User:The Editor's Apprentice/sandbox2

English

Alternative forms

• land acknowledgment

Etymology

Apparently a simplification or freezing of earlier phrase like "aboriginal land acknowledgement", "stolen native land acknowledgement", "traditional land acknowledgment welcome", "land acknowledgement of Kanienkeha:ka [Mohawk] territory". First attested as a collate in Australia, some Canadian sources note a particular prominence of the practice in urban, western Canada, particularly British Columbia. One Canadian source mentions the existence of the practice before 2001.

Noun

sandbox2 (plural land acknowledgements)

1. Meaning 1
   • 2011 May 30, Jessica M. Clifford, Twitter‎^[16], archived from the original on 2021-12-30:

     What is wrong with the Vic [Victoria, Australia] Government!? No aboriginal land acknowledgement, no public swearing? They are going backwards!

   • 2012 May 8, Students' Union of Vancouver Community College, Twitter‎^[17], archived from the original on 2021-12-30:

     Did u [you] know @VCCishere [Vancouver Community College] Education Council mtg [meetings] start w [with] a land acknowledgement?

   • 2013 July 3, “NOII Orientation Agenda”, in No One Is Illegal Ottawa‎^[18], Blogger, archived from the original on 2021-12-24:

     1. Welcome and introductions/ • Land acknowledgement/ • Accessibility pointers/ • Agenda overview

   • 2015 January 13, Monica Allaby, “Tradiational Territory Acknowledgment^[sic] policy in the works for McGill”, in The McGill Tribune‎^[19], volume 34, number 14, page 3:

     “The land acknowledgement^[sic] statement is important but only one of the first steps,” [Allan] Downey said.

Further reading

{{ws header|land acknowledgement}}

English

Noun

Sense: {{{2}}}

Coordinate terms

	acknowledgement/ acknowledgment	welcome	welcoming	opening
land
territory
territorial
country
		(AU)	(AU)

Notes

Who (does them)

• (non-Indigenous?) people or groups

What (are they)

• Speaking words in a local language.
• Identification of land located on/occupied
• say the land that the event is on is (or was) the homeland of a specific Native Nation
• name of the traditional Native inhabitants of a place [that] honors their historic relationship with the land [...] recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories […] offered with respect, grounded in authentic reflection, presence, and awareness
• Mention of relevant treaty.
• Statement of plans to fulfill obligations
• to detail what [history/treaties/context] compels one to do, what obligations it brings with it, or what commitments one is making
• Recognize the history of colonialism and a need for change in settler colonial societies
• describing the land as stolen, and mentioning a continuing fight for restitution […] a acknowledgment of the complicated past
• -
• “land” refers to sovereign territory, which includes lakes, rivers, and other features
• recognition
• expressions
  • of relationship
  • of acknowledgement and respect
• [...] a small gesture
• (formal, public) Statement of respect
• honouring traditional Indigenous protocol
• Insertions of an awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights
• potential disruption […] that to some extent undo[es] Indigenous erasure […] [by] discomfit[ing] both those speaking and hearing the words
• provoking further thought
• form/act of reconciliation
• [part of] honoring Native communities and [the] larger project of decolonization and reconciliation
• (public) intervention into the business-as-usual conversations
• -
• ask [people] to think about who first lived on the land they’re [moving through]
• to acknowledge the First Peoples on whose traditional territories we live and work
• acknowledging the territory someone is on AND that person's connections to that land based on knowledge that has been shared with them
• recognizes the Indigenous peoples who have been dispossessed from the homelands and territories upon which an institution was built and currently occupies and operates in
• making a statement recognizing the traditional territory of the Indigenous people who called the land home before the arrival of settlers, and in many cases still do call it home
• an admission that the land we stand on belongs to those who lived here before colonization
• identify and pay respect to the region’s original inhabitants
• pays tribute to the original inhabitants of the land
• an honest and historically accurate way to recognize the traditional First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit territories of a place
• honours the authentic history of Turtle Island and the original people of this territory
• recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories
• recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories
• recognizes Indigenous peoples as the long-standing occupants and caretakers of a particular land or region. It offers respect for the enduring relationships that exist between them and their traditional territories
• toward honoring Native communities and enacting the much larger project of decolonization and reconciliation [...] becomes meaningful when coupled with authentic relationships and informed action

When (are they done)

• Anytime, though especially as/at the start of events or other gatherings
  • beginning of ceremonies, lectures, or any public event
  • at [one's] meeting, conference, or event […] opening remarks [for an event]
  • at the commencement of courses, meetings or conferences, and presentations [gatherings?]
  • a way to open events
  • don’t have to be confined to spoken words […] any space, three-dimensional or digital
  • emails, building plaques, syllabi
  • They can be presented verbally or visually

Where (are they done)

• Anywhere?
• In public
• Most sources seem to center around academic contexts, possible source bias?

Why (do people do them)

• encourage primarily non-Indigenous people to recognize that they're on Indigenous land and hopefully do something about it

Meaning

• This is the land that we're on and this is what we're going to do to breathe life into our obligations to those communities and those treaties.
• a statement of respect and a statement that provokes further thought and reflection
• a type of recognition

By Indigenous people of the Americas

• a way that people insert an awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights in everyday life. This is often done at the beginning of ceremonies, lectures, or any public event. It can be a subtle way to recognize the history of colonialism and a need for change in settler colonial societies. […] Some people may also mention the name of a local treaty. Some may learn the language and speak a few words in it.
• sites of potential disruption […] that to some extent undo Indigenous erasure […] [by] discomfit[ing] both those speaking and hearing the words […] Bob Joseph suggests that territorial acknowledgments can also be a way of honouring traditional Indigenous protocol. I disagree that these acknowledgements can accomplish such a thing, as such statements of thanks to hosts barely even scratch the surface of such traditional protocols. In fact, I think it is dangerous to even suggest that territorial acknowledgments alone satisfy protocol in any way unless concrete actions accompany the words spoken. […] [to] locate [oneself] as a guest who is actively working against colonialism
• a political statement encouraging primarily non-Indigenous people to recognize that they're on Indigenous land and hopefully do something about it. […] an intervention into the business-as-usual conversations that are held in universities or government […] who are we, really, to invite anybody into the Dish With One Spoon Treaty? [from audio] What is the state of the Dish With One Spoon Treaty? ~"one thing to state something, another to detail what it compels one to do, what obligations it brings with it, or what commitments one is making. without the latter it is more likely to be superficial"
• [done] at [one's] meeting, conference, or event […] opening remarks that say the land that the event is on is (or was) the homeland of a specific Native Nation. […] When the acknowledgement is a "thank you" it suggests that you (the speaker) are replying to someone. Is it a specific person in a tribal nation? Or, is it Native peoples in the abstract as in no-longer-here? If it is the former, name that person. If it is the latter, reconsider saying it because it comes off as prayer-like. When you say you're a guest on a specific nation's homeland, it implies that you were invited. Were you, in fact, invited to be there by someone of that nation? Some people say "uninvited guest" but doesn't the word "guest" embody invited?
• "form of reconciliation", "ask [people] to think about who first lived on the land they’re [moving through].", "an honest and historically accurate way to recognize the traditional First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit territories of a place. They can be presented verbally or visually"
• "are expressions of relationship, acknowledging not just the territory someone is on, but that person's connections to that land based on knowledge that has been shared with them"
• actually about welcome to country "we are welcoming you to that place, but were actually welcoming you to the intimate relationship we have with that place."

By others

• "a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories"
• "to acknowledge the First Peoples on whose traditional territories we live and work […] takes place at the commencement of courses, meetings or conferences, and presentations [gatherings?]"
• "a formal statement that pays tribute to the original inhabitants of the land"
• "a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories."
• "a formal statement that recognizes Indigenous peoples as the long-standing occupants and caretakers of a particular land or region. It offers respect for the enduring relationships that exist between them and their traditional territories.", “land” refers to sovereign territory, which includes lakes, rivers, and other features.
• "a statement that recognizes the Indigenous peoples who have been dispossessed from the homelands and territories upon which an institution was built and currently occupies and operates in."
• "traditional custodians of the land […] The speaker described the land as stolen, and mentioned a continuing fight for restitution […] a succinct acknowledgment that their country had a complicated past"
• "a way to open events […] an admission that the land we stand on belongs to those who lived here before colonization […] identify and pay respect to the region’s original inhabitants […] an expression of acknowledgement and respect"
• "an act of reconciliation that involves making a statement recognizing the traditional territory of the Indigenous people who called the land home before the arrival of settlers, and in many cases still do call it home."
• "an act of reconciliation that honours the authentic history of Turtle Island and the original people of this territory."
• "a critical public intervention, a necessary step toward honoring Native communities and enacting the much larger project of decolonization and reconciliation […] a small gesture [that] becomes meaningful when coupled with authentic relationships and informed action […] an exercise in power […] a public statement of the name of the traditional Native inhabitants of a place [that] honors their historic relationship with the land […] a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories […] offered with respect, grounded in authentic reflection, presence, and awareness […] don’t have to be confined to spoken words […] any space, three-dimensional or digital
• emails, building plaques, syllabi

Reason

• I'd like to see that commitment. I have to emphasize the circumstance

By Indigenous people of the Americas

• Why is this acknowledgment happening?
  • How does this acknowledgment relate to the event or work you are doing?
  • What is the history of this territory? What are the impacts of colonialism here?
  • What is your relationship to this territory? How did you come to be here?
  • What intentions do you have to disrupt and dismantle colonialism beyond this territory acknowledgment?
• to encourage people to learn and to reflect on their relationships […] to provoke action […] commitment […] ~"to obscure the fact that treaties are actual, tangible, and concrete things does a disservice to nations"
• to disrupt (common description) and to complicate (less common, more powerful?), contest?
• do[ing] one because you think you should, [and only thinking communicating about it it as such], you're just doing it [to check a box which] is no good. […] you are turning a it into a token. It becomes an empty gesture to "honor" Native people. It becomes this century's mascot. […] If you're going to do one, you gotta do some research! […]
  • How might you incorporate that history into your acknowledgement?
  • Find out what the nation(s) you are naming in your acknowledgement are doing, today. Tell your audience about it. Tell them how they can support that nation's work.
  • […] ~reexamine the history that you've been told with a focus on Indigenous peoples and their lives, actions, they way they were impacted
  • […] do some work before doing a Land Acknowledgement. Make it meaningful. Give your audience a task. And when you speak those words... don't do it in a somber tone. […] When you're teaching, you don't speak in a reverent, prayer like way.
  • […] to create awareness.
• […] to show respect for indigenous peoples and recognize their enduring relationship to the land. […] raise awareness about histories that are often suppressed or forgotten. […] giving your time and your energy to seek out more information, to learn
• commemorate Indigenous peoples’ principal kinship to the land—and the fact that we have not and cannot be erased from her, our collective first mother. […] help Canadians recognize and respect Indigenous peoples’ inherent kinship beliefs when it comes to the land, especially since those beliefs were restricted for so long. […] [to be a] starting place to a change in how the land is seen and talked about […] help redefine how people place themselves in relation to First Peoples. […] [because] [i]t’s important for our audiences to grapple with the idea of the inherent right to land that First Peoples actually hold. If it isn’t stated everywhere, all the time, people can continue to ignore its existence. […] understanding colonization […] Generations of Canadians have been affected—not just the oppressed. […] [for purposes of encouraging introspection] […] learning what the motive or mandate requires, or its historical relevance […] learning opportunity, that knowledge and that learning process can be transmitted to others […] considering how land acknowledgements are [handled] to reflect an inclusion of Indigenous worldviews, and challenging and rebalancing the whole idea that Indigenous people have been erased from the history of this land. […] It’s not so much about focusing on the omission of belonging, and all of us having a right to a home, but rather about introducing non-Indigenous people to this land’s accurate confederate history and the importance of relationship to land despite the dominant worldview of owning the land. All we’re asking you to do is to remember, and remember with us.
• [get] to know people, creating a relationship to the place you are from, the water that you drink […] [get] to know these things in an intimate way […] will change people's minds, change people's hearts. […] [doing it] is part of becoming a balanced and present human being. […] [honor and protect] the land and water, [honor] ourselves and our bodies. to acknowledge truth […] to acknowledge connection and disconnection […] to acknowledge the Nations who care for our mother […] to acknowledge that truth is at the forefront of the conversation.
• [led to coming] a long way from the dark days of racist denial […] As a coastal person myself, recognizing the territory you are on and where you are from is the way we begin every event, any gathering. It’s an important aspect of protocol, so for me the starting point is to think about these acknowledgements as a way to respect the laws of the territories we are on. […] without a connection to a specific place—and to a specific people—the acknowledgement can’t be meaningful
• To think about land activation and land acknowledgement is to remember that there are these rich Indigenous governances that still exist, that are ongoing and that will go into the future […] [to remember] what we see as concrete, […] as buildings, these are all places that have been prayed for, that have been gathering places for ceremonies […] reminds us we are accountable to these relationships and to remind us every day, for example in school systems, of the accountability that everybody has to listen to the concerns of the community and how we can align to our [Indigenous] community […] shows that people are willing to hear you out as an Indigenous person, and they recognize that your culture and your past really means a lot
• ~"to find the truth about and acknowledge the people who took care of this land for a long time"

By others

• "[as] an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory [one] reside[s] on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. […] to understand the long-standing history that has brought [one] to reside on the land, and to seek to understand [one's] place within that history. […] to build our mindfulness of our present participation [in colonialism].
• "[show] recognition of and respect for Aboriginal Peoples […] recognition of their presence both in the past and the present. Recognition and respect are essential elements of establishing healthy, reciprocal relations. These relationships are key to reconciliation. […] not simply be a pro forma statement made before getting on with the “real business” of [a] meeting; […] [be] a vital part of the business"
• to show respect for indigenous peoples and recognize their enduring relationship to the land. Practicing acknowledgment can also raise awareness about histories that are often suppressed or forgotten. […] building relationships
• way civilizations share values […] the tradition is not so much about revisiting a nation’s past sins as it is about restoring the oldest of ceremonial gestures to a place, returning a bit of context to where it was once violently stripped away
• "[as] an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. […] to [present the importance of] understand[ing] the long standing history that has brought you to reside on the land, and […] seek[ing] to understand your place within that history", to emphasizes that "land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process […] to build our mindfulness of our present participation [in colonization/colonialism]." "Include a formal thank you to the host nation whenever making a presentation or holding a meeting, whether or not Indigenous individuals are part of the meeting or gathering […] [it is] […] a reflection process in which you build mindfulness and intention walking into whatever gathering you are having. It should be rooted in the whose land you are honoured to stand on and should guide how you move forward in both conversations and actions"
  • Learn: About oppression and privilege.
  • About the history of colonization.
  • About Indigenous peoples and cultures.
  • About the land you live on. To listen.
  • There are many books, blogs, documentaries, Independent media sites, plays, and songs that Indigenous people have written and performed that are great places to start learning.
  • […] Build relationships […] Act: Be accountable towards Indigenous people and communities by affirming the importance of what they’re saying, aligning oneself with the struggle, and speaking up when something problematic is said."
• It is important to understand the history of the lands we occupy, and our places within that history. Colonialism is not a thing of the past but an ongoing process and one that many people around the world continue to participate in and be subjected to. The United States is the product of settler colonialism, whereby people move permanently into a place and develop a new and distinct culture, but only through the intentional displacement, and sometimes eradication, of Indigenous peoples and cultures. A land acknowledgement is meant to bring awareness to these dynamics, to urge individual and group reflection, and to center and honor Indigenous peoples in future relationships with and on these lands.
• [to recognize] [w]e are all newcomers […] [and as such], the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada as the traditional stewards of Canada. Additionally, we recognize their traditional ways of life and their ties to the land. We also recognize that we forcibly disrupted those ways of life to the benefit of our own. […] recognize the continued right of Indigenous peoples to their traditional lands and their right to future prosperity. […] a small but important first step in the reconciliation process between Canada’s Indigenous people and those who came later. As we move further into the 21st century and place so much emphasis on welcoming recent newcomers to our country, it’s more important than ever to look back and acknowledge the early atrocities that we committed against our nation’s original inhabitants. We cannot truly celebrate being Canadian until we recognize our history, including the shameful parts we might rather forget. Remembering to acknowledge the inhabitants whose land we’ve built our lives on is but one small thing we can do to reconcile an ugly past with a hopeful future.
• to acknowledge that this is “unceded” land […] what follows from that? How do we reconcile daily life […] when [our cities] very presence is the result of an imperialist drive that came, saw and conquered? […] Does saying these words provide a free pass going forward? Is it business as usual—or does admitting past injustices impose obligations? Should homeowners be concerned about their property values—for according to the law colonial sponsors imported, acknowledging theft comes with consequences. Are reparations owed? Or should land acknowledgements be seen as a sign of respect, and a symbol of what a better future might look like? […] about being honest […] to give First Nations people a space to speak about the harms they suffered as a result of colonization, land expropriation and residential schools; to give the non-indigenous community the chance to listen to these stories; and to unite Vancouverites around a shared goal of moving forward. “It became much less about an intellectual argument, and much more about feeling that wrongs had been done, and that there was a moral obligation to address it […] there is an undeniable aboriginal title to specific lands in B.C., and as a result there are rights that must be respected. […] focusing solely on the historical legacy keeps the discussion in the past, and thus misses the bigger issue we confront today, which is: how do settlers on this land figure out what their responsibilities are? What are the obligations to the people who first inhabited this land? […] Connecting the recognition of indigenous land rights to the ongoing struggles of First Nations against unsustainable resource development
• to recognize that we, as settlers and as people who are not part of First Nations or Indigenous groups, are here on their land […] thinking about what happened in the past and what changes can be made going forward in order to further the reconciliation process […] "It certainly isn't enough but it is a necessary first step," said Norman. "It needs to be the beginning of a learning process." […] the acknowledgement should lead to more questions about who the people listed in the acknowledgement are and how their land came to be possessed by settlers. "It also needs to be personal," she said. "We have to ask, 'How am I benefitting by living on this land that is a traditional territory of Indigenous people?'"
• [because] the settler colonial state continues to struggle in the recognition of inherent Indigenous sovereignty and respect for homelands. […] [and the] ethical obligation as […] to create truthful and factual representations. […] respecting and recognizing Indigenous peoples, and their relationships to land through the protocols of naming people, elders, ancestors, and the times of past to future. confront institutional legacies as agents of colonialism. […] The ongoing effects of settler colonialism need to be addressed. […] motivated by a genuine respect for Indigenous nations and communities.
• to understand the longstanding history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation.
• "can be an opening to greater public consciousness of Native sovereignty and cultural rights, a step toward equitable relationship and reconciliation […] recognizing and uplifting, not hurting or causing further division […] [to breathe] in awareness of both the present and of the histories that connect you with the people you are naming. [to consider] one's own place in the story of colonization and of undoing its legacy."
  • Offer recognition and respect.
  • Counter the “doctrine of discovery” with the true story of the people who were already here.
  • Create a broader public awareness of the history that has led to this moment.
  • Begin to repair relationships with Native communities and with the land.
  • Support larger truth-telling and reconciliation efforts.
  • Remind people that colonization is an ongoing process, with Native lands still occupied due to deceptive and broken treaties and practices of eminent domain and other mechanisms intended to benefit government or corporate America.
  • Take a cue from Indigenous protocols, opening up spaces with reverence and respect.
  • Inspire ongoing action and relationships.
• "to connect [presenters and recievers] to the history of the land that [they] work and live on […] acknowledge the original nations of this territory, past and present, and to affirm [presenter's/group's] commitment to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities"

Distinctions

X	welcome/welcoming	acknowledgement
welcome/welcoming	X territory/territorial country land territory/territorial . . . country X . . land X Attested, X .	X territory/territorial country land territory/territorial . . . country . . . land . . .
acknowledgement	X territory/territorial country land - territory/territorial X . . . country X . . land	X territory/territorial country land territory/territorial . . . country X . . land X, .

• I refer to “territory” here as understood in Elden’s distinctions between land, terrain, and territory: Stuart Elden, “Land, Terrain, Territory” 34 (2010) Progress in Human Geography 799. Briefly, each term describes a separate materiality of space: land as economic space, terrain as military space, territory of governance space. As Estes’ references to space incorporate all three functions, I use “land” and “territory” interchangeably throughout the text.
• See also w:Welcome to Country

Points of reference

• Information on terminology in Australia re: Aboriginal, Indigenous, etc.

Big references being set aside

1. https://unsettlingamerica.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/decolonization-is-not-a-metaphor/
2. Full USDAC guide
3. https://native-land.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/teacher_guide_2019_final.pdf
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzqe2fh4Zdc
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tei5tGoQ4s
6. https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform-single/beyond-94