How to acknowledge Turtle Island territory

Beyond Words: Crafting Meaningful Territory Acknowledgments on Turtle Island

In an era of increasing awareness and a collective desire for reconciliation, the practice of acknowledging Indigenous territories has become a prominent feature in public discourse across what is widely known as North America – or, more accurately, Turtle Island. Far from being a mere formality, a genuine territory acknowledgment is a profound act of recognition, respect, and a vital step towards decolonization. This article delves into the intricacies of crafting and delivering meaningful acknowledgments, moving beyond performative gestures to foster genuine engagement and accountability.

Understanding Turtle Island and the Imperative for Acknowledgment

"Turtle Island" is the Indigenous name for the continent, rooted in various creation stories of numerous Native American and First Nations peoples. It signifies a deep, spiritual connection to the land that predates colonial mapping and nomenclature. The lands comprising Turtle Island were never empty; they were, and continue to be, home to hundreds of diverse Indigenous nations, each with unique languages, cultures, and governance systems.

The arrival of European settlers initiated a violent process of colonization, marked by dispossession, forced assimilation, and the imposition of foreign legal and political systems. This history has left an indelible mark, resulting in ongoing systemic inequities and the marginalization of Indigenous peoples. Land acknowledgments emerge from this historical context as a critical tool for disrupting the myth of terra nullius (empty land) and reaffirming the enduring presence and sovereignty of Indigenous nations.

As Dr. Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang famously asserted in their essay "Decolonization is Not a Metaphor," true decolonization "requires the repatriation of Indigenous land and life." While a land acknowledgment alone cannot achieve this, it serves as a foundational step, shifting consciousness and challenging the dominant settler narrative that often renders Indigenous peoples invisible or relegated to the past. It’s an invitation for non-Indigenous people to understand their own relationship to the land and the ongoing responsibilities that come with living on stolen territory.

The "Why": More Than Just a Gesture

A meaningful territory acknowledgment serves several crucial purposes:

1. Recognition of Original Inhabitants: It explicitly names the Indigenous peoples who are the traditional custodians of the land, acknowledging their ancestral and ongoing connection. This counters historical erasure and asserts their inherent rights.
2. Affirmation of Indigenous Sovereignty: By recognizing traditional territories, we implicitly acknowledge the inherent sovereignty of Indigenous nations, which pre-dates and often remains outside colonial legal frameworks.
3. Education and Awareness: Acknowledgments educate non-Indigenous audiences about the true history of the land, prompting further learning about treaties, residential schools, and contemporary Indigenous issues.
4. A Step Towards Reconciliation: For many, it’s a personal and institutional commitment to the process of reconciliation, which demands justice, equity, and respect for Indigenous rights. It signals an intent to move forward in a good way.
5. Challenging Settler Colonialism: It disrupts the everyday invisibilization of Indigenous peoples and challenges the assumption that the land belongs solely to the dominant society. It forces a confrontation with the uncomfortable truths of colonization.

"Land acknowledgments are not meant to be a historical statement," notes Coast Salish Elder Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. "They are meant to be a living statement that reflects a contemporary reality and the relationship that we have to the land and to Indigenous peoples today." This emphasizes that acknowledgments are not about past tense but about ongoing relationships and responsibilities.

The "How": Crafting a Meaningful Acknowledgment

Moving beyond a perfunctory recitation requires research, personalization, and a commitment to action.

1. Research is Paramount: Know Whose Land You Are On

   • Specificity is Key: Avoid generic phrases like "traditional Indigenous lands." Instead, identify the specific Indigenous nations, peoples, or communities whose traditional, ancestral, or unceded territories you are on. For example, rather than "the lands of local Indigenous peoples," specify "the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations."
   • Utilize Resources: Websites like Native-Land.ca are excellent starting points, but always cross-reference with local Indigenous organizations, university Indigenous student centers, or cultural heritage sites. These local sources can provide more nuanced and accurate information.
   • Pronunciation Matters: Learn to pronounce the names of the nations correctly. Mispronunciation can undermine the sincerity of the acknowledgment. Many Indigenous organizations offer pronunciation guides online.
   • Understand Treaty Status: Determine if the land you are on is treaty land (and which treaty), or unceded territory. This distinction is crucial. Unceded territories were never legally surrendered to the Crown, highlighting a continuing claim to sovereignty.

2. Personalize and Localize: Make it Your Own

   • Go Beyond the Script: A template can be a starting point, but a truly meaningful acknowledgment reflects your personal connection to the land and your understanding of its history.
   • Reflect on Your Presence: How did you come to be on this land? What is your relationship to it? This reflection adds depth and authenticity.
   • Connect to Your Context: If you are giving an acknowledgment at an event, link it to the purpose of the gathering. For example, "As we discuss environmental sustainability, we must acknowledge the millennia of sustainable practices enacted by the on this very land."

3. More Than Just Words: The Call to Action

   • Commitment to Learning: State your personal or organizational commitment to ongoing education about Indigenous history, cultures, and contemporary issues. This could involve reading Indigenous authors, following Indigenous news sources, or attending cultural events.
   • Support Indigenous Initiatives: Actively seek ways to support Indigenous communities. This might include donating to Indigenous-led organizations, purchasing from Indigenous businesses, advocating for Indigenous rights, or volunteering.
   • Advocacy and Allyship: Commit to being an ally in the fight for Indigenous justice. This involves speaking out against racism, supporting Indigenous land claims, and advocating for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
   • Understanding Treaty Responsibilities: For those living on treaty lands, an acknowledgment should include a reflection on what it means to be a treaty person and the responsibilities that come with it – responsibilities often unfulfilled by settler governments.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While intentions are often good, several common missteps can render an acknowledgment less impactful or even counterproductive:

1. Tokenism or Performative Allyship: Treating the acknowledgment as a checkbox to fulfill a diversity quota without genuine reflection or action. This can be perceived as insincere and even disrespectful.
2. Generalizing or Being Vague: Using broad terms like "all Indigenous peoples" instead of specific nations. This erases the distinct identities and experiences of diverse communities.
3. Using Past Tense: Referring to Indigenous peoples in the past tense ("were the traditional custodians") implies they no longer exist or have a connection to the land. Always use present tense ("are the traditional custodians") to affirm their ongoing presence and vitality.
4. Centering Settler Guilt: While acknowledging the harms of colonization is necessary, the focus of the acknowledgment should be on Indigenous peoples and their enduring strength, not on settler discomfort or guilt.
5. Expecting Indigenous People to Educate You: The responsibility for research and learning rests with non-Indigenous individuals and organizations. While Indigenous knowledge keepers may share, it’s not their obligation to continually educate others.
6. Delivering an Acknowledgment Without Follow-Through: An acknowledgment without tangible action or commitment to change is ultimately hollow. It must be a starting point for deeper engagement.

The Ongoing Journey of Reconciliation

A territory acknowledgment is not an end in itself, but a crucial beginning. It is an invitation to engage in a continuous process of learning, reflection, and action. It encourages non-Indigenous people to confront the uncomfortable truths of history, to understand their positionality on Turtle Island, and to actively participate in building a more just and equitable future.

The act of acknowledging the land is an act of hope – a hope that through recognition, respect, and concrete action, we can move closer to true reconciliation. As the Honourable Murray Sinclair, former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, often emphasized, "Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem. It is a Canadian problem. It involves all of us." On Turtle Island, acknowledging the land and its original peoples is a powerful, essential step in that shared journey. It is a commitment to seeing, hearing, and valuing the Indigenous nations whose lands we occupy, and a promise to work towards a future where their sovereignty and inherent rights are fully realized.