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Truth and Reconciliation

Interested in learning more about the land you live on?

Interested to learn more about the land you live on? Visit www.whose.land to find out which Indigenous Nations, territories and communities you community has settled on. This tool is Canada wide and a great starting point in conversation about reconciliation and land acknowledgement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Truth, Reconciliation, and Justice

Support for survivors and their families of residential schools is available. If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, or the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll free line at 1-800-721-0066. Children and youth in crisis can also call and speak to a counsellor at Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 and youth identifying as 2SLGBTQIA+ persons could call 1-800-268-9688.

The Town of Cobourg is committed to providing their support by:

We are here to listen and take suggestions moving forward on ensuring we have the Truth, before moving to Reconciliation and Justice.

The Town of Cobourg respectfully acknowledge that we are located in the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig (Mississauga) and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations.

We respectfully acknowledge that the Williams Treaties First Nations have been stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters, and that today remain vigilant over their health and integrity for generations to come.

In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, we acknowledge that these treaties have not always been honoured, and often they’ve been broken. We also acknowledge that we are all a part of building good relations.

We are all Treaty People.

View our Land Acknowledgement Guide.

Alderville has been home to the Mississauga Anishinabeg of the Ojibway Nation since the mid-1830’s. Before that time the people lived in their traditional lands around Bay of Quinte (Grape Island) but with the influx of refugee settlement after the American Revolution their existence found itself under increased pressure. The British having lost the American colonies after 1783, were forced to relocate the soldiers and civilians that had been loyal to the King during the conflict. For this reason, the Bay of Quinte became one area of settlement for those who became known as the United Empire Loyalists. The Mississauga then were directly involved in early “land surrenders” along the St. Lawrence River and the Bay, allowing this resettlement to occur. 

Along this corridor the traditional economy of the Mississauga found itself under continued pressure for the next 40 years. The creation of Upper Canada and its colonization, and later the War of 1812, were events much larger than the Mississauga and other related groups could contain. Eventually, by the 1820’s, they found themselves forced to adapt and during this period a number converted to Christianity, primarily Methodism, from the Bay to the Western end of Lake Ontario. By 1826 the Methodists at the Bay had convinced the Mississauga to take up the development of a mission and attempts were made at teaching the people a new agrarian economy. On tiny Grape Island, the people learned to read, write, and to worship in a different manner, becoming a major target group of the early assimilation policies of Canadian church and state. 

While the people basically accepted the value of learning to read and write and adapting to a new economy, at the same time their sense of identity would not allow for a complete surrender of their cultural values and language. The Methodist experience among the Mississauga can best be described as a hybrid, or a mixed composition of traditional and western values and spiritual worldview. 

The Mississauga actually maintained a hold on many of their traditions including the Ojibway language all through the early decades of the Methodist experience. In realizing that harsher policy was being designed to eradicate these traditions did a stronger resistance develop in the communities. For ensuing generations, this resistance toward their complete assimilation existed and it has become the basis upon which the cultural survival of the people has been maintained.

For more information on the Alderville First Nation visit www.alderville.ca 

  1. Read: Learn about Indigenous People by reading books on their history and culture. Visit the Cobourg Public Library to learn more.
  2. Talk: Speak to your non-Indigenous family and friends about ongoing impacts and the residential school system. 
  3. Follow: Connect with Indigenous writers, authors and journalists. 
  4. Participate: Join virtual seminars and teaching opportunities.
  5. Wear: Consider showing your support by wearing an orange ribbon or shirt. 
  6. Memorial or Vigil: Arrange a porch light vigil with your neighbourhood.
  7. Donate: Consider donating to organizations or charities that support Indigenous projects and causes. 
  8. Children: Read together. Reflect. Start having conversations now. Download a colouring sheet here to print at home.
  9. Advocate: Consider advocating for the 94 Calls to Action by calling MP Phillip Lawrence for Northumberland Peterborough-South and other elected officials. Sign the 215 pledge

Books from the Cobourg Public Library

Before the silence: fifty years in the history of Alderville First Nation / Ruth Clarke

What we hold dear: treasured memories of Alderville First Nation / Ruth Clarke & members of the Alderville community

Alderville First Nation…a history / Brian Beaver

The village of Hiawatha: a history / Heather Y. Shpuniarsky & the Village of Hiawatha Book Committee

Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips & Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality / Bob Joseph

Reconciliation manifesto: recovering the land. Rebilding the economy / Arthur Manuel with Grand Chief Ronald Derrickson

Honouring the truth, reconciling for the future: Summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

How we go home: voices from indigenous North America / edited by Sara Sinclair

A mind spread out on the ground / Alicia Elliott

Highway of Tears / Jessica McDiarmid

Seven Fallen Feathers / Tanya Talaga

All our relations: finding the path forward / Tanya Talaga

Recommended titles by indigenous writers to understand residential schools (based on the list curated by David A Robertson for CBC)

Indian horse / Richard Wagamese  (Adult Fiction)

These are my words: the residential school diary of Violet Pesheens / Ruby Slipperjack (Junior Fiction)

Fatty legs: a true story / Christy Jordan-Fenton (Junior Non-fiction)

A stranger at home / Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton (Junior Non-fiction)

I am not a number / Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kacer (Junior Picture Book)

When we were alone / David Alexander Robertson (Junior Picture Book)

Marrow thieves / Cherie Dimaline (Adult Fiction)

Speaking our truth: a journey of reconciliation / Monique Gray Smith (Junior Non-fiction)

Wenjack / Joseph Boyden (Adult fiction)

Broken Circle: the dark legacy of Indian residential schools: a memoir / Theodore Fontaine (Adult non-fiction)

The reason you walk / Wab Kinew (Adult non-fiction)

  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society offers a crisis line for grief, crisis, and trauma counselling: 1-800-721-0066. 
  • Talk4Healing is available online or by phone at 1-855-554-HEAL. 
  • The Métis Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) Healing and Wellness branch has a 24-hour Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Crisis Line, available in English and French. Once connected services can be delivered in person, over the phone, or by video conference: 1-877-767-7572. Non-urgent: Children and Youth (ages 0 – 17): 613-217-3143 Adults (ages 18+): 705-929-4753 Toll-Free Number: 1-800-263-4889 
  • Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada. 
  • Indigenous peoples across Canada can go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. The toll-free Help Line is reached at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.

Treaties are agreements made between the Government of Canada and Indigenous groups that define rights and obligations of both parties. There are over 40 treaties that cover Ontario and Cobourg is situated on land covered by the Williams Treaties 1923). As allies to our Indigenous residents and neighbours,  it is our role to educate ourselves on Indigenous rights. Click here to read more about Treaties in Ontario. 

The Town of Cobourg would like to credit Andy Everson, a northwest coast artist from K’ómoks First Nation in B.C. for the creation of the "Every Child Matters" slogan and logo. 

Contact Us

Town of Cobourg
55 King Street West
Cobourg, ON  K9A 2M2

Phone: 905-372-4301
Toll Free: 1-888-972-4301

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