Land Acknowledgment


“2017 – Road Trip – Winnipeg – Canadian Museum of Human Rights” by Ted’s photos – For Me For You is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

In the spirit of reconciliation, I acknowledge the land in which I live, work and play is located on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish, specifically Esquimalt, Songhees, Scia’new, and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat Nations.

I grew up on the Sooke Nation Land (with my sister, my brother and my mom), it is home to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. I moved back to the Island after spending much of my adult life raising a family, attending university and beginning my career in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta which are the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations and the Métis Nation (Region 3). 

In personal reflection and an ongoing commitment to taking tangible actions in a long and necessary journey toward reconciliation and a world without racism, I pledge to join conversations around stolen lands, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the recently found bodies of over a thousand Indigenous children that had attended residential schools. 

Though this is small in comparison to what needs to be done, I also acknowledge that the privilege I hold as a non-Indigenous person does and continues to grant me freedoms and rights not shared equally by all.  It is important to understand and acknowledge past injustices. I am and will continue to work towards being an ally and question colonial systems that have high costs to First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.

I will use my education to not cause further harm, whether intentional or not; my online presence will be bound by international action and reflection of who is part of the conversation and who is not. I was invited on this journey that began with the support and encouragement of my colleagues and friends and I hope to inspire others who passively lived their lives to pause and learn about the beautiful land, culture, art, dance and so much more that are a part of the communities and lands we enjoy every day.

I am grateful.