We at the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC (CHF BC) acknowledge and pay our respect to the Indigenous keepers of the traditional and unceded lands upon which our office and many housing co-operatives are situated: the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sʔəl̀ilwətaʔɬ, (Tsleil-Waututh), WSÁNEĆ (Saanich), and lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen)-speaking Peoples.
Unceded means they were never signed over through treaty rights, and still rightfully belong to the nations who have stewarded them since time immemorial. We acknowledge the impact of colonialism and that our presence here today was paved through a system of discriminatory and racist practices. We are committed to honoring, listening, and continuously learning from the diverse perspectives of these and other Indigenous Peoples.
— CHF BC’s Territorial Acknowledgement
Territory acknowledgement is a way that people insert an awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights in everyday life. This is often done at the beginning of ceremonies, lectures, or any public event. It can be a subtle way to recognize the history of colonialism and a need for change in settler colonial societies.