Land Acknowledgement: Intention and Action

Land acknowledgements are important to me. I value the opportunity to pause and to think about what it means to live and work in a place that is shaped by a long history that precedes me, and what my responsibilities are to future generations who will call this place home after I’m gone. I also value the opportunity to think about how I fit into the vast network of ecosystems that comprise this land and make it one of the most biodiverse places in Canada.

More specifically, land acknowledgements give me an opportunity to learn about what I was not taught in school:  the history of Indigenous Nations, cultures, and ways of knowing that are inextricably tied to this land; the history and ongoing impact of colonialism on a people who are our sovereign neighbors and friends; the history of the treaties that made the creation of Canada possible—treaties that lay out rights and responsibilities that must be honoured and enshrined in law and everyday practice.

In recent years, as Land Acknowledgements have become more common place, they have also become more scrutinized and critiqued by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks alike. Some say, quite rightly, that they have become formulaic, perfunctory, empty of meaning. And it is certainly true that when land acknowledgements are delivered without purpose and intention—when they are simply robotically rehearsed and twinned with an event’s “housekeeping,” they can do more harm than good.

So, I advocate for land acknowledgements that are thoughtful and delivered with intention and purpose. Non-Indigenous folks often tell me they don’t want to give land acknowledgements because they don’t want to say the wrong thing. I get that—But I would also say that there are many ways to acknowledge the land and Indigenous peoples. And they don’t all involve standing up at the beginning of an event and speaking. A land acknowledgement can be an everyday practice, a habit of learning and being. It can involve learning more about the treaties that comprise this land. It can involve learning about the First Nations, Metis and Inuit People in Canada. It can involve going to a Pow-Wow or participating in days that recognize Indigenous peoples and histories. It can involve learning about Indigenous organizations in London that serve a growing and diverse urban Indigenous population. It can involve buying art from local Indigenous artists. It can involve learning about Truth and Reconciliation.  It can involve asking your organization, your faith community, your service clubs and workplaces about what steps they are taking to advance Truth and Recognition and adopt Indigenous cultural humility training and strategic plans.  It can mean supporting local Indigenous-owned and operated business. It can mean supporting Indigenous Rights and calling out instances of systemic and overt anti-Indigenous racism. It can simply mean taking some time each day to practice gratitude for the land and water that sustains us all. These are just some ways – there are many more.

I would like to acknowledge the great many Indigenous people who have for over a decade, helped shape my understanding, who have aided my learning, who have offered friendship, guidance and who continue to offer me a place of accountability, community, and relationship.

Tom