Land Acknowledgements
land acknowledgements
TRIUMF is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) People, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.
TRIUMF’s home has always been a seat of learning.
History of Land Acknowledgements in Canada
In Canada, land acknowledgements are important acts of reconciliation that recognize the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples and honor their ongoing relationship with the land.
Included in the 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, land acknowledgements have become a common practice in government meetings, educational institutions, and public events. They are part of a broader effort to bring visibility to and begin addressing historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities, including colonization, residential schools, and broken treaties. This is one action of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on lands in Canada from time immemorial.
Note: When speaking to audiences who may be unfamiliar with the practice of land acknowledgements, consider preparing a few talking points using this information to help set context.
Making Land Acknowledgements meaningful
A land acknowledgement is an opportunity to reflect upon our personal relationships with the land: how does this land enable your work, provide space for learning and growth, hold space for communities, etc.? Wherever possible, make the land acknowledgement meaningful by communicating its relevance to the context of the gathering, or your own personal experience.
Examples
- For over 50 years, our lab has been able to serve as Canada’s particle accelerator centre, and we are grateful to the Musqueam for their ongoing stewardship of these lands where we work, collaborate, and discover.
- I’m grateful to be a guest on this land that has been stewarded by the Musqueam since time immemorial.
- As a scientist/student/engineer/technician, I am grateful for this place to learn and work, and I acknowledge the centuries of ongoing stewardship by the Musqueam people.
- Like many Vancouverites, my family and I come from a settler heritage. I want to learn more about the history and importance of these lands for the Indigenous communities who lived here before us, and who continue to live here today, and I hope you will join me in that journey.
A note about off-site meetings:
Many regions across the world are long-standing, traditional homelands for Indigenous communities; many of these have been affected by colonization in manners similar to communities in Canada. When presenting outside the TRIUMF campus, consider the region you are presenting in. Your acknowledgment should be specific to the region in which your event is taking place. If you are unsure, take a moment to research and learn about the Indigenous communities on whose land you may be presenting. For instance, most Canadian universities and institutions will have a Land Acknowledgment on their website (see University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, University of Toronto). Elsewhere, you can learn more about the land you are on by visiting WhoseLand.
For example: Today I am joining you from the traditional territory of (First Nation name/s). I extend my gratitude to (First Nation name/s) and am humbled to be a guest on this land.
Email signature
Per TRIUMF’s Brand Standards, please add the below TRIUMF’s foundational land acknowledgement beneath your email signature:
TRIUMF is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of thexʷməθkʷəy̓əm(Musqueam) people, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this sit