Equitable, Sacred, and Sustainable Use of Creator’s Gifts (ESSUCG)
The Robinson Huron Treaty territory is our Mother through which the Creator provides gifts to us and all our Relations. The Creator has taught us to share our gifts as codified in the Dish with One Spoon Wampum agreement. The Creator has also taught us to remember our sacred responsibilities and ceremonies. We are to remember this way of thinking as make decisions on how to use and share these gifts and to protect our Mother including all of our relations.
Projects and activities
For effective and appropriate decision making to happen, leadership needs information and tools to implement. The ESSUCG programs aims to gather relevant information, data, and knowledge to share and present to our Ishkode Kaan.
Impact and outcomes
Soon after I started in September 2023, it was important to hear from Elders, Knowledge Holders, and those Anishinaabe Academics from our communities. Three workshops were held in 2024. The first 2 were gatherings of Elders and Knowledge Holders conducted in Anishinaabemowin. A third workshop was held for Knowledge Holders who work in an academic setting. RHW is very blessed to have a high number of both Anishinaabe Knowledge Holders and Anishinaabe Knowledge Academics. We continue to seek and use their knowledge, guidance, perspectives, connections, and wisdom.
News
As was announced at the RH Treaty Gathering held last year on September 9 in Bawating (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), the ESSUCG – RHW Environmental Stewardship department will be presenting, at this year’s 2026 gathering in Wasauksing, the ‘Preliminary RHT Lands Assessment Report’. Not surprisingly, the past 175 years of mining, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, urban development, transportation and energy corridors, and other activities has taken a toll on our lands. These activities have left behind a lot of contaminants. Further, there are now numerous invasive species in our territory, not to mention an increased concentration of green house gases that blanket our atmosphere.
Upcoming initiatives
Regarding planned activities, we are in the midst of working with our 21 communities to consider ways to address moose harvesting issues. Given the sacred relationship we have with all species, and for moose in particular, we want to ensure the populations are sustainable, the no moose are wasted, that they are protected as best as possible from disease, and that they are not being hunted by unauthorized people. We will have more to report in the future.
Let’s connect
Reach out to us for more information on our work.
- Neil Jones
Director of ESSUCG
