“The Treaty of Niagara Covenant Wampum Belt provided the inspiration for this Moment. May today mark the renewal of those pledges of peace and friendship made over 200 years ago . . . May this mark the beginning of a new partnership between the people of this region and our First Nation”
- Chief Bryan Laforme, August 21st, 2014
Established in 2014 by members of the Waterdown District High School community, the Souharissen Natural Area is an important natural space dedicated to Treaty education in Flamborough. Inspired by the 1764 Treaty of Niagara, the Souharissen Natural Area covers 55 acres in East Waterdown (the Waterdown Bay Development Area), including 104 Indigenous archeological sites, and has been developed and maintained through a partnership between local residents and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
From its joint dedication by the Honourable David C. Onley, 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Chief M. Bryan Laforme and Council of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Souharissen Natural Area has been the site of numerous projects by students and other members of the Waterdown community. Learn more here.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this important space, the WDHS Treaty Studies students are being asked to support “The Ponds” area of the Souharissen Natural Area. “The Ponds” are located west of the Trend Condo Towers and are heavily used by residents for walks. Currently, there is no signage identifying this 7.05-acre space as part of the Souharissen Natural Area, nor the Treaty relationships meant to be highlighted.
This project was approved by the Ogiima kwe and Council of the Mississaugas of the Credit (January 2024). Treaty Studies students presented their plans for “The Ponds” to the 12th Historical Gathering at New Credit on April 30th, 2024.
From its joint dedication by the Honourable David C. Onley, 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Chief M. Bryan Laforme and Council of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Souharissen Natural Area has been the site of numerous projects by students and other members of the Waterdown community. Learn more here.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this important space, the WDHS Treaty Studies students are being asked to support “The Ponds” area of the Souharissen Natural Area. “The Ponds” are located west of the Trend Condo Towers and are heavily used by residents for walks. Currently, there is no signage identifying this 7.05-acre space as part of the Souharissen Natural Area, nor the Treaty relationships meant to be highlighted.
This project was approved by the Ogiima kwe and Council of the Mississaugas of the Credit (January 2024). Treaty Studies students presented their plans for “The Ponds” to the 12th Historical Gathering at New Credit on April 30th, 2024.
"The Ponds" - part of the Souharissen Natural Area located west of the Trend Condo Towers. Picture from 2021.
Important Class Documents
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In the News
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Sterling Fletcher presents "The Ponds Project" to a meeting of the Flamborough Community Council on May 23rd, 2024.
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Presenting "The Ponds" Project at the 12th Historical Gathering hosted by the Mississaugas of the Credit (April 30th, 2024) |
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Work with Ms. Robinson's Grade One and Two students
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Visting The Ponds on May 28th, 2024
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Our Treaty Studies students hosted their friends from Allan A. Greenleaf at The Ponds on May 28th. Together, the students looked for relationships (human and non-human) in the space, as well as planted seeds sourced from Kayanase (www.kayanase.ca) throughout the area.
Students learned about Treaty, helping to select the locations of "Polishing the Chain," an art piece that will be installed in the coming weeks to educate the community about the Silver Covenant Chain, including Indigenous leaders Nahnebahwequa (1824-1865) and Emily C. General (1908–1991). |
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Committee Briefs
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| Monument Stone Committee Brief |
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Tom Benner's statue of Nahnee at the Guelph Arboretum.
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| Rock Design Blueprints following consultation (May 2024) |
| Maisie Brief (April 9, 2024) |