A territorial acknowledgement is a statement that recognizes Indigenous territories. The intention of the statement is to ensure a moment of reflection about the relationships between territory and peoples - past, present, and future. For Metro Vancouver, it is also to ensure such reflection in the context of our work as an organization.
Reminding ourselves of this context helps us to improve our consciousness of the work that needs to be done in repairing past harms, and forging a better way forward. The statement is also a way of showing respect to Indigenous Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial. While practicing this reflection is important, Metro Vancouver recognizes that the statement itself is only one small part of cultivating stronger relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
English
Metro Vancouver acknowledges that the region’s residents live, work, and learn on the shared territories of many Indigenous Peoples, including 10 local First Nations: q̓ic̓əy̓(Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), máthxwi (Matsqui), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), Semiahmoo, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), scəw̓aθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).
Metro Vancouver respects the diverse and distinct histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, which collectively enrich our lives and the region.
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim *
ta sḵwálwen tl'a Metro Vancouver na ha7lh skwálwenswit kwi ses em̓útswit iy ts'its'áp'swit iy tá7ltaswit na7 tkwa temíxw tl'a steltélmexw. na stl'í7swit kwis kw'enmántaswit iy wánaxwstaswit i7x̱w ta exw7úxwumixw tl'a q̓ic̓əy̓ iy q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ənn̓ iy kʷikʷəƛ̓əm iy máthkwi iy xʷməθkʷəy̓əm iy qiqéyt iy se’mya’me iy Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw iy scəw̓aθən məsteyəxʷ iy səlilwətaɬ
ta sḵwálwen tl'a Metro Vancouver ímen, na wa wánaxwstaswit i7xw ta syétsemswit iy i7xw ta sníchimswit iy i7xw ta wa lhtim̓á tl’a steltélmexw na7 ti temíxw
hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ *
ƛ̓a tə n̓a Metro Vancouver ʔam̓ət ʔi tə n̓a šxʷxʷəxʷilməxʷaʔɬ təməxʷ, tə šxʷʔaməts ʔə ƛ̓ q̓ic̓əy̓, q̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, meθxʷəy̓, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, qəyqeyt, səmyamaʔ, sqʷχʷam̓əx, scəw̓aθən,səlil̕wətaʔɬ ʔiʔ xʷən c̓ɬyəyay̓əstəl̕.
ʔəy̓ tə šxʷqʷeləwən k̓ʷ s xʷəlməxʷqən ʔə tə xʷəxʷilməxʷs ʔi ʔə tə n̓a təməxʷ.
*Metro Vancouver extends its gratitude to Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and xʷməθkʷəýəm (Musqueam Indian Band) staff and community members who translated the Metro Vancouver Territorial Acknowledgement into Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language) and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ respectively.