Halton Hills Recognizes Treaties Recognition Week

HALTON HILLS, ON – Treaties Recognition Week takes place the first week in November each year. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and promotes learning about our collective treaty rights and obligations.

The Town of Halton Hills is located on the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN). Treaty 19 was signed on October 28, 1818 by representatives of the Crown and Anishinaabe peoples. This treaty is also known as the Ajetance Purchase, named after Chief James Ajetance who signed the treaty on behalf of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

“The Town of Halton Hills will launch Treaties Recognition Week on November 1^st by raising the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation flag at the Library & Cultural Centre,” said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “The flag will initially be raised to half-mast in honour of the Indigenous children who did not come home from residential school and will fly permanently to communicate to residents and visitors alike that these are the treaty lands of the Mississaugas.”

The Town and Halton Hills Public Library will present the following programming during the week:

• The Library and Cultural Centre will host the #hopeandhealingcanada installation by Métis artist Tracey-Mae Chambers. The public can view the installation process November 1 & 2 in the plaza and atrium.
• Virtual Lecture: “We Are Still Here: The Mississaugas of the Credit” by Darin Wybenga, Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Coordinator, MCFN
• Virtual Bead Stringing Workshop with Naomi Smith, Indigenous artist, educator and proprietor of Black Tulip Designs.  
•  Virtual artist talk with Tracey-Mae Chambers TBA.

The REDress Project: honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirited People is also currently on display at the Acton branch of the Halton Hills Public Library and in the atrium of the Library & Cultural Centre. 

Additionally, residents can participate in Virtual Living Library events which provide an opportunity to list and learn from Indigenous Elders and knowledge keepers as they share their experience and perspectives around treaties. There is programming appropriate for all ages.

Recognizing Treaties Recognition Week is one step in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action. Residents are encouraged to engage in reflection and self-education year-round. We are all treaty people, and everyone has a role to play in reconciliation.

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

Visit the Town's website

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