Personal Land Acknowledgement

I am grateful to live, work, and learn on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Neutral Peoples, within the Haldimand Tract — land that was promised to the Haudenosaunee of the Six Nations as part of ongoing treaty relationships.

As someone who first came to Canada as an international student, later becoming a permanent resident and now a Canadian citizen, my understanding of land acknowledgements has evolved over time. In my early years, I did not fully grasp the depth and meaning behind these words. It was only through years of intentional learning, attending workshops, engaging with Indigenous communities, and building personal connections with Indigenous friends and colleagues that I began to understand the profound impacts of colonial histories, not only here in Canada but in my own country of origin. I recognize many shared threads between these histories, which has given me a more personal connection to the work of reconciliation.

This ongoing journey continues to shape how I show up personally and professionally. I recognize that acknowledging the land is only one small step. I am committed to taking meaningful actions that contribute to reconciliation. One of the actions I have committed to is educating myself and others on the histories and present-day realities of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and embedding this learning into my teaching and professional practice, as aligned with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #62: advancing education that includes Indigenous perspectives, histories, and contributions.

I continue this work with humility, knowing that reconciliation is a lifelong process of listening, unlearning, and standing alongside Indigenous Peoples in the pursuit of justice and healing as stated by Justice Sinclair that education is central to reconciliation, “Education got us into this mess, and education will get us out of it.”