Indigenous Education

These two terms – land acknowledgement and territorial acknowledgement – have often been used interchangeably. However, there is a difference.

A land acknowledgement is intended to honour our connection to the land.

A territorial acknowledgement is an opportunity to honour and commit to good relations with the Indigenous peoples whose territory we are in.

As time passes, land acknowledgements and territorial acknowledgements evolve. Now they are often combined into one message that:

• Expresses our gratitude to the lands and waters where we are. Take time to slow down and acknowledge something beautiful you see in Mother Earth at this moment.
• Explicitly recognizes the First Peoples of these territories and their care for these lands and waters.
• May include a commitment to learning more about our treaty commitments, deepening relationships with the First Peoples of these lands, etc.

Classroom and staff professional development to deepen our understanding of acknowledgements is ongoing. Below is the formal TLDSB Land and Territorial Acknowledgement, which can be personalized and added to create a heartfelt and meaningful Land and Territorial Acknowledgement. Though the use of these acknowledgements is sometimes contested, TLDSB is of the view that so long as it is not wrote, copied, and memorized, this is still important learning we need to do.