The Law Society of Alberta has over 200 self-identified Indigenous lawyers and serves the Indigenous Peoples of Alberta. We acknowledge that our office is located on the traditional and ancestral territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region and Métis Nation of Alberta, Battle River Territory.
Land acknowledgements are traditional protocol used to give thanks and to pay respect to the peoples and the land for which you are a visitor upon. The following land acknowledgments recognize the traditional territories that the Law Society of Alberta serves. To follow the path of reconciliation, Law Society conferences and events should be opened with a land acknowledgment. Lawyers may also wish to use the following land acknowledgments for their own events, to demonstrate that they are actively thinking about what happened in the past and creating a space for Indigenous reconciliation to happen in the present and for the future.
“Spanning generations, acknowledgement of the land is a traditional custom of Indigenous peoples when welcoming outsiders onto their land and into their homes. To build respectful relationships, acknowledging the land is an important part of reconciliation. It honours the authentic history of North America, its original people and tells the story of the creation of this country that has historically been missing.” – The Calgary Foundation
A helpful resource to better understand land acknowledgements in Alberta is called Acknowledging Land and People and was put together by the Alberta Teachers Association. Another resource for Finding Your Personal Land Acknowledgment is available through a series of video blogs from the University of Saskatchewan.
Treaty 6
We acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the Indigenous Peoples who have lived on these lands and taken care of them since time immemorial. We are on Treaty 6 territory, as well as, the historical regional homeland of the Métis, which includes the North Saskatchewan River Territory, the Lesser Slave Lake Territory, and the Lower Athabasca Territory. We acknowledge and respect the histories, languages, and diverse cultures of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit and are grateful for their contributions that continue to enrich our communities.
We are grateful to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting. Treaty 6 was entered into in 1876. For almost 150 years, we have been living, working, and growing on this land that is the ancestral and traditional territory of the Cree, the Nakoda Sioux, the Dene, the Saulteaux, as well as the Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We acknowledge this land is also within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland which includes the North Saskatchewan River Territory, the Lesser Slave Lake Territory, and the Lower Athabasca Territory. We acknowledge the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders, both past and present, and are grateful for their contributions that helped keep this land beautiful. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation.
Dene is pronounced “Den-nay”
Saulteaux is pronounced “So-toh”
Nakoda Sioux is pronounced “Na-ko-ta Soo”
Treaty 7
We acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands and taken care of them since time immemorial. We are on Treaty 7 territory, as well as, the historical regional homeland of the Métis, which includes the Battle River Territory. We acknowledge and respect the histories, languages, and diverse cultures of the First Nations, Métis, and all First Peoples that have taken care of this land. We are grateful for their contributions that continue to enrich our communities.
We acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands and taken care of them since time immemorial. (Name/Organization) is situated on Treaty 7 territory – the traditional and ancestral territory of Siksikaitsitapi – the Blackfoot Confederacy, which includes the Kainai Nation, Piikani Nation, Amskapi Piikani, and the Siksika Nation. Treaty 7 is also home to the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Stoney Nakoda, and is within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland known as the Battle River Territory. We acknowledge and give gratitude to the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We acknowledge the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders, both past and present, and are grateful for their contributions that helped keep this land beautiful. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation.
Kainai is pronounced “Gah-nah”
Piikani is proncounced “Beh-gun-ee”
Siksika is pronounced “Sik-sik-ah”
Tsuut’ina is pronounced “Soo-tin-ah”
Métis is pronounced “May-tee”
Treaty 8
We acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands and taken care of them since time immemorial. We are on Treaty 8 territory, as well as, the historical regional homeland of the Métis, which includes the Peace River Territory, the Lesser Slave Lake Territory, and the Lower Athabasca Territory. We acknowledge and respect the histories, languages, and diverse cultures of the First Nations, Métis, and all First Peoples that have taken care of this land. We are grateful for their contributions that continue to enrich our communities.
We acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands and taken care of them since time immemorial. We are on Treaty 8 territory, which has been in existence for over 120 years and includes over 41 First Nations which span across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. It is also the historical Northwest Métis Homeland, namely, the Peace River Territory, the Lesser Slave Lake Territory, and the Lower Athabasca Territory. We acknowledge and give gratitude to the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We acknowledge the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders, both past and present, and are grateful for their contributions that helped keep this land beautiful. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation.
Dene is pronounced “Den-nay”
Alberta
We acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the Indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands and have taken care of them since time immemorial. What became known as the Province of Alberta in 1905, is also the traditional and ancestral home to many Indigenous Peoples and for that we are honoured to have shared this land with them since Treaties 6, 7, and 8 were entered into. Alberta is also the historical Northwest Métis Homeland – which includes five Territories. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
Kainai is pronounced “Gigh-nigh”
Piikani is prouncounced “Be-gun-nee”
Siksika is pronounced “Sik-sik-ah”
Dene is pronounced “Den-nay”
Sauteaux is pronounced “So-toh”
Nakota Sioux is pronounced “Na-ko-ta Soo”
Tsuu T’ina is pronounced “Soo-tin-ah”