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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Michael Watterworth

Picture of Michael Watterworth Michael Watterworth is a dedicated Health Sciences PhD student at Ontario Tech University, specializing in Biomechanics and Ergonomics, with a focus on the automotive industry. His research aims to create practical ergonomic solutions to reduce injury risks for workers. He explores the potential of upper-limb exoskeletons to support overhead automotive assembly, and develops innovative equations to estimate exoskeleton support ranges and levels. Currently, he focuses on creating more-concrete ergonomic guidelines for overhead work tasks.

In addition to his doctoral studies, Michael contributes to university governance as a student member of Ontario Tech’s Academic Council and Graduate Studies Committee. His hard work has been acknowledged through nominations for the Tim McTiernan Student Mentorship Award, and the receipt of a doctoral scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Outside of academics, he is an active member of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists National Student Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys playing volleyball, soccer, golf, and video games.