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Adding Indigenous Territorial Acknowledgements

Why territorial acknowledgements are important:

Territorial acknowledgements have existed for hundreds of years as part of the culture and traditions amongst many Indigenous cultures. However for many non-indigenous Canadians, officially recognizing and acknowledging the territory or lands we live, work, and play on is a fairly new concept, brought into focus through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Land acknowledgements are a necessary first step toward honouring the original occupants of a place. It is a meaningful gesture to express recognition of and respect for Indigenous Peoples and their lands, from the perspective of past, present and future.

By including an acknowledgement as part of your adventure, either in your adventure description and/or in your introduction to your guests, it demonstrates your awareness of being on the land of a Nation that has had a relationship with that land since time immemorial.

How to find which territories your adventure takes place on: 

Below is a link to the Canadian Association of University Teachers “Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory”. Should you wish to include acknowledgement as part of your adventure, the guide may help you locate on whose territory your adventure takes place and suggested wording for acknowledgment.

https://www.caut.ca/content/guide-acknowledging-first-peoples-traditional-territory

Yervana respectfully acknowledges the land on which our head office is based is the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the shared territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.