Tkaronto is a Kanien:ke’ha name meaning where the trees stand in the water. We also know this place as Toronto, which has been the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabeg peoples since time immemorial. It has always served as a gathering and carrying place for Indigenous peoples.
These shared Lands are part of the Nishnaabeg and Haudenosaunee friendship treaty, called Our Dish or a Dish with One Spoon.
This agreement is rooted in reciprocity and responsibility for our Lands, Waters, and human and non human kin. These Lands and Waters are one dish that we all share and care for. We only take what we need and always leave enough for others. We invite you to consider all our relations while gathering; to ask yourself what you will receive from these Lands and what you will give in return.
Today, Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and many other Lands call Tkaronto home. These Lands have also forged relations of solidarity and care with Black communities in the city. This city is home to over 150 libraries, with a variety of collections and a vast array of services and languages, serving nearly 3 million people.
We encourage those who plan to join us in 2025 to consider how our collective knowledge and memory practices will sustain these Lands and our relations who depend on them. As hosts of IILF, we welcome you to bring your Knowledges and experiences of your Nations, communities, literacies, and libraries to these Lands. We look forward to creating lasting relationships and transformative conversations as we welcome you to Tkaronto in June 2025.
You can contact us at iilftoronto25@gmail.com.
IILF 2025 