How to write a park-based land acknowledgement

At Park People, we believe that parks can play a vital role in reconciliation and decolonization. 

We’re inspired by park projects across the country that are focused on rebuilding trust, sharing knowledge and developing true partnerships between First Nations and settlers, such as The City of Quesnel, BC, which restored ownership of Tingley Park to the Lhtako Dene First Nation, or the agreement between the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.

As a national city parks organization, Park People recognizes that when we speak of municipal parks and public land, we are obscuring the fact that, in most cases, the land that we are speaking of is traditional Indigenous territory. That’s why we share our land acknowledgement on our website and at all Park People events.

As part of our own journey, we want to share some insights from our process developing our land acknowledgement.

Do Your Research

It’s essential that your park group undertake thoughtful research to learn about Indigenous issues globally, nationally, and in your city or region.

Find out which territories your park is situated on and the treaties or covenants that were meant to peaceably govern that land. Use nativeland.ca as a starting point.

You may find conflicting accounts of territorial land rights. Reach out to a local band office, municipal Indigenous Affairs Office, an Indigenous Friendship Centre, or an Indigenous university group to understand the history and rights associated with the land in question.

Discuss Your Learning

Set aside time for your group to discuss your land acknowledgement plan and your broader reconciliation goals.

Create space for members to share meaningful land acknowledgements they’ve heard at other events, literature they’ve read, and news and ideas. This will help create a dialogue to shape your groups’ perspective and commitment. These conversations will also help you to identify champions within your group who can help guide future reconciliation efforts.

Write Your Unique Acknowledgement

Reading a generic land acknowledgement that you don’t understand or feel connected won’t further the goals of truth and reconciliation. Work with your group to write an acknowledgement that reflects the unique history and contemporary character of your park.

Consider how your land acknowledgement can leave listeners with something informative and provocative to ruminate on, long after your event has finished.

Make a Clear Commitment

Writing a land acknowledgement is an opportunity for your group to publicly declare its commitment to working towards allyship and working to dismantle the colonial systems that continue to oppress Indigenous peoples, denying their land-rights and way of life.

Add a commitment to the land acknowledgement that articulates how your group is going to put words into action. Find tangible ways your group can impact this complex and ongoing work.

Seek counsel

Once you feel like you have done your research and written a meaningful land acknowledgement, consider sharing it with a respected member of your local Indigenous community to get their feedback.

Be respectful of their time, and don’t expect accolades for this preliminary effort. Use the opportunity to express your willingness to engage with the local Indigenous community on the subject of decolonization.

Bring in Indigenous voices

Consider inviting Indigenous-led organizations to attend and participate in your group’s events and gatherings whenever appropriate. 

Plan in advance how to compensate those who participate by sharing their time, expertise and knowledge.

Make use of these great resources in the next steps of your journey towards decolonizing your park work

• Decolonization of park practices | Park People
• Indigenous Connections | Parks Canada
• Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory | Canadian Association of University Teachers
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Indian Horse: 150 Days of Reconcili-Action Starts Now
• Truth And Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action