land acknowledgements
“Nowadays, it has become necessary to begin every event with a land acknowledgement, often emphasizing land ownership and leaving out an important aspect of the original intent. The Indigenous world maintained a symbiotic relationship with nature that did not include concepts of deeded land ownership.”
ELDER REDBIRD HAS A UNIQUE TAKE ON LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND EDUCATES THAT WE CAN NO MORE OWN THE LAND THAN THE AIR WE BREATHE. RATHER, HE NOTES THAT WE BORROW THE USE OF THE LAND FROM OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND REMINDS US THAT WE ARE BECOMing THE ANCESTORS TO FUTURE GENERATIONS AND HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STEWARD THE LAND IN A GOOD WAY TO ENSURE A VIABLE AND HEALTHY FUTURE FOR ALL.
“ELDER DUKE - I JUST WANTED TO CONVEY ONE MORE THANK YOU FOR TODAY’S LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, THOSE WERE BEAUTIFUL WORDS. YOUR TEACHINGS ARE ALWAYS SO MEANINGFUL AND REALLY MAKE ALL OF US REFLECT ON WHAT OUR PLACE IS ON THIS LAND.”
Recent land acknowledgement ceremonies have been performed for: Google cloud, Royal Bank of Canada, The Rotary Club, CBC Music for The Junos, Home Hardware, Sysco, Art Gallery of Ontario - Couch Monster, Fall for Dance North, Jumblies Theatre, Toronto Young People’s Theatre