The Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) conducted a productive meeting with Infrastructure Ontario’s (IO) representative concerning the archaeology of an OPP Police Station in Burlington.

To date, over 581 Haudenosaunee artifacts have been found on the site, suggesting a significant archeological discovery.

Todd Williams, a representative for the HDI, stated, “A discovery of this magnitude likely indicates a village site of tremendous cultural significance.” Mr. Williams acknowledges the work done to date by IO to recognize the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) as the entity that can address heritage and cultural matters.

Royaner Roger Silversmith, a Cayuga Chief with the HCCC says that the language, ceremonial, and treaty-based knowledge maintained by the HCCC is integral in understanding and protecting sites like these. “Unfortunately, Indian Act entities have lost their connection to the languages, culture, and understanding of our treaties. I am honoured that the HCCC has maintained these for our future generations so that they can assist us with protecting heritage sites like the discovery at the Burlington Police Station,” said Silversmith.

HDI looks forward to sitting down with IO to finalize the details of an agreement that will allow the archeology work to proceed consistent with the nation-to-nation, treaty-based relationship between the Haudenosaunee and the Crown.