Indigenous Kitchener-Waterloo: Haldimand Tract, Nations and Community
An introduction to Kitchener-Waterloo: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Kitchener-Waterloo
Kitchener and Waterloo are neighbouring cities about 105 kilometres southwest of Toronto, governed separately but sharing the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, formed in 1973. The Grand River, a Canadian Heritage River, runs through the region, and the cities stand on part of the Haldimand Tract, land along the river purchased from the Mississaugas in 1784 and granted to the Six Nations. Archaeologists have recorded more than 18 Late Woodland village sites in Waterloo Region, some linked to ancestors of the Neutral people. Pennsylvania Mennonites arrived in 1803, and Kitchener was called Berlin until 1916. Once built on manufacturing, the economy now leans on insurance, finance and technology, helped by the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. The region hosts Canada’s largest Oktoberfest. Healing of the Seven Generations, an Indigenous-led organization, offers child care, youth, family and legal supports across the region.
Kitchener-Waterloo history
On October 25, 1784, Governor Sir Frederick Haldimand signed a decree granting land along the Grand River to the Haudenosaunee. It recognized their alliance with British forces during the American Revolution. The Canadian Encyclopedia says the tract ran about 10 km on each side of the river, from its source to Lake Erie. On February 5, 1798, much of that land was divided into six large blocks for specific buyers. Block No. 2 later became Waterloo Township. By 1828, nearly two-thirds of the Grand River territory had been sold, leased or occupied by squatters. Six Nations lands today make up about 4.8 per cent of the original tract. Waterloo Township was formally established in 1816. Berlin and Waterloo both became villages in the 1850s. Berlin incorporated as a city in 1912. Four years later it became Kitchener, as business owners and other citizens sought to counter doubts about the loyalty of its large German-speaking population. Waterloo did not become a city until 1948. The Region of Waterloo Museums note that this territory lies within lands protected by the Dish with One Spoon wampum.
Treaty and territory
Kitchener and Waterloo are on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral peoples, on the Haldimand Tract, land promised to the Six Nations of the Grand River.
Nearby: Six Nations of the Grand River · Cambridge · Guelph · Elmira · St. Jacobs
Indigenous Kitchener-Waterloo today
The University of Waterloo’s main campus sits on the Haldimand Tract. Its land acknowledgement names the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. A 2023–2028 Indigenous Strategic Plan guides the university’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The university’s 23rd annual Pow Wow is set for September 26, 2026, under the theme Weaving the Generations: Kinship and Community. Four days later, the campus marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with ceremonies and observances. Indigenous students can apply for bursaries, scholarships and tuition waivers through the Office of Indigenous Relations. The campus also has an outdoor gathering space and a walkway called the Two Row Path. Indigenous Student Services offers academic programming and support. Six Nations of the Grand River describes itself as the only reserve in North America where all six Haudenosaunee nations live together. Its culture programs include work in the Cayuga, Mohawk and Onondaga languages. The Nation notes that its current lands are a small fraction of what the Haldimand grant promised. It continues to pursue land claims.
Life in Kitchener-Waterloo
Kitchener counted 256,885 people in the 2021 census, and Waterloo counted 121,436. Manulife Financial and Dare Foods are among Kitchener’s largest employers. In Waterloo, BlackBerry, Manulife and Sun Life lead the list, and OpenText is one of Canada’s largest software companies. Waterloo is also home to the Perimeter Institute and the Balsillie School of International Affairs. The Grand River watershed is the largest in southern Ontario. History is close at hand. Schneider Haus is a national historic site, as is Woodside, the boyhood home of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum sits beside Doon Heritage Village. One featured exhibition there is titled Vintage Black Canada: A Doon Village Introspection. The region’s museum network also includes McDougall Cottage and the regional archives. From research institutes to heritage villages, the twin cities mix high technology with deep local memory.
Kitchener-Waterloo seasons and weather
Waterloo Region gets four distinct seasons, with snowy, cold winters and warm, humid summers. Students crossing campus in January usually rely on a hoodie beneath a winter coat.
More on the region: Indigenous Ontario · all of Canada.
Keep learning in the XUSI Journal
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit: What’s the Difference?
- How to Write a Land Acknowledgement That Means Something
- Orange Shirt Day & the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- National Indigenous Peoples Day and History Month: A Guide
- All Journal articles
Kitchener-Waterloo questions
Can a University of Waterloo or Laurier student club order custom hoodies?
Yes. Custom screen printing has a 10-garment minimum, supports up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. Design help is included, and the finished pieces are printed in Saskatoon and shipped to Kitchener-Waterloo.
Is local pickup possible in Kitchener or Waterloo?
No. Pickup is available only in Saskatoon, so orders are shipped. They leave within 1–3 business days, and shipping cost appears at checkout.
Can a University of Waterloo Indigenous student group order shirts for the pow wow?
Yes. Our custom screen printing works well for campus events like the university’s annual Pow Wow. Orders start at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. We help with the design, print in Saskatoon and ship to Kitchener-Waterloo.
What should I wear for a fall walk along the Grand River?
Fall along the Grand can swing from warm afternoons to chilly evenings. Our Black Oni long sleeve, $54.95, works on its own, and a hoodie from our $59.95 to $89.95 range goes over top when it cools. An A-frame snapback, $44.95, finishes the outfit.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
Kitchener and Waterloo, twin cities on the Grand River, can both shop XUSI online. The Saskatoon-based, Indigenous-owned brand ships its tees, hoodies and hats to either side of the city line.
Kitchener-Waterloo runs on campus life and the Grand River, and we think our pieces fit both. For a late-September pow wow on the Waterloo campus, the Revitalize Culture crewneck or one of our hoodies handles a cool evening. On a July walk along the Grand, our heavyweight cotton tee and an A-frame snapback keep things easy. Students crossing the Two Row Path in November might reach for the Black Oni long sleeve under a jacket. The Golden Era ringer tee is a good fit for a summer afternoon at Doon Heritage Village. We ship all of it from Saskatoon.
