ABOUT THIS LAND
We would like to acknowledge and bring attention to the fact that the land on which we gather for our events (around Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast) is the traditional, unceded and illegally occupied territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Shishá7lh (Sechelt), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
We have tremendous gratitude for this land and everything that it provides, and invite awareness and consideration of how and why the people of the nation of Canada have access to all of its beauty and abundance. We always strive to leave no trace and to protect the land where we gather. This requires everyone to take part in this responsibility.
The history of the various Coast Salish tribes here is about 10,000 years old or more. We encourage participants at our gatherings to self-educate about the history of the land we live upon and its original peoples.
Further resources and discussion about understanding our status on Turtle Island and ways of supporting indigenous sovereignty:
http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/choosing-not-look-away-confronting-colonialism-canada
http://thetalon.ca/an-introduction-to-settler-colonialism-at-ubc-part-one/
http://indigenousfoundations.web.arts.ubc.ca/home/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DecolonizeConsciousness/
This acknowledgement was written with support from Full Moon Medicine in Unceded Coast Salish Territories and former Intention organizer Sobey Wing (Intention 1 to 13).