Suggested Land Acknowledgements for all Regions of British Columbia

Are you looking for an appropriate land acknowledgement for your institution? We’ve put these suggestions together as a starting point for you, so you can adopt and adapt to best suit your location.

What are land acknowledgements and why do they matter?

If you are curious about the land you or others are on, Native Land and the Canadian Association of University Teachers offer great information to help you write your own land acknowledgement.

Thank you for taking the time and care to learn and name the traditional territories you are on when gathering. Done with good intentions, it is a small but important act of reconciliation.

On Vancouver Island, the traditional and unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, today known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke, W̱SÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples, the K’ómoks First Nation, including Sathloot, Sasitla, leeksun, Puledge, Cha’chae, and Tat’poos Peoples, Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, Quw’utsun, and Tla’amin First Nations.

In the Lower Mainland, the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), QayQayt First Nation, Kwantlen, q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), and Stó:lō Nation.

In the Cariboo region, the traditional and unceded territory of the T’exelcemc and Tsq’escenemc.

In the Thompson-Okanagan region, the traditional and unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux People, Syilx Peoples, Secwepemc Nation, Simpcw territory St’at’imc Nation territory that includes Nxwisten, Ts’kw’aylacw, Sekw’el’was, Lil’wat, Chalath, T’it’q’et, Xaxl’ip, N’quatqua, Xa’xtsa, Skatin, and Samahquam.

In the Kootenay region, the traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa, the Kinbasket (Secwepemc), Syilx, and Sinixt Peoples.

In Northern B.C., the traditional and unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, Haida, Tsimshian, Nisga’a, Haisla, Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Tahltan peoples, and on Treaty 8 territory, lands of the Sicannie, Slavey, Dene and Dane-Zaa, Cree, Saulteaux, and Métis.

And with Yukon University in Whitehorse on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.