The Law Society of Alberta has over 200 self-identified Indigenous lawyers and serves the Indigenous Peoples of Alberta. We acknowledge that our office is located on the traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
Land acknowledgements are traditional protocol used to give thanks and to pay respect to the peoples and the land for which you are a visitor upon. The following land acknowledgments recognize the traditional territories that the Law Society of Alberta serves. To follow the path of reconciliation, Law Society conferences and events should be opened with a land acknowledgment. Lawyers may also wish to use the following land acknowledgments for their own events, to demonstrate that they are actively thinking about what happened in the past and creating a space for Indigenous reconciliation to happen in the present and for the future.
“Spanning generations, acknowledgement of the land is a traditional custom of Indigenous peoples when welcoming outsiders onto their land and into their homes. To build respectful relationships, acknowledging the land is an important part of reconciliation. It honours the authentic history of North America, its original people and tells the story of the creation of this country that has historically been missing.” – The Calgary Foundation
A helpful resource to better understand land acknowledgements in Alberta is called Acknowledging Land and People and was put together by the Alberta Teachers Association. Another resource for Finding Your Personal Land Acknowledgment is available through a series of video blogs from the University of Saskatchewan.
Treaty 6
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the Indigenous peoples of the Treaty 6 region and the Métis Settlements and Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 2, 3 and 4. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our community.
We acknowledge Treaty 6 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 2, 3 and 4 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
Dene is pronounced “Den-nay”
Sauteaux is pronounced “So-toh”
Nakota Sioux is pronounced “Na-ko-ta Soo”
Treaty 7
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the Indigenous peoples of the Treaty 7 region and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our community.
We acknowledge Treaty 7 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Kainai, Piikani and Siksika as well as the Tsuut’ina Nation and Stoney Nakoda First Nation. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
Kainai is pronounced “Gigh-nigh”
Piikani is proncounced “Beh-gun-ee”
Siksika is pronounced “Sik-sik-ah”
Tsuut’ina is pronounced “Soo-tin-ah”
Métis is pronounced “May-tee”
Treaty 8
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the Indigenous peoples of the Treaty 8 region and the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 1, 4, 5 and 6. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our community.
We acknowledge Treaty 8 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of the Cree and Dene. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 1, 4, 5 and 6 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
Dene is pronounced “Den-nay”
Alberta
We acknowledge that what we call Alberta is the traditional and ancestral territory of many peoples, presently subject to Treaties 6, 7, and 8. Namely: the Blackfoot Confederacy – Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika – the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stoney Nakoda, and the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Métis People of Alberta. This includes the Métis Settlements and the Six Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta within the historical Northwest Metis Homeland. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
Kainai is pronounced “Gigh-nigh”
Piikani is prouncounced “Be-gun-nee”
Siksika is pronounced “Sik-sik-ah”
Dene is pronounced “Den-nay”
Sauteaux is pronounced “So-toh”
Nakota Sioux is pronounced “Na-ko-ta Soo”
Tsuu T’ina is pronounced “Soo-tin-ah”