Next time you are asked to offer a Territorial Acknowledgement, ask yourself:
- Why am I delivering this acknowledgement?
- Where am I located? (Unsure? Use NativeLand.ca and Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada)
- What is the history of this territory?
- What are the impacts of colonialism on the Indigenous people who lived and continue to live here?
- How will I make this acknowledgement personally meaningful?
- Who are you?
- Where does your family come from?
- How/Why did you come to this land/place?
- For non-Indigenous people, ask how can I/we learn and improve?
- For groups, how and why have we, as a collective (i.e. staff, audience), come together in this moment?
- What will I/we do beyond this acknowledgement to dismantle colonialism in my area?
- How will I/we share resources for action, reparations and/or ‘land back’ and/or 'cash back'? Highlight concrete steps and examples.
- Ask when I/we can or should educate or share learning?
- Ask how this work will benefit Indigenous peoples rather than only my/our own position/power/institutions?
- Ask how this work will benefit the land itself?
Places to consider including your Territorial Acknowledgement?
- First day of classes/Orientation
- Course syllabi
- Email signature (including official emails to all students)
- Graduations/Convocation
- Job postings
- Newsletters
- Staff meetings and professional development sessions
- Websites
- Workshops/Conferences
References
Loft, Shelby. “Indigenization: Mapping Your Process - Langara College.” snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Teaching and Learning Development Centre, 2021, https://iweb.langara.ca/tcdc/files/2021/08/Mapping-Your-Process.pdf.
Queens University. “Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.” Office of Indigenous Initiatives | Queen's University, 2023, https://www.queensu.ca/indigenous/ways-knowing/land-acknowledgement.
RAVEN. “Land Acknowledgements: From Recitation to Real.” RAVENtrust.com, 2023, https://raventrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LandAcknowledgementGuide.pdf.
