Land acknowledgment is not a new concept, however, many continue to struggle with the how, what, where and why of a ‘land acknowledgement’.
According to Google, “Acknowledging territory is an expression of gratitude to First Nations people for protecting and being stewards of the land, but not a ‘thank you’ for the (stolen) land. Introduce yourself, where you are from, and what your relationship is to the land and to the Nation(s) where you reside.” Whereas, Wikipedia states, “A land acknowledgement or territorial acknowledgement is a formal statement that acknowledges the original Indigenous Peoples of the land, spoken at the beginning of public events. The custom of land acknowledgement is a traditional practice that dates back centuries in many Indigenous cultures.”
Too often, land acknowledgements have lost their sacred teachings through colonization, in the name of protocol and political correctness.
Historically, our Indigenous people used many ways to announce themselves on the land for various reasons. Singing and drumming, paddling on canoes, as one Nation entered another’s territory; shouting out the name of a newborn child, into the sacred 4 directions of East, South, West and North, as the child is introduced for the first time; acknowledging who we are and where we come from in our mother tongue at ceremonies and feasts are only a few examples. Land acknowledgement is ceremonial. Land acknowledgement is for everyone.
As Indigenous people, we believe that all things in this Universe, inanimate and animate have a spirit. Therefore, when we announce ourselves, we are essentially introducing our spirit and calling on Creator, the spirits of Universe and the spirits of the Ancestors of the traditional lands we are on. When we understand the teaching that ‘ceremony is life and life is ceremony’, we can begin to understand the importance of a land acknowledgment to introduce ourselves, guide us, our work, and our intentions with all that is scared in the Universe.
In the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action under Business and Reconciliation, Action #92 it states:
“We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:
iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.”
In alignment with the ‘Calls to Action’, it is imperative to note that two WorkBC sites currently operate on the unceded territories of Quw’utsun’ (Cowichan Tribes) and Stz’uminus (Ladysmith). To date, there are no treaty negotiations, therefore these lands rightfully belong to the original inhabitants and stewards of these areas. To move into action and support respectful work here at ETHOS and WorkBC, the following attached land acknowledgments have been developed in partnership with each distinctive Lands Departments of Cowichan Tribes and Stz’uminus First Nation.
To ensure WorkBC and ETHOS staff are comfortable in their understanding of the land acknowledgements provided and pronunciation of the language, I have made myself available to support and guide your work. As the Community Engagement Coordinator of WorkBC, I can be reached at [email protected], Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Fridays by appointment. I am eager to discuss via Zoom, Teams, phone or in person any concerns, questions or dialogue regarding the information shared in this article.
Honored to journey with you.