At their worst, territory acknowledgments can be cookie cutter, performative, empty gestures. At their best, territory acknowledgements can be an authentic, meaningful step towards decolonization. They are a way to formally recognize and name Indigenous nations as the original owners of the lands we live and work on.
An example of a poorly executed territory acknowledgement? A BC university that will remain nameless ended their acknowledgement with: “and we thank them for allowing us to live, laugh, love and learn here.”
We must aspire to do better than referencing pseudo-inspirational quotes found on any Wal-Mart mug or Target wall art. Not to mention, territory acknowledgments are a place to be truthful about this country’s history. And the truth is, there has never been consent or an “allowing” of settlers to steal their land.
Thankfully Coast Salish educator Len Pierre has created a comprehensive guide, generously sharing it as a free resource to anyone who wants to learn. Pierre’s take is that they should be called territory acknowledgements, not land acknowledgements, because what we are doing is acknowledging the relationship to the land. Within this document, he gives guidelines, examples and instructions on how to move our standard acknowledgements into transformative acknowledgements.
For more help, get in touch with the Len Pierre Consulting firm which provides education, training, and cultural advising.