Indigenous People’s enduring presence across these lands isn’t always recognized in urbanized areas. But cities are Indigenous Land too. Many Indigenous folks live in cities — many living on the territories of their ancestors, many living as guests on other Nations’ traditional territories.
As a white settler in what is currently called Ontario, I won’t pretend to have a hot take on Indigenous presence in cities. But one thing I am certain of is that climate action and city-building in so-called Canada must be based in Indigenous sovereignty — nation to nation agreements about the land we now share. Justice, history and science tell us this is necessary.