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"Flowers are the music of the ground. From earth's lips spoken without sound." - Unknown, Japan
Land acknowledgement history lesson for settlers
"Spanning generations, acknowledgment of the land is a traditional custom of Indigenous people when choosing to welcome outsiders onto their land and into their homes." In other words, it is not up to me, a settler, to make the land acknowledgment.
I will say this instead: I live and work on unceded land, colonially known as Nelson, British Columbia, but the traditional territory of the Sinixt (Lakes), Syilx (Okanagan), Ktunaxa, and Secwepemc (Shuswap) peoples, the Métis peoples and all and any indigenous beings who call this place home. I would like to pay my respect to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
As for me, I am learning as I go, standing in solidarity with these nations and recognizing the need for change in the systems that continue to oppress indigenous people in our community and across the country. I respectfully acknowledge the occupation of unceded territory here and stolen land (elsewhere) and stand behind the effort, resiliency, and many timely and essential knowledge and insight and brilliance brought by indigenous people.
As I learn, I encourage other settlers to learn more about and pay your respects to the stewards of traditional territories wherever you happen to set foot. To learn more about where you stand: https://native-land.ca/
Source: https://calgaryfoundation.org/about-us/reconciliation/land-acknowledgement/ and https://wccrs.ca/peace-program/