The first step in any healing process is acknowledgement. Balancing on the Edge’s operations take place in Tkarón:to, located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, the Wendat, the Anishinaabeg and the Mississauga’s of the Credit. Tkarón:to is subject to the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and a confederacy of Anishinabek and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. Tkarón:to is covered by Treaty 13 an ‘agreement’ with the Mississaugas of the Credit. Like many treaties, Toronto Purchase Treaty 13 has a checkered history.

Taking the time to learn about it is just one small step towards understanding the privilege held by those of us who live and work on this land as settlers. Since time immemorial, this land has been stewarded by Indigenous peoples. We would like to express our gratitude to the countless unnamed caretakers, whose lives and stories have been lost due to colonial history.  

As a company, we recognize that our artistic work has benefited from funding models that have historically oppressed Indigenous culture, valuing certain modes of artistic expression over others. Moving forward we are committed to an ongoing process of education, reflection and action creating a platform to amplify and support populations within our community that have historically been under nurtured.  

Water not only plays an essential role in our daily lives but also within our current production ANTHROPIC TRACES. Living within a colonial system, it is important to recognize our responsibility to move towards reconciliation. The lack of clean and safe drinking water in more than 100 First Nation  reservations is a violation of human rights.  

We encourage you to consider how we as individuals can educate ourselves and take action in supporting immediate and effective solutions to the ongoing water crisis, inequality and harm which disproportionately targets Indigenous Peoples in Canada. To find out more and support charitable initiatives dedicated to this issue please visit the links below.

This land acknowledgement is just a first step. What else can we do? We never know when individual actions will end up being a catalyst for change. We all play a role in transforming the world we live in. What traces do we want to leave behind?