Taylor finalizes land acknowledgement with ‘heart’

TAYLOR, B.C. — After over a year of work and consultation, the District of Taylor has crafted a land acknowledgement to be read before meetings and events in the district.

It reads: “The District of Taylor recognizes with respect this traditional territory of Treaty 8. We honour the deep connection to the land and water, where everyone’s rights are respected, and opportunities are available for all to thrive.”

The District of Taylor’s First Nations Land Acknowledgement Development Committee recommended the message, which will be read before meetings and events in the district as well as appearing on signage near the Visitor Information Centre.

“In consultation with First Nations and other individuals who work with First Nations on a regular basis, at the request of council, the committee has quite extensively gone through the process of developing a land acknowledgement that we feel is worthy for use with the district,” said interim deputy corporate officer Michael Whalley, who presented the land acknowledgement report to the committee of the whole on April 22nd.

Councillor Desirae Graziano said the committee reached out to all neighbouring Nations when developing the acknowledgement, receiving official feedback from Doig River First Nation and Treaty 8 Tribal Association, and having discussions with the Chiefs of Halfway River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations. 

It also reviewed land acknowledgements from other communities, which highlighted the challenges of creating a heartfelt acknowledgement that could be conveyed in a meaningful way.

Finally, the land acknowledgement committee also sought feedback from Taylor residents, following its last meeting. 

Graziano said one of the issues raised was the use of the word “unceded”, which was used in the original draft acknowledgement.

“This is a very controversial term,” she said. “Some Nations like it, some don’t. Some want me to use it, some don’t. The community had some choice words for me regarding it.”

Graziano decided to take the word out and create a more general statement to avoid controversy.

After more consultation and discussion, the committee came up with the statement above. During the committee of the whole meeting, council made one further change, from “the traditional territory” to “this traditional territory.”

The final acknowledgement “has heart,” Graziano said: “It talks about the water which was something that was important to me, the opportunities for all of us to thrive.

“That’s the idea behind the treaty, that we’re all supposed to work together in unity and be neighbourly.”