Melancthon Township has adopted a land acknowledgement.
In August, Melancthon’s Deputy Mayor Dave Besley brought forward a motion, seconded and assisted by Councillor James McLean, that the township amends and adopt the Land Acknowledgement Statement presently used by Dufferin County. Upon the suggestion of Mayor Darren White, Warden of Dufferin County, council revised the motion include that staff engage with the Dufferin County Museum to obtain the final wording.
“That’s where the Dufferin County one came from, they were very diligent and it took them a long time to get from blank page to what we have,” said Mayor White. “What I would also ask is that county staff go over and look at the boundaries of Melancthon and amend as necessary.”
On September 16, 2021, Melancthon council resolved to implement the land acknowledgement statement presented by staff. The land acknowledgement for Melancthon Township is written as follows:
We would like to begin by acknowledging that Melancthon Township recognizes the ancestral lands and treaty territories of the Tionontati (Petun/Wyandot(te)), Haudenosaunee (Six Nations), and Anishinaabe Peoples. The Township of Melancthon resides within the lands named under the Haldimand Deed of 1784 and the Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty (Treaty 18).
These territories upon which we live and learn, are steeped in rich Indigenous history and traditions. It is with this statement that we declare to honour and respect the past and present connection of Indigenous peoples with this land, its waterways and resources.
The land acknowledgement will be read at the beginning of Melancthon Township’s council and committee meetings going forward. The passed motion states how land acknowledgements are a first step and a means of bringing awareness to the pain, impact, and legacies of colonialism and subjugation of Indigenous peoples.
Now that Melancthon has instituted its land acknowledgement, only three Dufferin County municipalities do not have one read at the beginning of their council meetings; Grand Valley, East Garafraxa, and Amaranth. At its last council meeting on September 14, 2021, Grand Valley Councillor Steve Miles provided a notice of motion that would direct staff to develop a land acknowledgement, which will be discussed and voted upon at the next meeting. Moreover, Shelburne council directed staff to re-examine its land acknowledgement statement after discovering that Museum of Dufferin records show that parts of the municipality lie upon Haldimand Tract. If true, Shelburne’s land acknowledgment statement would be excluding the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations). Earlier this year, the Haudenosaunee declared a moratorium on all development along the Haldimand Tract, which is comprised of 10 km of land on both sides of the Grand River.
Melancthon staff has been directed to formulate a diversity policy for the municipality that is expected to be presented to and voted upon by council in the upcoming months.
September 17,2021 6:05 pm: Updated to include that on September 14, 2021, Grand Valley Councillor Steve Miles provided a notice of motion that would direct staff to formulate a land acknowledgement statement that would be read at future council meetings.
References – Melancthon Township Adopts Land Acknowledgement
- September 16, 2021 Township of Melancthon Council Meeting Agenda – Township of Melancthon
- September 2, 2021 Township of Melancthon Council Meeting Agenda – Township of Melancthon
- August 12, 2021 Township of Melancthon Council Meeting Agenda – Township of Melancthon
- August 12, 2021 Township of Melancthon Council Meeting Minutes – Township of Melancthon
- July 15, 2021 Township of Melancthon Council Meeting Agenda – Township of Melancthon
- July 15, 2021 Township of Melancthon Council Meeting Minutes – Township of Melancthon
- Town of Shelburne Re-Examining Land Acknowledgement
- Dufferin Receives Notice of Development Moratorium
More Dufferin News
- Shelburne Moves Towards Council & Staff Vaccine Policy
- Shelburne May Explore Vaccine Mandate for Town Staff
- Orangeville Homeless Committee Supports Men’s Shelter
- Number of Dufferin Cannabis Retailers Could Soon Double
- What’s up for Orangeville’s Council Meeting tonight
- Two Members Resign From Dufferin Diversity Committee
- Vivid Moments, Vivid Memories Art Show
- Shelburne To Reduce Speed Limit To 40 KM/Hour
- Shelburne Speed Limit Reduced to 40km/hour
- Amaranth Moves Towards First Pride Month Proclamation
- Town of Grand Valley Revises Burn Bylaw
- Alder Street Recreation Centre Pools To Be Replaced
- Council Receives Update on Shelburne Splash Pad
- Truth and Reconciliation: Shelburne Calls on Governments
- Truth & Reconciliation: Mulmur Following Shelburne’s Lead
- Grand Valley Council Seat Open to Public Nominations
- Grand Valley Clears Cannabis Grower for Retail Sales
- Cannabis in Dufferin: What’s going on in Grand Valley?
- Grand Valley Councillor Gives Notice of Resignation
- Grand Valley Commemorates Councillor Elizabeth Taylor
- Melancthon One Step Closer to Filling Council Vacancy
- Grand Valley: Abandoned Monticello Subdivision Update
- Another Cannabis Retailer Looking at Grand Valley
- Shelburne Parks and Fields Fees Waived For 2021
- Shelburne Community Welcome Resumes Greeting Newcomers
- Dufferin Receives Notice of Development Moratorium
- Reports of People ‘Squatting’ at Monora Park
- Haldimand Tract Moratorium: Current Practices Insufficient
- Haldimand Tract Moratorium: Dufferin Politicians Respond
- Broadway Sidewalk Brick Replacement Project Pushed Off
- Canada Day 2021 in Orangeville, Shelburne, Grand Valley
- Township of Amaranth Selects New Integrity Commissioner
- Orangeville To Honour Indigenous Children
- Filming along Orangeville’s Broadway this Canada Day
- Councillors Talk School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program
- Contrary to Reports, Amaranth Flag Raising Policy Unused
- Commissioner Report on Currie’s Pride Remarks Released
- Mayor of Amaranth responds to investigation report
- Mayor Currie Doubtful of Integrity Commissioner’s Value
- IS AMARANTH’S MAYOR CURRIE RESIGNING?
- AMARANTH MAYOR CURRIE UNLEASHES HIS FURY
- Amaranth Residents Call Out Mayor Currie’s Empty Threat
- Amaranth Mayor Bob Currie: “All Lives Matter”
- Mayor Bob Currie Protests Donation to Food Banks
- AMARANTH MAYOR DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO RAISE PRIDE FLAG FOR 2021
- AMARANTH’S DEPUTY MAYOR CALLS OUT MAYOR’S PRIDE INTOLERANCE
- AMARANTH MAYOR: WHY CAN’T WE USE THE RIVER TO FIGHT FIRES?!
- Dufferin County Staff: Pay Volunteers on Committees
- Dufferin Committee Volunteer Pay Decision Pushed Off
- Indigenous names may be used for Grand Valley’s new streets
- Tent Permit Fee Being Waived for Dufferin County Businesses
- Businesses Operating in Mono Parks Without Permits
- Dufferin EarlyON Staff To Be Cut By 53%
- Dufferin County Road 109 & County Road 3: Roundabout?
- Dufferin Oaks Front Entrance Project $94,500 Over Budget
- Contrary to Reports, Amaranth Flag Raising Policy Unused
- Shelburne Letters Signage Pushed Off For Time Being
- Update on vacant council seat in Amaranth Township
- Shelburne Council Continues to Mull Giant Letters
- Plans for Giant Letters in Shelburne Park May Get Nixed
- Shelburne Pushes Ahead on Jack Downing Park
- Dufferin County Council: Responding to Racism and Hate
- Amaranth Council: Investigate all ‘Residential Schools’
- Reports of People ‘Squatting’ at Monora Park
- $800k Dufferin Rail Corridor Resurfacing Project Approved
- Commissioner Report on Currie’s Pride Remarks Released
- See Crime in Orangeville? Call the Police, Not Town Hall!
- WDG Public Health Holds Session on Vaccine Hesitancy
- Lockdown Protest Organizer May See ‘Expanded Charges’
- Bruce Trail Conservancy Makes Plea of Shelburne Community
- Dufferin Muslim Groups Make Demand of Local Politicians
- Mulmur Council Wants Meetings Accessible Post-COVID
- Thumbnail Sketches: Artist Kayla Jackson
- Orangeville Police Service Board Talks Lockdown Protests
- Accessible Website? Fines Coming For Noncompliant Orgs
- Local Digital Marketing Firm Pushes Online Accessibility
- Some Organizations Face AODA Compliance Deadline
- UGDSB Scraps School Resource Officer Program
- Big Upgrades Announced for Grand Valley Community Centre
- Task Force Advises UGDSB Cancel Resource Officer Program
- Shelburne Names Members to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
- MELANCTHON’S NEW COUNCILLOR HAS BEEN CHOSEN!
- Candidates Seeking Vacant Seat Questioned By Melancthon’s Council
- Melancthon One Step Closer to Filling Council Vacancy
- WDGPH: ‘Number of factors at play’ BIPOC 5x more likely to catch COVID
- Andrew Cunningham: Black History Month in Dufferin
- Polvier Folkes-Grandison: Black History Month in Dufferin
- Trisha Linton: Black History Month in Dufferin
- Dufferin County Rejects WDGPH Request for Assistance
- Internet in Town of Mono: ‘No Home Left Behind’
- Shelburne’s Police Services Board – More Barriers Broken
- Township of Amaranth Council Vacancy Filled!
- A New Magazine with A ‘Local Purpose’ is On Its Way!
- Dufferin Marketing Firm Grows While Giving Back
- Vaccines: Headwaters Hospital Manager Puts Family First
- A Discussion with Orangeville Councillor Todd Taylor
- Two cars go off road in a week at Rolling Hills & McCannell
- WDPGH Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- #Shoes4Shelburne 2020: An Overwhelming Success
- Rogers, Bank of China, Anti-Abortion Groups Take CEWS
- Shelburne’s Deck The Door Contest 2020 has a Victor!
- A Taste of Jamaica in Shelburne with Smokey Island Grille
- More on ‘Workplace Isolating’ in East Garafraxa Township
- East Garafraxa Public Works Staff ‘Workplace Isolating’
- ‘Trojan Horse’ Proposed at Fung Loy Kok in Mono
- Dufferin County Councillor Brings Religion Into Politics
- Passionate Outpourings, A Life of Much Artistic Verve & Vitality!
- Shelburne Street Names Will Honour Black & Indigenous Past
- Robert Allen: A Man For All Seasons
- Orangeville Transit Hub Downtown Location Gets Nixed
- Orangeville Council Wants Access to Drive Tests Limited
- NEW DETAILS ON WE CHARITY ‘EXONERATION’
- MP Kyle Seeback Asks For Local Business Nominations!
- There is assistance for homeless men in Dufferin County!
- Dufferin News Contributor Gets 3rd at McMichael Art Show
- My Crafty Neighbour has a space with limitless opportunity!
- New Grand Valley Pizza Place Opens Tonight!
- “Please…symptoms can widely range…don’t assume it’s just a cold!”
- Town of Orangeville Staff tests positive for COVID-19
- Epidemiologist Calls Out Upper Grand DSB
- Ontario teachers, exposed to COVID, may still go to class
- UGDSB TRUSTEE CALLS BUSES “ROLLING INCUBATORS”
- IS ENOUGH BEING DONE TO KEEP LUNCHES SAFE IN THE UGDSB?
- ‘Glimmer of hope’ as Dufferin business community nears second wave
- Through the eyes of a Canadian female collective
- Robert Allen: A Man For All Seasons
- Marnie Cooke: “How do you turn off your ears?”
- Streams Community Hub: A New Age For The Dufferin Arts
- Tony Rose Pool Closure May Decimate Orangeville Otters!
- ORANGEVILLE USED IN MARKETING CROWD CONTROL TECHNOLOGY
- IRIS R&D Group Responds: We Don’t Own FaceMatch
- Orangeville Under Surveillance?! What is IRIS R&D?
- Orangeville Library Consolidation: Who Gets Hurt?
- Orangeville Food Bank Has Officially Moved!
- Is The Orangeville Banner Endangering Public Health?!
- Essential Worker? What’s it actually mean?
- Discussion on Development – Orangeville Councillor Todd Taylor
- Dufferin Speaks – Hansen Development: Discussion with Darrin Davidson
- Dufferin News – Videojournalism For Our Community
- Press Release: Dufferin’s Spotlight Production launches Online Community News Program
- Interested in Being A Contributor? Apply Here!
