Stewardship of Toronto’s ravines and natural areas is the responsibility of us all. We live and work on this land and communally share the benefits of this unique place. Ravines and natural areas in Toronto have been stewarded since time immemorial by Indigenous Peoples in a shared understanding of our integral place in nature. Canada now seeks reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and this means recognition of our shared responsibility to ensure this sacred land remains healthy and intact.
We acknowledge that Toronto and its ravines are part of the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas Anishinaabeg (Michi Saagig), in Scarborough by the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands, and is now home to an estimated over 70 000 Indigenous people from diverse nations (source: Yellowhead Institute).
Any attempt to steward the land must be done in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report (TRCR) and must therefore be inclusive of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices. “Canadians from all walks of life are responsible for taking action on reconciliation in concrete ways, working collaboratively with Aboriginal peoples. Reconciliation begins with each and every one of us.” (TRCR, p.185). Learning to steward the land together is one such act of reconciliation.
We Are All Treaty People. The land now called Toronto is governed by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum, an agreement among Indigenous nations — including the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee — to share territory and care for it together, without overharvesting. When European settlers arrived, they entered a territory already shaped by this covenant. Living here today means taking on responsibilities to honour its spirit: to share the land, to care for it, and to ensure its abundance for future generations.
By engaging Torontonians in respectful land stewardship, we work toward these responsibilities and support the continued thriving of the ravines and ecosystems we depend on.
The UN IPCC 2019 Special Report highlighted Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and the role it plays in mitigating climate change and land degradation. The resources provided on this website will enable all Toronto citizens to become stewards, protecting the intrinsic value of nature in our ravines.
To learn more about reconciliation, please read the Truth and Reconciliation Reports.
To learn more about Indigenous perspectives on treaties in Canada, visit Yellowhead Institute’s Treaty Map