It was a light agenda for the inaugural meeting of Saugeen Shores new council, but they took an important step toward reconciliation by adopting a new land acknowledgement policy.
Moving forward, the town will officially recognize its location on the traditional lands and treaty territory of Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and acknowledge that fact at any official meetings and events.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said the policy is an important step in the relationship with their Indigenous neighbours and that the town took its time to write the policy because they want it to feel meaningful and genuine every time it’s said.
Saugeen Shores Mayor @LukeCharbonneau delivers the Town’s new Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement.
For more on this, go to https://t.co/ZlYGO2rnq6 pic.twitter.com/ECkGWJu4gx
— Saugeen Shores (@SaugeenShoresON) November 16, 2022
As a result, they will rotate the responsibility for reading the acknowledgement between council members.