York University in Tkaronto (where there are trees standing in the water) is on Land belonging to the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat, treaty territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and is currently home to many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. Tkaronto is part of land covered by Treaty 13 and governed by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region and all creatures residing within it, limiting what we take from the Land so there is enough for everyone else.

Indigenous nations are defending their Lands, culture, and sovereignty against the settler-colonial violence of Canada and the Canadian state, continued occupation of Indigenous territories, destructive extraction and pollution of Indigenous Lands, sexual violence against missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and gender-nonconforming folks, mass incarceration, forced child removal through foster care, cultural extermination, genocide, police brutality, and various other forms of violence. Indigenous peoples have been resisting this system for centuries, and continue to do so. 

We recognize the central role Christianity and Christian churches have had, and continue to have, in this colonial violence and genocide. We actively work to hold our faith traditions and churches accountable, correct our mistakes, end our complicity in colonial violence, and direct material resources of churches towards undoing and repairing these harms they have done to others. We stand with Indigenous peoples in their struggles and demands for Land, water, and ultimately their total sovereignty. 

Indigenous solidarity requires more than just words — it requires education, material support, and action. You and your faith communities can support Land defenders and Indigenous struggles here: Gidimt'en Checkpoint / Unist'ot'en Camp / Wet’suwet’en resources on allyship and solidarity / 1492 Landback Lane / Aamjiwnaang Solidarity against Chemical Valley / Free Grassy Narrows / Friends of the Attawapiskat River / Learn about the history of this land: www.whose.land

Indigenous solidarity links compiled here (for sharing): https://linktr.ee/scmyork