REEL CANADA is committed to the practice of acknowledging Indigenous nations, treaty lands and territories at all of our events across the country, and we encourage all our screening partners to do the same. We acknowledge territory out of respect and recognition for the Indigenous nations on whose lands we live, work and operate.
The following are REEL CANADA’s suggestions, which you can use as a guide for your event:
- It is important to make a distinction between a ‘Welcome to Territory’ and an ‘Acknowledgment of Territory’. The only people who would provide a ‘Welcome’ are representatives of the Nation(s) on whose territory the event is taking place. Anyone else, including Indigenous people from other nations and territories, would simply acknowledge the territory.
- The host or emcee of the event is the only person who needs to acknowledge territory and should do so at the beginning of the event. It does not need to be repeated by each and every presenter and speaker, although it is appropriate for other Indigenous speakers or performers to do so if they like.
- Your local school board, city council or another community hub may already have an acknowledgment statement that has been approved by the nation(s) on whose territory your event is being held. If not, we encourage you to check with local Friendship Centres and/or Indigenous student centres at colleges and universities to ensure your information is accurate and that you are pronouncing all the names correctly.
- For larger events, it may be appropriate to actually invite a member of the host nation, preferably an elder or knowledge keeper, to provide a welcome to territory. You should be prepared to respect local protocols when reaching out, to pay this person for their time and to ensure that their transportation to and from your event is taken care of as needed.
The following online databases may be helpful in determining whose territory you are on and finding appropriate wording for a territorial acknowledgment.
Please keep in mind that these resources are not definitive; it is always good to double-check your final copy, preferably with an Indigenous person of the host nation, who is willing to assist you.
We highly encourage active engagement in reconciliation. Here are some suggestions of ways to do this:
- Learn about the Indigenous history of the land you live on and which current Indigenous Communities are connected to the territory.
- If you live in a treaty territory, read the treaty itself and Indigenous discourse on said treaty.
- Support Indigenous organizations and charities connected or located in the territory you live on.
- Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 96 Calls to action
- Read the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
REEL CANADA celebrates the work of Indigenous filmmakers and believes in the importance of Indigenous stories being told by Indigenous creators. We encourage you to browse the many Indigenous-made films that are part of our Canadian Film Collection.