June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. As we approach the end of June, we continue to celebrate Indigenous people’s diversity as we also look ahead to the coming Canada Day celebrations. We acknowledge the colonial legacies which have brought many people to these shores and celebrate and honour the history and heritage of diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.
As an organization dedicated to the preservation and mobilization of knowledge regarding Egypt’s migrants, we believe that recognition and respect are essential elements of establishing healthy, reciprocal relations. We searched all over for an Arabic land acknowledgement to no avail, and discovered that government websites do not include an Arabic translation of their land acknowledgements.
A Land acknowledgement is a formal statement recognizing the unique and enduring relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Acknowledging territory and peoples should take place as a starting point for the genuine and ongoing work to forge real understanding, and to challenge the legacies of colonialism.
The team at Egypt Migrations is releasing this land acknowledgment in English and Arabic to inspire other organizations to do the same, and in recognition of our responsibility as settlers on Turtle Island (North America) and residents in Tkaronto (Toronto / “where there are trees standing in the water”).
We wish to acknowledge that the land on which we gather, and on which Egypt Migrations operates, is part of the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, Haudenosaunee, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13. This territory is the subject of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas, and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for this land, and continue to do so today. Some of us have arrived here by choice as immigrants or seeking asylum from unsafe homes, while some of us have arrived here through forced displacement via various political actions. We are grateful to have the opportunity to study, explore, learn, and present on this land, and by doing so, give respect to its first inhabitants.
نود أن نعترف بأن الأرض التي نتجمع عليها اليوم والتي تعمل عليها مؤسسة هجرات مص بأنها جزء من أراضي قبائل الهورون والندات والسينيكا والهودينوسوني التقليدية، ومنبعدهم قبيلة الميسيسوغاس لنهر الائتمان. كما نقر بأن تورنتو جزء من المعاهدة رقم 13 التاريخية. هذه المنطقة معنية بمعاهدة “الطبق وملعقة واحدة من ميثاق حزام “وامبوم”” ، وهي معاهدة بين قبائل ال Anishinaabe و Mississaugas و Haudenosaunee ملزمة بمشاركة الأراضي وحماية الأرض. منذ آلاف السنين ، سكن السكان الأصليون هذه الأرض واعتنوا بها، وما زالوا يقومون بذلك حتى اليوم. وصل البعض منا إلى هذه الأراضي عن إختيار وإرادة حرة كمهاجرين راغبين للجوء من أوطان غير آمنة ، بينما وصل البعض منا إلى هنا من خلال التهجير القسري عبر إجراءات سياسية مختلفة. نحن مدينون لاستضافتنا على تلك الأرض كي ندرس ونستكشف ونتعلم ، وبذلك نقر اعترفنا واحترمنا لسكانها الأوائل.
We honour the stories, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada many of our kin are fortunate to call home and refuge.
This is an evolving statement that will continue to develop in consultation and is freely given to our varied communities to alter and adapt to suit their contexts. We would very much appreciate suggested edits.
Egypt Migrations is always looking for people to contribute to our digital initiatives. Please contact team@egyptmigrations.com if you would like to join or support the organization.
Egypt Migrations 