For thousands of years, the land on which the Presbyterian Church in Burlington sits was cared for by people who honored, cherished and respected it. Before European settlers arrived and laid claim to this space, others made their homes here. We acknowledge that the Presbyterian Church in Burlington resides on ancestral and unceded lands of the Mattakeeset and Massachusett people (whose name was appropriated by this Commonwealth) made up of peoples including the Nipmuc, Pawtucket, and Wampanoag. We pay respect to the Massachusett elders past and present. We acknowledge, and are called to reckon with, the truth of the history of violence perpetrated by settlers and colonists against indigenous peoples. We commit to uncovering that truth and seeking reconciliation.

This article in Presbyterian Outlook explores the painful legacy of the church’s role in atrocities at Indigenous boarding schools. Learn about PCUSA Native American Intercultural Congregational Support at this link.

To learn more about ancestral lands near you, visit Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land