Land Acknowledgement
Women’s Crisis Services of the Waterloo Region is located on the Haldimand tract, the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. As we understand, the Haldimand tract granted ‘six miles deep from each side of the river beginning at Lake Erie and extending in that proportion to the head of the said river1.’ Today, the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples only have rights to less than five percent of this land.
As a leading agency in the domestic violence sector of Waterloo Region, we strive towards violence-free communities while providing education and support services. With this, we recognize the disproportionate rates and victimization of Indigenous families and communities regarding domestic and sexual violence.
As Women’s Crisis Services continues to benefit from the occupation of this land, we recognize our responsibility to acknowledge, respond and take action. We are engaging in larger conversations to understand the systemic effects of colonization and how this in turn perpetuates domestic and sexual violence. It is our responsibility and due diligence to ensure thorough consultation of Indigenous peoples and/or resources before the implementation of service focused on supporting Indigenous peoples.
It is our ongoing mission to actively challenge colonial systems both in our communities and agency. It is also our continued responsibility to break down barriers, decolonize our institutions, take ownership, act in solidarity and centring Indigenous voices.
1 Six Nations Council. “The Haldimand Treaty of 1784.” Accessed September 15, 2021. https://www.sixnations.ca/LandsResources/HaldProc.htm