My journey began in the Fall of 2023.  My husband and I own a vacant 4.8 acre lot between our house and our daughter’s house.  We had made the decision to not sell it as long as we didn’t need the money.  The local farmer no longer wanted to cut the hay as the acreage was too small.  After much thought I decided that I would like to reforest the land and so I pondered what kind of trees I would grow from seeds.  I had grown some trees from seeds 15 years ago with some success and a lot of satisfaction.  This was also the most economical.  I have always loved gardening, in all its many forms - vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs.  As a young child I took care of the vegetable garden with my dad and I remember pruning all the shrubs around the house without being asked.  It was instinctual for me and I loved caring for the plants.

I have been concerned about global warming for some time now but wondered whether I could take advantage of it and grow tree species from the Canadian Carolinian Forest that stretches from Windsor to St. Catherines in south western Ontario.  Being located near Mt. Forest, ON, the highest point in southern Ontario, we were traditionally too cold for a lot of these tree species.  Maybe now, in 2023, I could grow some new and interesting trees for this area.  Armed with my two new books on “The Canadian Carolinian Forest” and the internet, I started ordering seeds online from Nova Scotia to British Columbia to New York state, USA.

My basement became a tree nursery.  I expanded my existing grow light set up and started growing hundreds of trees from seed.  Spring of 2024 witnessed the planting of nearly 300 trees and shrubs (over 50 different species).  With a lot of successes, many failures, joy and tears throughout the summer of 2024, my little 3 acre hay field had become a budding forest.

Then, in the Fall of 2024 my husband and I saw an advertisement for the Hearts Exchanged Program at the Drayton CRC being led by Nanda and her daughter Katie Zwart.  My husband was very interested in learning more about Indigenous history and I was somewhat interested, so we signed up. The first month was an eye opener, not only regarding the content of the material but the commitment to the number of hours to complete all the extra videos, articles and readings. What a blessing!  The history has been heartbreaking and emotional to learn about but the reward of learning about the First Nations resiliency and rich culture has truly been a blessing.  The care for creation and all sharing resources resonated with me to the bone.  For me it would be what Jesus would want from us to care for one another and the earth.  

We were encouraged to write a personal land acknowledgement statement for the following meeting.  My husband and I sat down together and reflected on the things that we wanted to acknowledge the most.  After learning about the wampum belts exchanged at the signing of the treaties, there was one belt and its interpretation that really resonated with me.  The two purple stripes on a white background represent the people of the ship (European Settlers) and the people of the canoe (Indigenous Peoples) traveling side by side down a river, parallel to each, respecting each other and their cultures.  

Always loving the outdoors, nature and the land and loving the First Nation’s culture and importance in caring for creation it just felt right to dedicate this 3 acre parcel back to nature and acknowledge that this land belongs to no one and we are to use it but care for it and share it with others.  And most importantly that the First Nations were here long before my ancestors came over from Scotland and England.

We are creating works of art and other signs to post throughout the forest for anyone to enjoy but front and centre at the entrance to the forest is our land acknowledgment statement.  Our hope is that when people stop to admire the forest and art that they will read the sign and reflect.  We have also placed a small bench so people can sit and read it and reflect.

The Hearts Exchange Course has been a huge blessing in my life and I hope to continue learning about the history of the First Nations and their culture.  Looking back I can see God’s hand in it all; planting the seed of growing a forest, taking the course and finally the land acknowledgment statement at the forefront of it all.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATEMENT

As current residents of Mapleton and descendents of settlers, we have benefited from assuming control of the most beautiful and productive land in the world.  By not honouring original treaties or recognizing original stewardship, we have greatly prospered at the expense of the First Nations Peoples, in particular the Petun, Mississauga of the Credit & Odawa Nations, the Anishinabewaki and Mississauga.

We failed to honour Treaty 29 of 1827.

As people of the ship we failed in our original commitment to travel along the river side by side with the people of the canoe honouring each other’s traditions and culture.  We acknowledge that the First Nations Peoples have much to teach us about land stewardship and we commit to seeking their advice to become better and more respectful stewards of the land.

We acknowledge that the land ultimately belongs to no one and needs to be shared by all.

John and Susan Foster, 2025

What part of the Hearts Exchanged journey will speak to your skills and interests?  Find out by joining us.  

Photo provided by the author.  Land acknowledgement sign is wood burned by hand and there is a tree under each tube which helps to promote its growth.