With respect to the land and those who have come before us, each member of Team D acknowledges that we work on the lands of: the Coast Salish People in British Columbia. The Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations in British Columbia. The Anishinabewaki People in Ontario. The Coast Salish, Suquamish, and Duwamish People in Washington. Tongva, Payómkawichum (Luiseño), and Kizh People in California. And the Rajahnate of Butuan in the Philippines.

To note: In most cases, we reside on unceded land, meaning that it was never given, sold, or agreed upon to be shared—the land is unsurrendered. What’s the significance of acknowledging “unceded territory”? Here’s a powerful answer from Verna McGregor, a Canadian Algonquin elder:

“It’s acknowledging that we’re still here, the acknowledgement is important—that we’re worthy of being on our own lands… there is a greater issue than what is going on today. It helps remind people that we are going back centuries in terms of what we’ve done to the Indigenous people—from the reserve system, the residential schools, to today with Indigenous children still being removed from their families at a greater rate than the rest of the population… The acknowledgment puts what’s happening today into a greater perspective to understand historical wrongs and how that’s manifested today. Part of reconciliation is truth and honesty.”

If you would like to find out which territory you are living or working on, go to Native Land.

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