I acknowledge Richmond Hill, my hometown, as a place shaped by Indigenous presence and relationships since time immemorial. It is on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations of the Williams Treaties and part of the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat. Today, Indigenous people from across Turtle Island continue to live in this community. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, teach, perform and share music in a place that has shaped me and I recognize my responsibility to do so as a guest on these lands.
As a musician and educator, I recognize that the institutions and traditions I work within have been shaped by colonial processes. I commit to building relationships with Indigenous communities, learning about the diversity of Indigenous Nations and supporting Indigenous-led work. In my teaching and music-making, I will continue to question the practices I inherit and make space for Indigenous voices and perspectives.
