Council marks “historic” meeting with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

By Rob Paul

Last week, Caledon Council made history by holding the first ever joint session of council with the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation.

This session was a continuation of a special relationship following a series of important milestones in municipal-First Nation government relations

These include a specially commissioned Wampum Belt presented in 2018, as well as the raising of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation flag at Town Hall to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, 2021.

The meeting included a re-commitment of the Wampum Belt, a smudging ceremony, and a conversation on how the parties can continue to work together as stewards of the Town, the land and its beautiful natural features.

In 2018, Mayor Allan Thompson presented a Wampum Belt to Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Chief Stacey LaForme. The belt was commissioned by an Indigenous artist and is inspired by the 200th anniversary of Ajetance Treaty 19, which encompasses the Town of Caledon, and includes other important symbols to illustrate the significant and historic meaning behind the presentation.

“We are connected by Treaty 19, and we're also connected through deep respect for the lands that make up the Town of Caledon,” said Thompson. “The meeting and presentation of the Wampum Belt in 2018 has grown into a friendship I greatly value today.”

The Belt features seven white beads representing the benefit to the next seven generations. There are two figures on either side—one to represent Indigenous and one non-indigenous—the distance of each line from each figure is equal to the diagonal line of a renewed friendship and alliance of 200 years. 

“When I received this, I was very pleased it was representing the treaty and the friendships,” said LaForme. “The belt was given to us as an act of friendship recognizing the treaty and the ceremony was done through a Canadian structure on Caledon Day. I'm glad it was done that way because this is reaffirming a journey for us and doing it through your own processes is meaningful for you and it means you're committed to this relationship. 

“The day will come in the future when we'll do this through ceremony of my people. But before that happens, we have to understand all of what that entails and all of what that means. I'm very happy to start this journey and very happy we've reaffirmed this.”

With Caledon growing in population and the future official plan underway, Thompson reiterated that this partnership will be key in ensuring development and growth are handled in the right way.

“Caledon is at an important time in our history and over the next 30 years we'll experience significant growth as we have the opportunity to plan responsibly for that growth. Through careful planning and community consultation we can create a complete community where people can work, live, and enjoy the land and its natural features and be connected to the greater GTA. By working in partnership with our Indigenous peoples, we can develop meaningful programs for youth, we can work together to meet targets in our climate change action plan and reduce our carbon emissions to net zero by 2051. Through collaboration and consultation, we can work together with our provincial partners on challenging issues like the aggregate resources act and aggregate pit rehabilitation as well as our official plan that is our roadmap to Caledon.”

Over the summer when the 215 graves of children were found in Kamloops at the grounds of a residential school, LaForme sought out community leaders and applauded Thompson and Caledon for their action and understanding of the gravity of the moment. 

“I want to point to the fact that the first time there was the uncovering of the children at the residential [school] site, when I reached out to the federal and provincial government I didn't expect much to be done quickly, but when I reached out to some of my friends who are mayors and said, ‘we think this is a time for this country to stand together and lower your flags in respect, love, and grief,' I was glad Caledon was one of those that joined us in doing so right away,” LaForme said. “It's an important thing because this is an important time in this country. This is a time when we decide how we go forward as a people in this country.”

Due to COVID-19 the meeting was closed to the public but was streamed live online for the community to watch.