Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that SMILE Canada- Support Services operates on traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. SMILE works towards honouring Indigenous history and culture, fostering awareness of colonial entities and showing respect for the Indigenous peoples whose lands we occupy. We would also like to  serve a reminder of the ongoing need for reconciliation, which calls for recognition, understanding, and action in addressing past and current injustices. We acknowledge that simply recognizing the land is not enough to address the damage inflicted by centuries of forced displacement, residential schools, and the continued impact of settler colonialism. We understand that this is an ongoing process, and at SMILE, we are dedicated to decolonization.

‍Statement for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept. 30) and Indigenous People’s Day (Oct. 14): Indigenous peoples, both in Canada and globally, have endured the profound and lasting impacts of colonialism and settler colonialism. From stolen land, erasure of culture through the suppression of languages and traditions, colonial and settler-colonial policies and practices have caused intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous communities today. We must work intentionally, actively and collectively to honour Indigenous history and culture, fostering awareness of colonial entities and showing respect for the Indigenous peoples whose lands we occupy.