We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

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Azzam Abu-Rayash

Mr. Abu-Rayash is currently a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering in Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, specializing in energy sustainability and smart cities. Pursuing a bilateral career in academia and energy consulting, he is a Certified Energy Manager and Project Management Professional with the Association of Energy Engineers, an Engineering Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, and an Energy Management Consultant with the City of Oshawa. He is actively involved in the campus community as a dedicated volunteer, founder and board member in several non-profit organizations across Canada. The author of a book and eight journal articles, Mr. Abu-Rayash is the recipient of various esteemed awards and scholarships including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award and the Trillium Response Medal. He holds a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from Ontario Tech University, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Neuroscience from the University of Toronto.