Region 8 is mostly composed of the Greater Toronto Area. We know that the name Toronto comes from a Mohawk word “tkaronto” with its meaning of ”where there are trees standing in the water”. This shows a great strength of Region 8, it is ever full of Change and Strength. After all Mother Earth must give great strength to a tree that stands in the water and that Tree must be ready and willing to change as the waters rise and lower. Toronto, as a City, is ever growing in the day, and then shrinks down that night only to be reborn again the next day. Again and again this happens; all the while the tree still stands. Region 8 has taught this lesson to OCIP, change will always happen, but the tree or OCIP still stands tall. Next, Region 8 has taught the great lesson of Holding onto the Past is written into the Trees rings and bark. So it was not a great jump to move to the idea that we, of OCIP, must record our Traditions or Culture down on Bark so to speak. We must record them on paper or what is being used. For when the water raises who but the tree remembers? It’s the same with People, who but us or in this case OCIP will remember? And therefore who but us is there to record our History? Region 8 shows daily that it is still there and yes change has happened. People have come and gone, but the history or story goes on.
