As we start a new semester, many of us are arriving to Toronto for the first time, or we're committing to another year of studies in this city, but what do we really know about the land and environment that we live off of while we're here? This week, we had the honour of speaking with Indigenous rights advocate, Maurice Switzer, about the treaties that allow us to make a home here and what we can do, as George Brown students, to uphold the treaty relationships with Indigenous people on Treaty 13 territory (Toronto) and make life healthier and more fulfilling for everyone.
Highlights:
7:26 – How Canada would have failed without the treaty relationship
9:55 – What makes our treaties so permanent
14:05 – Resources to inform people of all ages
18:27 – How can George Brown students support Indigenous rights and treaty agreements
21:26 – Indigenous Initiatives and resources at George Brown College
22:42 – How treaties can help us protect our environment and health
29:00 – How do we respond to broken treaty promises now?
35:58 – The difference between stating principles and enacting Treaty agreements into laws
39:52 – Why Maurice is optimistic about the future
Learn more about treaties with GBC Indigenous Initiatives, here: https://www.georgebrown.ca/indigenous/events-and-teachings/treaty
Find Maurice's book "We Are All Treaty People" here: https://goodminds.com/products/9780986821103