LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: MEANING AND ACTION

 Breaking the Glass Case | Chantelle Perreault

---

I have lived in Canada all of my life – in big cities like Toronto and Ottawa, and in suburban towns like Whitby, Ontario – and in all of these instances, I have been culpable of knowing far too little about the Indigenous history of the land I was occupying.

Kanyon Sayers-Roods, a Mutsun Ohlone activist, affirms that "there have always been Indigenous peoples in the spaces we call home, and there always will be". All land in Canada, from coast to coast to coast, has Indigenous connections, and the increasing practice of Land Acknowledgments provides an opportunity for settlers to gain an introductory understanding about past and present Indigenous relationships to this territory. While the practice of acknowledging connections to both the land and the people who reside on it is not new – this has been a tradition amongst many Indigenous cultures long before the arrival of European settlers, and Karyn Recollet, an urban-Cree professor at the University of Toronto, describes it as “an ancient practice that flows into the future” – today, organisations and individuals alike are engaging in the practice of crafting Land Acknowledgements more frequently.

Land Acknowledgments – intentional statements that recognise the relationships between Indigenous people and their traditional land – act to remind settlers of a place’s Indigenous history and the continued presence of Indigenous people in that place today, and encourage settlers to understand how they have come to live on this land, explains Indigenous U of T. You may have heard a Land Acknowledgement spoken aloud at an event, or read one in a syllabus at school. Museums and heritage institutions, in an effort to reconcile their own colonial roots, are also increasingly turning towards the use of Land Acknowledgements.

The process of creating the Land Acknowledgment and the content included in the statement are equally important aspects of the practice. The Native Governance Centre explains that, as a settler, it is essential to begin with self-reflection and an understanding of the goals of Land Acknowledgements — specific goals can differ depending on the institution, but should include the empowerment of Indigenous voices and a commitment to ongoing action. Before beginning, knowledge of the land you are occupying and the Indigenous groups that reside there (historically and presently) is crucial, and this will require research and time. Anishinaabe academic Sheila Cote-Meek also emphasises the importance of connecting with Indigenous people of the territory when possible (and with proper compensation for labour).

The language of Land Acknowledgments is significant: the use of present tense rather than historical references to Indigenous communities reiterates that Indigenous people continue to live on this territory today — colonialism is an ongoing process. 

Land Acknowledgement from the website of the Royal Ontario Museum

Similarly, when Land Acknowledgments are read aloud, accurate pronunciation is required: Emily Riddle of Alexander First Nation in Treaty 6 territory explains that mispronunciation indicates “a lack of effort and consideration” by the organisation. An emphasis on correct pronunciation can be encouraged by including a pronunciation guide, as seen in the City of Toronto’s official Land Acknowledgement.

Pronunciation guide from the City of Toronto's Land Acknowledgment webpage

Land Acknowledgements should also be accompanied by further action – these statements are not made to "check a box", but stem from a commitment to empower Indigenous voices. The Manitoba Museum, following their Land Acknowledgement, lists a series of further commitments towards reconciliation, such as developing collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities and partnering with local communities to share more Indigenous stories. This transparency encourages accountability and makes clear to the museum’s audience that they are committed to specific goals when it comes to reconciliation.

We Are All Treaty People, exhibit at the Manitoba Museum. (Image: manitobamuseum.ca)

Museums often have a colonial past to reckon with, and have a responsibility to understand their connection to the physical land that they occupy. Anishinaabe writer and educator Hayden King reminds us that Land Acknowledgements are not done to validate Canadian presence on the land, but rather to empower and uplift the voices of Indigenous people. At a time where Land Acknowledgements are becoming increasingly common, and can sometimes seem redundant or meaningless, museums have an obligation to reflect on the purposes of these statements, and how they will impact museum practices going forward.