Acknowledgement of traditional territories
Chinook Lodge Resource Centre
To learn more and connect with the Indigenous community at SAIT, visit the Chinook Lodge Resource Centre.
Chinook LodgeSAIT recognizes the long history of the land on which our campus is situated as well as the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Canada as traditional caretakers of the land now known as Canada. The purpose of the land acknowledgment is based on 3 central ideas
- to give respect to Indigenous tribes that were the traditional caretakers of the land;
- to provide education around the regional history of the land; and
- to maintain good relations with Indigenous people coming onto campus, both students and visitors.
As our campus is located on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, public acknowledgement and recognition of the Tribes of the Blackfoot Confederacy is encouraged. Additionally, we also recognize that this land currently encompasses the Treaty 7 region and Métis Nation of Alberta. Acknowledging the land is not simply a box to check and should be approached with intention and mindfulness. Discover tips for crafting a meaningful acknowledgement, learn how to pronounce the Treaty 7 First Nations and get started with SAIT's Indigenous land acknowledgement below.
Historical acknowledgment
Use for significant SAIT events such as convocation, conferences, Town Hall gatherings, new student orientation or other events specifically geared towards raising awareness about Indigenous culture:
Oki, Amba'wastitch, Danit'ada, Tân'si, Hello. We would like to acknowledge that SAIT is situated on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy. The City of Calgary encompasses a region that the Blackfoot tribes of Southern Alberta described as Moh’kinsstis, meaning ‘Elbow,’ in reference to its location at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers. Since time immemorial, this region was a traditional gathering place for the tribes of the Blackfoot Confederacy. We are meeting/gathered on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which, today encompasses the Indigenous people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta: the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina, the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, the Northwest Métis Homeland – Region 3.
Basic acknowledgment
Use for department meetings, to mark the beginning of a course or smaller events that encompass day-to-day operations:
Oki, Amba'wastitch, Danit'ada, Tân'si, Hello. Welcome to __________. I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting/gathered on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Stoney Nakoda First Nation and the Northwest Métis – Region 3.