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A Short Guide to Creating Land Acknowledgments

A practical guide to help Family Councils understand, create, and meaningfully use Land Acknowledgments in long-term care settings.

Introduction

The daily practices of Family Councils take place on traditional Indigenous territories and treaties across Ontario. Family Councils are encouraged to further both dialogue and actions taken in recognition of the land history where their long-term care communities reside. This guide provides a starting point for Family Councils and those working in long-term care to create and learn about Land Acknowledgments.

What Are Land Acknowledgments?

Land Acknowledgments are expressions of gratitude, appreciation, and recognition to those whose territory you work, live, or play on.
They are often shared at the beginning of meetings, events, and in publications to honour Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants and caretakers of the land.

Why Should We Make a Land Acknowledgment?

Acknowledging the land is a step towards truth and reconciliation.
It is important to honour the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land and to understand the long-standing history and negative impacts of colonialism on Indigenous communities.

Writing a Land Acknowledgment

Family Councils can work together to create a meaningful Land Acknowledgment by following these steps:

  1. Build relationships with the Indigenous community(ies) where your home is located to ask how they want their land to be acknowledged. Unless it is explicitly said otherwise, offer payment for their labour—traditional protocol might include a gift such as tobacco or sage.

  2. Discuss the creation of a Land Acknowledgment with Family Council members to ensure all participants can contribute insights and feedback. The statement should be meaningful—not performative.

  3. Determine the purpose of your Land Acknowledgment and what you want to convey. Remember: Land Acknowledgments are a step toward reconciliation, not the end.

  4. Conduct research to identify traditional territories and treaties in your area using resources such as Native-Land and the Ontario Government Map of Treaties & Reserves.

  5. Write the acknowledgment to encompass the past, present, and future.

  6. Include actionable goals to advance truth and reconciliation.

  7. Review your statement for correct spelling and pronunciation of territories, treaties, and First Nation communities.

  8. Prioritize quality over quantity—an authentic and impactful message of any length will go a long way.

Example of a Family Council Land Acknowledgment

“We would like to welcome you all and start our Family Council meeting with a Land Acknowledgment. The Family Council of [Insert long-term care home name], located in [Insert name of city/town], is meeting on the traditional lands of [Insert names of territories and treaties according to location]. We recognize First Nations peoples as the original inhabitants of the land that is now called Canada and we acknowledge that there are 46 treaties and other agreements that cover the territory of Ontario.

We thank the first caretakers and seek to continuously recognize the deep history, land rights, and experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. Our Family Council commits to learning more about Indigenous history and finding ways to uphold calls to action to further truth and reconciliation.”

Note: Land Acknowledgments are not delivered by Indigenous people.

Additional Resources

Family Councils are encouraged to explore additional materials to learn more about Indigenous history, culture, and contemporary issues, as well as ways to advance truth and reconciliation: