SUBMITTED
In an ongoing effort to renew relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the community, Mississippi Mills Council held their annual Land Acknowledgement Ceremony during the January 28, 2025 meeting.
Mississippi Mills is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe First Nation. The ceremony including smudging by Knowledge Carrier Chuck Commanda, Algonquin of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and Knowledge Carrier John Henri Commanda, Anishinaabe of the Eagle Clan and member of Dokis First Nation, as well as Elder Larry McDermott, Algonquin of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation. Mayor Christa Lowry provided the Mississippi Mills Land Acknowledgement Statement followed by messages from Elder McDermott and Knowledge Carriers Chuck Commanda and John Henri Commanda. Council recessed for a time of friendship with guests and the public to share food blessed by Elder McDermott.
“Our community has a deep history of settler and Indigenous relations and Council sees this annual ceremony as a way to express gratitude and to honour Indigenous peoples. It is an important time of continued renewal and recommitment,” stated Mayor Lowry. “This is the sixth year we have held this ceremony and on behalf of Council, I extend my deep gratitude to Elder McDermott for the knowledge and learning he has brought to us, and for Knowledge Carriers Chuck Commanda and John Henri Commanda for their participation and friendship.”
Mayor Lowry acknowledged meaningful community initiatives taking steps toward renewing relationships, including the Ginawaydaganuc Village project, Summer Solstice Celebration, Reconciliation Through Art and the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Vigil.
“There is still much learning and many steps to take on the path toward reconciliation. Holding this ceremony brings learnings, conversation and actions in our chamber and out into our community. As we build more awareness and understanding, we recognize there is a long path to more fully understand truth so there can be reconciliation,” she said.
A birch bark canoe maker, Chuck Commanda works with schools to instill the Seven Sacred Teachings (also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings) to younger generations.
“My grandfather (Algonquin Elder and Spiritual Leader William Commanda) was the carrier of a special Wampum belt, The Seven Fires Prophecy Belt, that dates back to the 1400s,” he explained. “When my grandfather died, the belts went into hiding and those stories were forgotten. Having been put on this path of canoe making, I feel it’s my responsibility to bring those stories back out. This kind of work is important.”
John Henri Commanda is President of the Mahingan Consulting firm offering Indigenous awareness training. He also facilitates KAIROS Blanket Exercises throughout Ontario and Quebec, providing insight into Canada’s history through the eyes of Indigenous people.
“We need to start learning to take care of each other. We have to start being good to each other,” John Henri said. “We have to start living that good life together because it’s only through healing people that we can provide and save our Mother Earth.”
