Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Institut royal d’architecture du Canada
Territorial/Land Acknowledgement Guide
Updated July 31, 2024
Cliquez ici pour la version francaise
Note about this resource: The following resource is for general information purposes only and is not prescriptive. Users are encouraged to reflect on personal land acknowledgements and tailor for each use. Land acknowledgements should not be performative or formulaic. The information in this resource will be periodically updated and should be considered an evolving, working guide.
I’d like to acknowledge that we are on stolen land.
I’d like to acknowledge that we are on borrowed land.
I’d like to acknowledge that we are on overdue land.
I’d like to acknowledge that we are on pickpocketed land.
****
I’d like to acknowledge academic colonialism.
I’d like to acknowledge activist colonialism.
I’d like to acknowledge that we are on bureaucratic land.
I’d like to acknowledge poetic colonialism.
I’d like to acknowledge drinking a glass of water ten minutes ago and not having to boil the water first.
I’d like to acknowledge the ice on the inside of the walls when I lived in Labrador in the 1970s as part of the military occupation
of Inu/Inuit/Indian land.
I’d like to acknowledge not having mold in my son’s room.
—Clint Burnham, excerpt from No Poems on Stolen Native Land (2010)
What is a Land Acknowledgement?
From an article by Selena Mills, an Indigenous writer, written in March 2019.
“Land acknowledgements are an honest and historically accurate way to honour and recognize the traditional First Nations, Metis and/or Inuit
territories of a place.
They can be presented verbally or visually for example, signage, short theatre presentations or simple spoken-word greetings.”
According to Anishinaabe-kwe Wanda Nanibush, the first curator of Indigenous art at the Art Gallery of Ontario, land acknowledgements have one goal, regardless of the format: They commemorate Indigenous peoples’ principal kinship to the land - and the fact that we have not and cannot be erased from her, our collective first mother. “They’re a starting place to a change in how the land is seen and talked about,” she says. “[They] help redefine how people place themselves in relation to First Peoples.”
Why offer a Land Acknowledgement?
Land acknowledgements are a necessary first step toward honouring the original stewards and caretakers of the land and water, and showing recognition of and respect for Indigenous/First Peoples both in the past and the present.
Land acknowledgements create an awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights in Canada and the history and legacy of Colonialism.
Land acknowledgements should be specific to the territory we live in, the domain of work done on this land, and the Indigenous treaties surrounding us.
Land acknowledgements are a critical step towards amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples and establishing a meaningful relationship with our Indigenous colleagues.
Stating a land acknowledgement at the beginning of an event/meeting can make Indigenous/Metis/Inuit peoples feel safe and welcome in the space. However, it is important that an acknowledgement is not treated merely as a pro-forma gesture before the "real agenda" starts. Instead, it should be a genuine and meaningful recognition of the land and its original stewards and caretakers, reflecting a sincere commitment to respect and reconciliation.
The RAIC is committed to working in partnership with our Indigenous colleagues to pursue a more inclusive, collaborative and respectful path forward grounded in the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
How to draft a land/territorial acknowledgement?
The following elements should be included:
-
Name the territory(ies) you are currently living in, working in, or visiting.
-
Explain why you are acknowledging the land and what your relationship with the territory is.
-
Address the historical Indigenous/Metis/Inuit rights to the land.
-
Try to make them more personal, heartfelt and meaningful; also historically accurate.
-
Do some historical research and analysis to understand the complexities of treaties, territories.
-
Understand displacement and how that plays into land acknowledgements
-
Use appropriate language; use past, present and future tenses
-
Correct pronunciation for the names of the Tribes, places, and individuals that you’re including.
Land acknowledgements should be stated with the following intentions:
-
Sincerity, self-awareness
-
Recognition
-
Respect
-
Humility, responsibility
-
Relationally
-
With generosity
-
Transformative
When to use a land/territorial acknowledgement?
-
At the beginning of a meeting: staff meeting, Board meeting
-
Meeting with external stakeholders
-
Committee meetings, task force meetings, and working groups
-
On-line events, webinars, educational sessions
-
In-person events, public gatherings
-
Conferences
-
Organizations website, email signature block of staff
-
In speeches, verbal presentations, publications, reports or other formal documents that the RAIC publishes.
Whose land am I on?
To acknowledge this land on which we stand is to acknowledge truth. To acknowledge truth is to acknowledge connection and disconnection. To acknowledge connection and disconnection is to acknowledge the Nations who care for our mother. To acknowledge our mother is to acknowledge truth. To acknowledge truth is to acknowledge that truth is at the forefront of the conversation.
- Monique Aura, quote originally from Whose Land
Acknowledging the land you occupy is not merely a gesture of respect but an essential step towards reconciliation and understanding Turtle Island’s history. Recognizing the territory you reside on is significant, as it allows you to express your gratitude to those whose land you reside on while also raising awareness of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures and histories. It addresses the deep-rooted connections Indigenous peoples have to their territories, while recognizing colonialism as not only a historical issue but an ongoing oppressor.
To determine whose land you are on check out the following resource:
Native Land website (Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land).
This resource includes an interactive map where you can enter your address or use the map to zoom in on your specific location. The map will then display the Indigenous territories, languages, and treaties associated with that area. By exploring these layers, you can identify the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit groups connected to the land. This resource helps in acknowledging and respecting the original stewards and their relationship with the land and water.
What about a meeting/event with multiple presenters? Is a Nation-wide land acknowledgement possible?
Because there are hundreds of First Nations across Canada, it is not possible to accurately encompass them all in a single land acknowledgement.
If time allows, it is recommended that each speaker share where they are from and briefly pay respects to those territories then continue with this general acknowledgement:
“We acknowledge that Indigenous peoples are the traditional guardians of this land that we call Canada in which we gather here today to *insert purpose of event*.
We acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original stewards of this country and know we have a role to play in challenging the legacies of colonization that we share together.
We recognize our duty to fight for Indigenous rights to be restored and commit ourselves to the journey of healing. We thank the more than 630 First Nations, their people, and ancestors who have taken care of these lands that we share.
Let us take a short pause so everyone can reflect on their own acknowledgement and relationship to the land and be grateful for the diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors have taken care of the land for centuries.
Other Information
The history of the land plays a role in the type of language used. A modern territorial agreement or treaty = traditional territory.
If the First Nations peoples never legally signed away their lands to Canada = unceded traditional territory.
Avoid exclusively speaking in past-tense as colonialism is an on-going process.
Resources
How to know who the land belongs to? Use this resource if you are unsure.
Please note that while the land map presented here is a valuable resource, it's essential to recognize that it may not always accurately depict overlapping territories.
Another resource to identify who the land belongs to.https://indigeneyez.com/
How do you learn about the history and related treaties or if the territory is unceded? Use this resource if you are unsure.
Practice pronunciation of the names of tribes, places and territories, Use this resource if you are unsure.
https://yellowheadinstitute.org/resources/
References, Readings and Videos
Amnesty International, Activism skills: Land and territory acknowledgement. (2017, September 07). Retrieved March 29, 2021.
CBC News (2017). What is the significance of acknowledging the Indigenous land we stand on? Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/ news/canada/toronto/territorial-acknowledgements-indigenous-1.4175136
Colwell, C (2019). Why land acknowledgements Matter. Retrieved from https://www.sapiens.org/culture/land-acknowledgment/
Land Acknowledgement (2021). Community Foundations of Canada. Retrieved from https://communityfoundations.ca/land- acknowledgment/
Marche, S., & Sheidlower, J. Canada’s Impossible Acknowledgement (2017, September 07). New York Times. Retrieved from https://www. newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/canadas-impossible-acknowledgment
Shahzad, R. (2017, July 15). Why acknowledging the indigenous lands we stand on is so important | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/territorial-acknowledgements-indigenous-1.4175136
Native Governance Center. A guide to Indigenous land acknowledgment. (2020, May 14). Retrieved March 29, 2021. Native Land (2021). Retrieved from: https://nativegov.org/news/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/
Robinson, D., Hill, K. J. C., Ruffo, A. G., Couture, S., & Ravensbergen, L. C. (2019). Rethinking the practice and performance of Indigenous land acknowledgement. Canadian Theatre Review, 177(1), 20-30.
About Us. Métis National Council. (n.d.). https://www.metisnation.ca/about/about-us
The next time you present a land acknowledgement, remember Linda Mary Beardy. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/land-acknowledgement-reconciliation-linda-beardy-1.6803674
Allan, B., Simcoe, J., Perreault, A., Chenoweth, J., Biin, D., Hobenshield, S., & Wilson, J. (2018). Understanding Territorial Acknowledgement as a Respectful Relationship. Pulling together: A guide for teachers and instructors (pp. 45-46). BC campus.
CSLA Guide to land acknowledgements. CSLA. (n.d.). https://www.csla-aapc.ca/mission-areas/csla-guide-land-acknowledgements
Truth and reconciliation commission of Canada. Government of Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. (n.d.). https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1450124405592/1529106060525
CBC/Radio Canada. (2018, March 19). Beyond 94: Truth and reconciliation in Canada. CBC news. https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/beyond-94
United Nations. (n.d.). United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples . United Nations. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples
Reports. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. (n.d.). https://nctr.ca/records/reports/
Videos
Land acknowledgements: uncovering an oral history of Tkaronto
How To Create An Effective and Personal Land Acknowledgement
The Importance of Land Acknowledgements
An Introduction to Land Acknowledgment