Indigenous Relations

Acadia Engineering Inc. is headquartered in Belleville, Ontario, within the Bay of Quinte region. We acknowledge that our office is located within the traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Mississauga, and Anishinaabe peoples. We recognize the continuing presence and contributions of Indigenous communities throughout the Bay of Quinte region. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this region and remain committed to treating the land, water, and communities we serve with respect.

We further recognize the enduring presence of the Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte), whose nearby community continues to play an important role in the cultural, historical, and social life of the region.

Understanding Our Local History

The Bay of Quinte has been home to Indigenous peoples for millennia. Long before the establishment of modern municipalities, Indigenous communities lived, travelled, traded, and cared for the lands and waterways that continue to shape the region today. Historical records indicate that the area now known as Belleville was once the site of an Anishinaabe (Mississauga) settlement known as Asukhknosk.

In 1783, following the American Revolution, representatives of the British Crown negotiated what became known as the Crawford Purchase with the Mississauga people. The agreement encompassed lands along the north shore of Lake Ontario, including portions of the present-day Bay of Quinte region, and was intended to facilitate the settlement of United Empire Loyalists and others relocating to Upper Canada.

At the same time, the British Crown sought to honour commitments made to its Indigenous allies during the American Revolution. Beginning in 1784, Mohawk families and other members of the Six Nations Confederacy settled along the Bay of Quinte after being displaced from their ancestral homelands in what is now New York State. Their settlement was later formalized through the Simcoe Deed of 1793 (Treaty 3½), which established the Mohawk Tract and forms the foundation of present-day Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

Today, the Bay of Quinte region reflects the intertwined histories of the Mississauga, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, and Anishinaabe peoples, whose connections to the land continue to shape the cultural and historical identity of the region.

Our Commitment

As engineers, technologists, and project managers, our work influences the built environment and the natural landscape. We recognize that infrastructure, development, and land-use decisions carry responsibilities that extend beyond technical considerations.

Acadia is committed to conducting its work with professionalism, respect, and awareness of the communities and histories connected to the places where we work. We strive to support responsible development, environmental stewardship, and constructive engagement throughout the planning, design, and implementation of our projects.