The MCares lab has developed this land acknowledgment as part of our decolonization process and commitment to learning about the Indigenous peoples who were the original stewards of the land on which McMaster University is situated. McMaster University recognizes and acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement. Wampum belts, which are beads bound onto strings, narrate Haudenosaunee history, tradition and laws. The “Dish With One Spoon” wampum was created to bind the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to the Great Law of Peace. The dish symbolizes the territory and the one spoon represents the sharing of resources between all people, taking only what is needed from the land. Recognizing that members of our lab reside across Turtle Island, we encourage ourselves and others to explore the languages, treaties, and history of the lands that we are individually situated on through https://native-land.ca/.
The MCares lab, deeply values and honours the rich heritage and profound contributions of Indigenous communities. We are committed to fostering an environment that respects and integrates Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and practices. This commitment extends to ensuring equity within our lab and our broader academic and research practices. This acknowledgement by itself is not sufficient thanks to the Indigenous communities whose land has been desecrated by colonization. As a lab, we commit to upholding Jordan’s Principle and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, particularly call to action #19, which calls for the gaps in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to be identified and closed.
As a lab, our goal is to engage both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in research that promotes equitable access to healthcare and optimal health outcomes for children, youth and their families. Additionally, we aim to embed decolonizing approaches in our research through prioritizing the co-creation of research priorities, approaches and outcomes alongside communities in partnership.