Territorial Land Acknowledgement

The basic acknowledgement is recommended for the opening remarks at small, internally focused events, like meetings and small gatherings:

[Welcome to the University of Calgary]. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The specific territorial acknowledgement is recommended for opening remarks at larger internal meetings or small public events: 

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The extended territorial acknowledgement is recommended for opening remarks at large public events, such as University of Calgary Convocation, building openings and conferences.

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”

Siksika is pronounced “Sik-sik-a” (please use the short i  for both vowel sounds in pronunciation)

Piikani is pronounced “Pē-gun-ē” (please use the long e for both vowel sounds in pronunciation)

Kainai is pronounced  “K ī -n ī”  (please use the long i for both vowel sounds in pronunciation)

Tsuut’ina is pronounced “Soot’ ina”  (Please use the long o and short i for the vowel sounds in pronunciation)

Chiniki is prounounced “Chin-i-kee” (Please use the long i for the last vowel sound and short i for the first two vowels)