Contact

Land Acknowledgement

The Greenbelt Water Keepers acknowledge that the lands we protect and value in Clarington’s Greenbelt are on the traditional lands of the Williams Treaties.  These treaties were signed between settlers and seven First Nation communities: the Mississaugas of Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha, and Scugog Island First Nation, as well as, the Chippewas of Rama, Georgian Island Beausoleil First Nation.  We also acknowledge, that the term “settlers” above means that treaty obligations apply to present and future residents of this area.

To learn more about the Williams Treaties or the signatory Indigenous communities, we encourage you to search and visit each community’s website as each community is unique.

Setting Intentions

The Greenbelt Water Keepers acknowledge that we are still learning about “settlers” obligations under the Williams Treaty, Indigenous Truth and paths to Reconciliation.  For this reason and inspired by Indigenous ways regarding land stewardship, we state our heartfelt intent.  We reside on Clarington’s Greenbelt and we know how special it is.

We are grateful for the land, the plants and wildlife that live here.  We are grateful for the ecological gifts that the land provides: to collect and clean the water, to grow and sustain humans and all types of living things.  The land asks nothing in return.  But when we take care of the land with thoughtfulness and restraint, we take care of ourselves, the land and all that depend on it.  Our intentions are to reciprocate these gifts by protecting and preserving Clarington’s Greenbelt – not taking for granted nor exploiting the abundance provided.  We pledge to protect these areas for present and future generations of humans and all types of living things that thrive here – from trees to plants, from hawks to mice, from frogs to butterflies.  What we pledge to do in reciprocity is a small thing in comparison to what the land gives to us.

 “What I give, I receive in return.”
- Franz Dolp as quoted by Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book Braiding Sweetgrass – Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants