I acknowledge that the Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University are located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Chonnonton Nations, on lands connected with the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum and the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796. The Wampum is an agreement between the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee nations to share the land and resources for mutual benefit. The Treaties were negotiated between the Deshkan Ziibiing Anishinaabek and the British Crown, and have been used to justify the surrender of both the land and the rights of Indigenous people to self-determination. As the daughter of immigrants, I have benefitted from the settler-colonial interpretation of these Treaties. As a scientist, I acknowledge that medical research has excluded and exploited Indigenous people. It is with humility that I accept the responsibility of engaging with Indigenous knowledge keepers so that we can build trusting relationships between local Indigenous communities and health researchers.
The TRC Calls to Action 18-24 refer specifically to the area of Health: https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
