HDI takes on the City of Toronto and its consultants
July 17, 2025, Haudenosaunee Territory (Toronto), ON – The Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) is prepared to shut down all construction activity on Withrow Avenue following revelations that the ancestral remains of the Haudenosaunee people have been kept in a dump truck for over a year after being extracted from an active archaeological site. The current location of this dump truck, and those remains, is unknown.
“For over a year, the City of Toronto and its consultants have refused to grant us access to our ancestors’ remains,” said Aaron Detlor, legal counsel for HDI. “We’ve been denied basic information, denied consultation, and denied respect. Now we have been told, in writing, that those remains are actually sitting in a dump truck. This is beyond negligent. It is an outrage and disgraceful.”
Archaeological Services Inc. (ASI), the consultant contracted by the City of Toronto, has acknowledged the presence of human remains and confirmed that the remains were placed in a dump truck and moved from the Withrow Avenue site.
Despite its claims to be a “partner” with Indigenous Nations, ASI has moved forward without obtaining free, prior and informed consent from the Haudenosaunee, in direct violation of both Canadian and international law. HDI notes that other archaeological firms declined to work on the site for ethical and regulatory grounds. ASI did not.
The site at Withrow Avenue is a designated Burial Site Investigation zone and part of a broader area built on top of an historic Haudenosaunee village. A city-installed plaque erected across the street openly acknowledges this. Despite many pleas, the Haudenosaunee have been denied any meaningful role in overseeing the treatment of their ancestors.
The consequences of this extend beyond cultural and spiritual vandalism. If a burial site is confirmed beneath a home, demolition may be required – which will leave local homeowners in a state of uncertainty, as well.
Due to the appalling disregard shown by the City of Toronto, we must proceed with our own investigation. The remains of Haudenosaunee ancestors must not be treated like trash. They are to be returned to the Earth with the respect, ceremony, and dignity they deserve.
This conflict is not just about Withrow. It is an indicator of what is to come under the provincial Bill 5, which grants cabinet ministers sweeping powers to override environmental, heritage, and archaeological protections – powers that have already led to the disregard of Indigenous voices and the desecration of sacred sites.
Withrow Avenue lies fully within Haudenosaunee traditional territory, over which we have never ceded or relinquished jurisdiction through treaty, surrender, or lawful agreement. As such, HDI reiterates that it does not consent to any further archaeological activity at Withrow Avenue until its jurisdiction and protocols are fully respected. We also again demand the immediate return of our ancestors’ remains.
If the City of Toronto and its agents continue to ignore their legal obligations, HDI and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy stand ready to act.
