LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, The Bad Dog Theatre Company, acknowledge the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Today, the meeting place of Toronto (also known as Tkaronto) is the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Why Do We Acknowledge The Land?

Acknowledging the land is an Indigenous protocol used to express gratitude to those who reside here, and to honour the Indigenous people who have lived and worked on this land historically and presently. It allows us the opportunity to appreciate the unique role and relationship that each of us has with the land, and provides a gentle reminder of the broader perspectives that expand our understanding to encompass the long-standing, rich history of the land, and our privileged role in residing here.

To recognize the land is 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. It is important to understand the long-standing 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. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol.

(from http://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland/)

For more information, please visit:

Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre

The Assembly of First Nations

Indigenous Services Canada (Government of Canada)

Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres