MODULE 1: ENTRY 3
I am looking forward to exploring this newly released book this semester as I work on my research project. It provides the history and cultural practice of land acknowledgements and explores the do’s and don’ts as you create your own.
Reference:
Suzanne Keeptwo. (2021). We All Go Back to the Land : The Who, Why, and How of Land Acknowledgements. Brush Education.
It is available to read online through the UBC Library.
MODULE 1: ENTRY 2
Rethinking the practice and Performance of Indigenous Land Acknowledgements summarizes several different presentations that were given for the Canadian Association for Theatre Research. The first speaker, Dylan Robinson, states we complete land acknowledgements to “affirm, declare, assert—Indigenous territories and lands that we are guests upon (and often as uninvited guests) is to begin to name specific histories of colonization and continued non-Indigenous occupation of Indigenous lands. ” (2019). He goes on to outline the importance of the language that we use during a territorial acknowledgements including how we name our position to land and acknowledge the hosts of the land we are on.
Phrasing and word choice, as well as intentions, behind the land acknowledgment should be well thought out and carefully chosen. “To move beyond the mere spectacle of acknowledgement as a public performance of contrition, we must take into account acknowledgement’s site and context specificity. ” Robinson et al. (2019). The quote reminds me of sketch by Baroness VonSketch where a land acknowledgement is read in a theatre before a performance and the intention behind the statement is questioned. It is worth a watch if you haven’t seen before.
Reference
CBC Comedy. (2019, October 14). Land Acknowledgement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7re1r0FY-4Y. Youtube. https://youtu.be/xlG17C19nYo
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, 20-30. https://www.muse.jhu.edu/article/716610.
MODULE 1: ENTRY 1
As my role as Indigenous Ed Lead at my school, I am asked at the beginning of each staff meeting to read a land acknowledgement.
We acknowledge that we are, in all the schools and communities of SD, located within the traditional land of Treaty No. 6 and home of Métis Nation of Alberta Zone 2 and Zone 4. We also acknowledge the Inuit and other diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors have marked their territory since time immemorial, a place that has welcomed many peoples from around the world to make their home here. It is a vast area encompassing large portions of central Alberta & Saskatchewan, places we are blessed to live, work, and play every day. (Aside to Shirley Anne …as a follow up to our conversation on territorial acknowledgments, I had not noticed ours included the live, work and play phrase in it.)
After reading the meeting goes on and nothing further is discussed. Is this meaningful? Is there anyone in the meeting that has a better understanding of the what the land they are living on was used for and who lived there? The following video from the Calgary Foundation was the beginning of my search to find a different ways to acknowledgement the land during our meetings. It is presented by the people from Treaty 7 lands.
“This land has to be acknowledged. The people that took care of this land or a long time have to be acknowledged. You know, at least find the truth about us.”
Beverly Hungrywolf Kainai Nation, Blackfoot confederacy (Calgary Foundation, 2019)
Reference:
Calgary Foundation. (2019, January 27). Land Acknowledgement. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/7re1r0FY-4Y