First Nations Lands
The traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation
As we aim to give life back to what once was an active industrial site at 785 rue Mill, on this land known as “Montréal”, we acknowledge and recognize that we are on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation, a place that has long served as a site of meeting, exchange, and collaboration among Indigenous peoples.
Before the arrival of Europeens, this land was inhabited by Indigenous peoples, primarily from the Kanien'kehá(Mohawk), Anishinaabe (Algonquin), and Huron-Wendat nations.
Map of Native Land. Source NATIVE LANDS
Montreal, situated on the traditional territory of the Kanien'kehá, served as a meeting place and trading hub for various Indigenous communities, who gathered along the shores of the St. Lawrence River.
We honor and respect the continued stewardship of this land by the Kanien’kehá:ka people and acknowledge their enduring connection to it, which has existed since time immemorial.
May we strive to learn from and uphold the principles of reconciliation, mutual respect, and cooperation as we work together towards a more just and inclusive society.
Indigenous ironworkers
At ProjetMILL, our goal is to conduct research and foster discussions on the diverse impacts of industrialization on various communities. We seek to engage experts and individuals from affected groups through panels, conferences, story recordings, and article writing. If you have insights or suggestions on this topic, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Your input will help us delve deeper into this important subject.
Indigenous ironworkers, particularly from Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) communities such as Kahnawà:ke and Ahkwesáhsne, have long travelled across their traditional territories to work, moving with a sense of nationhood that predates and transcends the imposed borders of Canada and the United States. Beginning in the 1880s, after early experiences on major engineering projects such as the Pont de Québec, skilled workers journeyed to New York City, helping establish a generational trade in high steel construction. These workers became renowned for their expertise and courage, contributing to the rise of iconic bridges and skyscrapers across the continent. Their mobility not only shaped North America’s built environment but also reinforced cultural continuity, family networks, and Indigenous identity across urban and industrial landscapes. Learn more through the work of Dr. Allan Downey.
“On May 10th, 2013, the crowning spire of the One World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York was set in place marking the completion of the first of six towers planned as replacements for those destroyed on September 11th, 2001. Atop that tower stood the latest generation of Haudenosaunee ironworkers to follow in the footsteps of Indigenous families who, for the last 150 years, have helped create some of North America’s most iconic landmarks.” -Dr. Allan Downey
