Vancouver
Pace Creative has had the privilege to work on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations that the city of Vancouver is situated upon.
Source: City of Vancouver
Calgary
In Calgary, we acknowledge the ancestral home, culture, and oral teachings of the Treaty 7 signatories which include the Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, Kainai Nation, Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation, consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney bands, along with the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation.
Source: Calgary Public Library
London
London, Ontario is home to the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples and we acknowledge the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.
Source: London Canada
Why We Acknowledge This Land
A land acknowledgement is a first step towards reconciliation, and by doing so, we are “acknowledging the erasure of Indigenous history and identity.”
Source: Toronto History Museums
We hope this serves as a jumping-off point for further research into the history of Indigenous resiliency in Canada and promotes awareness of the First Nations who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial.
Resources We Found Helpful
The following resources helped inform our understanding and encourage continued learning about Indigenous history and reconciliation.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane follows an investigation into the Canadian Indian residential school system, igniting a reckoning in the lives of survivors and descendants if the nearby Williams Lake First Nation.
Borders
This short story by Thomas King highlights themes of identity, cultural pride, and the absurdity of national lines that ignore Indigenous sovereignty, showing the power found in their connection as they refuse to conform to state demands.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.
Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada – Truth and Reconciliation
A gathering of nearly 7,000 statements of former residential school students and other affected by the residential school system and history of how these systems affected Indigenous populations across the nation.