The Haldimand Tract is Haudenosaunee Territory.

It is our custom as Haudenosaunee to begin gatherings by acknowledging and giving thanks for all of Creation; to gather with good minds and thanks for one another. This thanksgiving are words that come before all others. The practice of land acknowledgements is a new practice to acknowledge the territories, stewardship, and human rights of Indigenous Peoples.

For gatherings along the Haldimand Tract, land acknowledgement must move beyond empty words. It is strongly encouraged to take real actions that advance land justice for the Haudenosaunee. We’ve listed some examples below.

The land where we have gathered today is within the Haldimand Tract. Affirmed in 1784, the Haldimand Proclamation reserves six miles on either side of the Grand River for the use and enjoyment of the Six Nations and their descendants forever. 

The Haldimand Tract represents a small portion of Haudenosaunee territory, which is further affirmed through the Nanfan Treaty. 

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, the inherent governance structure of the Six Nations, has put in place a moratorium on development within the Haldimand Tract. No development can proceed without the consent of the Haudenosaunee.

The Haudenosaunee have stated that restoring their relationship to the land through exercising stewardship over lands and waters is the greatest priority to healing families from the colonial violence and dispossession they have endured. We join the Haudenosaunee in calling for an end to the exploitation of their territory without their consent and ask that those gathered here today join the Haudenosaunee in their quest for justice, bringing to life the legal principles embedded in the Two Row Wampum,  Dish with One Spoon and Covenant Chain. 

 We commit to working together to respect Haudenosaunee sovereignty that visions a future where Haudenosaunee children, plants, animals, waters, and lands that are safe, healthy, and free from colonial violence.

To demonstrate this commitment (for example): 

  1. Our organization exercises joint stewardship initiatives with the Haudenosaunee; 

  2. A portion of the proceeds tonight are being donated to (Kawenniyo Private School, Protect The Tract, etc.); 

  3. Our organization has returned # of acres to the ownership of the Haudenosaunee.