2025-2026 United Way WRC_Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 4
Territorial
Acknowledgement
We gratefully acknowledge that the communities where
we live, work, and invest are located on the traditional
territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and
Chonnonton (Neutral) peoples, including the Haldimand
Tract, land promised in 1784 to the Haudenosaunee of the
Six Nations of the Grand River. This agreement
encompassed six miles on either side of the Grand River,
totaling approximately 950,000 acres. Today, less than five
percent of that land remains under the stewardship of the
Six Nations community. We recognize this history and the
enduring relationship of Indigenous Peoples to these
lands, waters, and communities.
At United Way Waterloo Region, we offer this
acknowledgement not as a formality, but as a
commitment to learning, accountability, and action. As a
community funder, we have a responsibility to advance
reconciliation in how we work with Indigenous
communities. Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission’s Call to Action #92, we seek to build
meaningful relationships, make equitable investments,
and ensure our staff and volunteer leaders deepen their
understanding of the ongoing impacts of colonial policies
and institutions, including the residential school system.
We have made important progress, particularly in
supporting Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives
through our community investments. At the same time, we
recognize that reconciliation requires more than funding
alone. There is still more work to do to strengthen
relationships, expand learning, and embed reconciliation
more fully across our organization and practices. We
remain committed to learning from Indigenous voices,
honouring Indigenous rights and self-determination, and
working alongside Indigenous communities to help build
a more just and equitable future for everyone.
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