Nellie’s acknowledges our organization is situated in Tkarón:to (Ta-kar-on-toe) which is located on the traditional lands of the Mississauga (Missi-sog-a), the Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-nah-bay), the Haudenosaunee (Ho-deh-no-show-nee), the Chippewa (Chi-puh-waa), the Huron (Hur-on), and many other Indigenous Peoples.

Nellie’s acknowledges all Treaty Peoples, including those who came here as settlers, as migrants either in this generation or in generations past, and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent.

Colonialism is an ongoing process, and members of Indigenous communities and of African origin and descent all over Canada have been carrying the burden of this trauma for generations. Reconciliation cannot be achieved if we don’t first prioritize understanding the truth. Moving forward requires determining what place we occupy in the history and future of this land. How do we participate in colonialism, and what can we do to ensure reconciliation? While many of us are settlers, it is important to recognize that not all those who live here chose to settle here. For that reason, we respect that some people may not be comfortable adhering to this term.

Tkarón:to (Ta-kar-on-toe) is a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.” We now stand where, for thousands of years, many languages were spoken, and alliances and decisions were made. Our fight for diversity and equity must include Indigenous Peoples. We must reimagine the narrative of Turtle Island together.