“The Stroll comes to you from Treaty Six territory. We are grateful to be here where Indigenous peoples have composed stories, songs and prayers for thousands of years – and where their voices continue today.”
“Poetry is a conversation between past and present. I came to Treaty 6 territory from ____ and have been so grateful to find this place that made space for me to write poetry. I hope we can continue a conversation with Indigenous people so that we make space for all our voices.”
(Stroll of Poets Haven Committee)
“I am grateful to be a visitor to someone else’s ancestral territory. I am conscious of the way I conduct myself as a relation on this territory, and I recognize that my privilege includes the RESPONSIBILITY to build TRUST through CONSENT and ACCOUNTABILITY, because We Are ALL Treaty People.”
(Bill Hanson-Hope)
My Humble Land Acknowledgement to All Stewards of Treaty Six – ostêsimâwasinahikan nikotwâsik
In offering this Land Acknowledgement, I pledge to continue my peacemaking work between Indigenous Peoples and Settlers.
In the morning when Sun emerges
from his dreams, Eagle calls to us
from sâkâstênohk to tend the Fire
of this day’s most glorious yellow beginning.
And we lean in to heed the teachings of kihêw.
Just before we take our noon meal,
Buffalo calls to us from sâwanohk
to tend the Earth of this day’s
most resplendent crimson prairie.
And we lean in to heed the teachings of paskwâwi-mostos.
In the evening, Bear calls to us
from pahkisimotahk to tend the Water’s
most pure and clear and blue and green
gifts that quench our hot dry thirst.
And we lean in to heed the teachings of maskwa.
At day’s weary end, White Wolf calls to us
from kîwêtinohk, reminding us
to tend the very Air from where
we gather every blessed breath.
And we lean in to heed the teachings of wâpahihkan.
of Nakota Isga, Anirniq, tastawiyiniwak
of Dene, O-day’min, Métis, sipiwiyiniwak
of pâhpâstêw, pihêsiwin, Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
of Karhiio, Sspomitapi
and of all those who tended and continue to tend this magnificent land before us.
With thanks to the Indigenous Knowledge Ward Naming Committee of Edmonton for assistance with the pronunciation of the Indigenous ward names in this poem. ay hay!
[A-NIR-NIK],
[EE-PEEH-KOH-KA-NEEPIUH-TSI-YA],
[GAR-EE-HE-O],
[SS-POH-ME-TAH-PEE]
(©naomi.mcilwraith@gmail.com, 9 November 2021)
“For our Treaty six land acknowledgment tonight I want to share a personal memory with you. I come from the Southwestern Manitoba prairies where with my grandmother, mother and siblings, I searched for crocuses and tee pee rings on the wide open prairie landscape in the spring. Tee pee rings are rocks that hold down the teepees and form a circle where the base was. For us kids, looking for teepee rings was like finding clues on a treasure hunt out of time. It was exciting and when we found one we would shout and my grannie and mom would come over and look at it and say, yes that looks like one, or no it’s not. Whether this was made up I’m not quite sure but being on the wide open prairie where aboriginal peoples once lived and buffalo roamed free and wild is a connection to a wider circle of life which I’m a part of. I’m always connected to the land no matter where I am and by association to the land I’m also connected to the First peoples who walked, lived and cared for the land long ago and continue to inhabit it today.”
(©Janis Dow, October 2023)