peoples, to share and care for this land for generations to come.