UHKF acknowledges that we are on lands and waters of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee. UHKF, KHSC and Providence Care also serve a wider geographical area that encompasses many Indigenous communities including those in Southeastern Ontario and the Cree people of the James/Hudson Bay lowlands.

Many Indigenous Peoples, including those from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities now also make this place home. The lands we are on are subject to the Two Row Wampum and Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, Treaty 27, and the Crawford Purchase.

Colonial governments, including the Government of Canada, have not lived up to the Two Row Wampum Treaty covenant originally made in 1613 between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch government and later renewed with the French, British, and American governments. The Two Row wampum tells of two distinct peoples and political entities bound in the spirit of alliance and mutual respect for each nation’s right to self-determine their own path, and agree to share the same lands and resources peaceably.

We can’t undo the injustices perpetuated by previous generations, but we can certainly take personal action at this time by educating ourselves about the truth in our history and hold current governments accountable to right the injustices previous and current governments have inflicted on Indigenous Peoples.

The Dish with One Spoon Wampum between the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy and Haudenosaunee Confederacy assures mutual benefit to all parties and extends to all other Indigenous Nations and settlers who arrived in the area around the Great Lakes region and along the St. Lawrence River. We should all eat from this common dish, sharing one spoon and only taking what each one needs. No knife should be used as there should be no conflict; everyone has an equal right to eat from the dish or harvest from the land’s bounty. There should always be something for others and future generations and the plate should be kept clean.

UHKF donors have demonstrated that they understand the importance of sharing resources for the health benefits of others, but we can all do better in terms of building equitable and reciprocal relationships across nations, governments, and communities; and ethical planning, use, and stewardship of the lands and resources that we share.

We offer gratitude to the First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. We honour those teachings as we reflect on our own accountabilities to advance the process of Reconciliation.