NYO Canada recognizes that our offices, located in what is now known as Toronto, are within the lands protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe and allied nations to peacefully share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We also acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississauga’s of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississauga and Chippewa bands.

NYO acknowledges the importance of the land we are on and our relationship with the many Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. We acknowledge the historical oppression of lands and cultures of the First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples, and believe that music contributes to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share.

We do this by identifying, understanding, and centering our personal and musical experiences with the land, water, living creatures, culture, and people.

While we do our part in growing, evaluating, and sharing in the responsibility to improve our relationships, we are committed to nurturing a safe space that supports Indigenous voices where they can be heard, acknowledged, and able to freely act without external constraint.

We are grateful to continue this journey and encourage each other to reflect and share the stories of the land, to learn more about its traditional caretakers, and to concurrently give greetings and respect to all aspects of cultural customs, identities, and creation.