FERGUS – Haudenosaunee people from the Six Nations of the Grand River walked through Fergus on Sept. 22, alongside local allies, to build relationships and spread awareness about the Haldimand Proclamation.
The Haldimand Proclamation is a treaty between the Haudenosaunee, or Six Nations people, and the Crown that promises the Haldimand Tract to the Six Nations forever.
The Haldimand Tract stretches 10km (six miles) on either side of the Grand River, from its source near Dundalk village to its mouth at Lake Erie’s Port Maitland.
It covers almost 400,000 hectares (one million acres), but the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve is about 19,000 hectares (46,500 acres) – less than five per cent of the tract.
The Friendship Walk began in Fergus on Friday and continued until Sunday, with social gatherings in St. Jacobs, Waterloo, Brantford, Cayuga and Port Maitland.
During the walk through Fergus, the educational tune Six Miles Deep by David A. Moses played on repeat, with many walkers singing along.
The lyrics explain the history and significance of the Haldimand Proclamation.
When walkers arrived at Victoria Park they were greeted by Gary Farmer and Derek Miller playing a live set, including Six Miles Deep, to kick off an educational social gathering.
Over 150 people registered to participate over the weekend, and attendees in Fergus included Six Nations elected Chief Mark Hill, Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters, many members of the Six Nations and local allies.
Hill said the goal of the Friendship Walks is “to educate and also to further build relationships and maintain them in a positive way.
“There are 38 municipalities up and down the tract, and we want to have a relationship with all of them.”
Understanding the history of the land is important, Hill said, “so we can focus on the next seven generations” and create a good future for them.
The Six Nations of the Grand River launched litigation against Canada and Ontario in 1995 regarding the unkept promises of the Haldimand Proclamation.
Six Nations is seeking compensation for the land lost from within the Haldimand Tract, and the case is expected to reach trial in late 2024.
Hill said they are looking to increase awareness about the Haldimand Tract and build support for their case leading up to the trial.
The reception from political representatives along the tract has been very positive, Hill said, with all levels of governance “working collectively” with Six Nations.
Mayor Shawn Watters said he felt proud to have the group walk and gather in Fergus, and he wants to “be very cognizant of our history and our past – it’s important we understand this history.”
“Canadians and Ontarians need to understand that we are in a court case and understand the importance of this,” said Six Nations councillor Sherri-Lyn Hill.
By walking the tract and building awareness and relationships, councillor Hill said they are honouring their ancestors.
Event organizer Santana MacDonald spent much of the walk carrying a small dog, Sedona, and singing along to Six Miles Deep.
“Most people don’t know the Haldimand Tract even exists, let alone that we are on it,” she said.
It’s okay not to already know – “as long as you are willing to learn, that’s what’s important,” she noted.
Spencer Thomas traveled to Fergus from Six Nations for the Friendship Walk with his nine-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.
For Thomas it is important to share information about the history to “move forward in a good way, so everybody thrives.
“Bringing people together is one of the most important things because we are all medicine for each other,” he said.
The event will have a ripple effect “like a stone cast in the pond,” he said, as attendees will share something they learned with others, and the awareness will spread like ripples on water.
Thomas said creating change takes a conscious effort, and “having conversations with compassion.
“We all carry the trauma of our past generations. Moving forward in a gentle way is the best we can do.”
“We have broken treaty,” said Pastor Peter Bush from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Fergus, and “treaty is profoundly important, both politically and theologically.”
Bush educates parishioners about this history and encouraged them to join the Friendship Walk. About ten members of the church attended.
Bush said he invited parishioners because “the relationship between Indigenous peoples and settlers in this country is one of the critical needs we need to address as a country.”
Elora Centre for the Arts director of development Molly Kleiker said she showed up as part of her life-long journey of learning Indigenous history, and as a step toward reconciliation.
During the walk Kleiker chatted with a few people from Six Nations and had a “very humbling” conversation about Creator and collective stewardship of the land.
The social gathering at Victoria park included a theatrical performance depicting an exchange between a Haudenosaunee man and two early British settlers, and a teaching from Eddie Thomas about the Two Row Wampum treaty.
To learn more about the Haldimand Tract, listen to Six Miles Deep or visit sixmilesdeep.ca.
