performative I find that labeling does nothing but separate us, labeling is to keep us aware, but labelling people only separates us all. Loved this topic thank you for addressing it. I cringe when people in meeting do this, I refuse to. I feel like its all an act. We are taught this land is all, we are connected, not this part of the land is their and this is for them. No more separation its killing our community!
I'm not 100% sure what you mean by this, new age sort of expression, By performative you mean "for show" as apposed to actually being of benefit. Well I think it's a bit of both. I think Treaty lands were beneficial and detrimental in that they're was some pretty obvious Racism against Natives in the past so in some sense it could shelter first nations people from some of that hatred But not all of it. But I feel and truley hope that that is a thing of the past. I have never in my 67 years in Calgary witnessed racism first hand so it can have a back lash effect If native's constantly sort of push the past in our face, as an excuse for not being responsible and/or Independent in the present. I also totally agree with VikkehBee's comment The land is connected to us all, and should connect us Not divide us. I grew up hunting, fishing and camping. and my ancestry is Scots-Britt. my father was an old time, what they called Sportsman, we even had working Black Lab Retrievers. getting out in the wild is for me like going to church might be for some people. Now I just looked down at the selection here on RUclips and I see some thing called, LandBack; Indigenous Liberation Movement. And I ask my self is this A divisive movement, Reverse racism, or more of a sort of SELF Improvement effort ?. don't know that I answerd the question but, they're ya go
Thank you for sharing this. I do believe it has just become a repetitive thing that people do because they believe it’s being respectful but have really lost the meaning around it and what it is to acknowledge the injustice over the many many years. I’ll be showing this video at my next staff meeting.
You're welcome! I'm glad you found the information valuable. Sharing this video during your staff meeting is a great idea as it can help raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the significance of land acknowledgment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🧡🙏🏽
Wow. This has become an age old qurstion in short time. This might put it in perspective if I gather up all the cell phones for all the students in my class and take them to the front and tell them I'll give them back to the later and then I decide I don't want to do that but instead I say I'm acknowledging that I have your phones, I'm not giving them back to you...then what would happen? Parents upset, police might be called. I might even go to jail. But i'm still not giving them back I want them and they're mine now. That's how i see land acknowledgements. So you acknowledge it, now what? There are definitely people In mainstream society who do find the land acknowledgment to be performative. We struggle with them at my place. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and using a relatable analogy to illustrate your point. It's essential to move beyond acknowledgment and into meaningful actions that promote reconciliation and address the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. Your comment highlights the need for sincerity in these acknowledgments. 🙏🏽🧡
Mallory, I greatly appreciate your video on Land Acknowledgement. I believe that too often these acknowledgements are done without true meaning and respect. I also believe some individuals are trying to do the right thing. Pointing out that Indigenous Peoples should not be the ones to read these acknowledgements is extremely important. When an Indigenous person is the reader then meaning is missed. Thanks for the work you do for our Indigenous Peoples.
Thank you for your thoughtful response. 🧡 You're absolutely right that the true meaning and respect behind land acknowledgments matter greatly. It's crucial to approach them with sincerity and to ensure that they are not just performative gestures. Acknowledging the importance of having non-Indigenous individuals take on this responsibility helps to shift the focus from merely checking a box to genuinely understanding and addressing the historical and ongoing issues faced by Indigenous Peoples. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! 🙏🏽
I totally agree with this comment! However, we need to remember that land acknowledgments should be a work in progress. There are many non-Indigenous people trying to educate themselves and others, and trying to do the right thing. It is critical we have open discussions to move forward and change the process of a land acknowledgment to reflect that growth. I was afraid from the beginning a land acknowledgment would become a rote or repetitious quickly. It is when I studied the words with my students, and created a new one, that it actually began to make sense for us. A similar activity was done with our kindergartens, and every time they speak their land acknowledgment, people in the audience will tear up, because it makes sense. It also stresses the action that the individual needs to do to make things right.
Thank-you for this Mallory Rose. Im a white settler woman of British and Finnish descent. Ive been practicing digging into my internalized racism with help from various people who can hold me accountable. I find for myself it is real work and something I need to keep doing, or I easily slip back into denial and non action. So, i can inly speak from my own experience but, for me i find hearing or saying land acknowledgements helps remind me to keep taking steps to be more anti-racist and to do the hard things. Because one day i hope to not have to hear land acknowledgements anymore to keep me doing the work i need to do to change my mindset.
Thank you for sharing the video, Mallory. I totally agree. I feel that in most cases reading land acknowledgements are simply performative and not leading to any meaningful action. Yet, there are positive effects of informing those people who are totally unaware of the real history.
You're welcome, and I appreciate your perspective. Indeed, there can be positive effects in terms of raising awareness and educating people about the real history and the importance of indigenous lands and peoples. The key is to move beyond performative actions and towards meaningful engagement and support for Indigenous communities. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🧡
I’m so glad you posted this video. Yakoke! As someone in the Broadway industry, this is done at so many NYC theatres and on their websites. I am sharing this on all my socials for my fellow non native theatre peers and producers.
I’m so glad to hear this has been helpful! Id also love to hear more of your thoughts on how Land Acknowledgments are perceived in the broadway industry as a whole! Thank you for sharing and I’m very interested to hear more about you and your peers experiences with Indigenous Reconciliation on these platforms! Thank you for sharing and supporting authentic work with native peoples ❤️🤩
Just in time. I am officiating a wedding in September (upstate New York). The couple asked for a smudging ceremony and a land acknowledgment. I told them I felt uncomfortable doing the smudge, so they changed it to call it a smoke cleansing. Still not entirely comfortable. And now seeing this, I’m not comfortable with the land acknowledgment either. I do feel it was asked for to raise awareness. But now I just don’t know if I should do either.
Thank you for sharing! If you're uncomfortable with performing a smudging ceremony and a land acknowledgment, it's perfectly okay to express your concerns to the couple. It might be an opportunity for a meaningful dialogue about cultural sensitivity, awareness, and finding alternative ways to honor and respect the Indigenous culture and the land. 🧡
@@MalloryRoseCo I just took it out of the ceremony all together. As well as the "smoke cleansing" ... I have other ceremonial rituals that I will suggest! All is Well. I am SO SO THANKFUL that you sent the email with the video!
Thank you for this video. This is a new phenomenon in the US. Especially in the non-profit, social justice, education space. I was asked if I would do a land acknowledgment today. I am the ONLY Native American student in my academic program. I feel like they can be a good start but are definitely performative. I am also in the camp that people of color should not have to educate white folks about injustice. That should be an ally's job. As you said, they would most likely listen to someone they already view as a leader.
Thank you Mallory. Your video is really helpful and arrived in my email the same day our team was discussing land acknowledgements. Your points make a lot of sense and will help me to better ensure that any land acknowledgements I give are more thoughtful, action-oriented and respectful. I also really appreciate you sharing your wisdom and expertise in this and your other videos. I have learned a lot from you and know I have a lot more to learn!
Mallory, I deeply appreciate your patience and willingness to share this truth with those of us that are not indigenous. To me your precious, I want my conduct to leave you feeling treasured, respected. I’m committed to correcting all aspects of my behavior and language impacted by colonization. I’m committed to stopping my ways that create pain onto others. I study your ways because they are ancient and based on experience gained over time in memoriam. The ways of indigenous communities.. across the globe have clearly created communities of human beings that are based on reciprocity and gratitude. I’m my opinion, as I see it, thess communities resulted in the greatest development human beings are capable of. My colony is pure destruction. It just is, .. my ancestors.. before kings, organized religion, currency-all central power, we’re indigenous. My ancestors were current day Sami people in Finland. I can honor these ancestors and learn. My ancestors are with your ancestors.. it is a time of coming together to heal Mother Earth. Thank you for your patience and compassion in sharing. I remain silent most of the time. There are many from my colony that are committed to learning the right ‘ways’ .. work to heal one another. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 ODelle
Thank you for your heartfelt message, Odelle. Your willingness to learn, reflect, and make positive changes is truly commendable. It's important to recognize and respect indigenous wisdom and ways while working towards healing and understanding. Every effort matters, and as you continue on this path, your contributions to a more respectful and harmonious world are valuable. Keep listening, learning, and fostering compassion. 🙏🏼🧡
Question for anyone: have you ever heard a land acknowledgement that also refers to the transatlantic slave trade and Canada’s history of racism? I’ve just recently heard one and really didn’t like it. Firstly, I felt it took away from what I thought was the purpose, acknowledging Indigenous peoples. Secondly, while I appreciate slavery took place on the territory that is now part of Canada, the fact is that it had been abolished decades before Canada was formed. It made the entire experience absurd for me. Finally, being Black I felt blindsided as I had no idea this was coming and felt singled out; it didn’t help that a white person was the one reading it. But have any of you all experienced this? So long as Indigenous people believe that land acknowledgements can be done respectfully, I am perfectly happy to participate meaningfully in them, although I share much of the scepticism expressed by other commenters and strongly suspect that the land acknowledgements often benefit the person giving them more than the people to whom they are addressed. Thank you for such an insightful video and for your authenticity in sharing your perspective and experience. ❤
My family has been here for damn near 200 years (I know not as long as Indigenous people) and over the course of my lifetime I have donated (paid taxes) well over half of my income to this country. I have volunteered countless times to help my community. I have never stolen, cheated or swindled from any one or any group for any of the things I have earned. I consider myself an upstanding contributor to our society. I have studied Canadian and world history quite extensively and believe that I have a decent understanding of how this Country has evolved. I have travelled to and worked in every province and territory in Canada. I consider this land to be part of me and me part of it, and quite frankly I get annoyed every time someone tries to make me feel guilty for living on "Stolen" land. I understand that Indigenous peoples were not treated very well by the First Europeans but in all honesty they weren't treating each other all that well either. Inter tribal warfare, slavery and cannibalism were not uncommon. Maybe we can agree that All of our ancestors were not always the most humane towards each other and move past it and work towards a better future for our descendants.
I'm not surprised that this comment only has 10 likes. People don't like whites like this. I'm also a positive contributor to my community but somehow I'm always reminded that I'm white and how entitled I am. This indigenous "reconciliation " has become a brand name. Just remember people, just keep contributing, having compassion, being in service of the people and most importantly taking care of yourself!!!
Thank you for sharing this. I completely support the Native Americans I'm part Cherokee and I can remember being in school learning about the trail of tears and thinking how unfair it is that they have only a small portion of land to live on when they were here first. And the more I am learning the more unfair things are being made clear to me God Bless them 🙏 ✨️ ❤❤
Thank you for your support. Understanding the history and challenges that our Indigenous peoples have faced is essential in building a more just and inclusive society. Your compassion is appreciated! 🙏🏽🧡
Thank you for this. I had never even heard of land acknowledgments before this so it was very enlightening. You make great points and I appreciate your energy of common sense when presenting this information.
Hi Mallory, Thank you for sharing this and very well done. As an elder for a Mens Circle group that has a ceremony for the beginning of our "work" towards bringing peace, healing, wisdom, compassion and humility to ourselves and our community, I take responsibility to to be sure that the Land acknowledgement comes from the heart. It is important to understand that the "privilege" to stand and walk where we are today came with a cost/debt. Without heartfelt awareness and "acknowledgement", it loses meaning and becomes performative. We must keep the focus on the why we do this, not just checking off the "did it" box.
Thank you Mallory. You raise extremely important points of reference with sound and thought-provoking statements. Any land-acknowledgement done automatically certainly can become meaningless, but hopefully, nothing falls on deaf ears. Miigwetch .
both - I feel Land acknowledgment has become a duty for eg government leaders - hopefully, they speak out of respect - but sometimes I hear them rattle off the Land Acknowledgment, jump right into their message, and I am left hanging - what does the land acknowledgment mean?? On the other hand, if they did not speak a land acknowledgement, I would not have known.
Great points Valinda. Land acknowledgments are indeed meant to be a show of respect for the indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands we are on. While some may recite them as a formality, the hope is that they serve as a reminder of the need for meaningful action and engagement with Indigenous issues. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙏🏽
At the likelihood of sounding redundant - I honestly feel that Land Acknowledgments are both Performative and Meaningful. Initially, when Indigenous Peoples were granted basic and elementary guaranteed freedoms (right to vote, right to be treated equally and with dignity, etc… think mainly post 1982 Charter era), Land Acknowledgements weren’t expected or mandatory; rather, they were often spontaneously, differing in dialogue but maintaining the same message. Today, Land Acknowledgements are Performative and imo counter-productive when evidently being forced or made to recite due to “Truth & Reconciliation “ attempts. There’s many of these individuals out there opening up with Land Acknowledgments when they have zero clue about they actually meaningfully hold. For an example, I’m indigenous. When someone gives a Land Acknowledgment, please 🙏 do it not by force, but from the heart. Oh, and in the correct land that you are actually acknowledging! I’ve seen /heard that mistake a few times! 😲
In Aus we also have land acknowledgement. But we are also having a referendum to change our constitution as part of the way foreward. I fully support the change but dont ho old a lot of hope
@@MalloryRoseCoAlso, re your suggestion to ask an elder for an appropriate land blessing following a sincere acknowledgment: this really speaks to the opportunity for true ‘reconciliation’, perhaps a bit of mind, heart and spirit reset for anyone in attendance. Love your focus on the supportive attitude and approach that can be taken (by anyone) to bring the energy (power, influence, attention) and our relationship with Grandmother Earth back into balance.
Mallory, I hate Land acknowledgements and anything that offers lip service with no substance. I'm glad they feel better, but at what expense, and at WHOSE expense. BTW enjoyed the video, the "others" should pay heed to your lesson and ACT on them . Wenibozhoo, chi miigwetch. Muqwa HaNyoNeh.
I appreciate your perspective, and I understand your concerns about empty gestures. It's essential that acknowledgments and actions go hand in hand, leading to meaningful change and reconciliation. Your voice adds depth to this conversation, emphasizing the importance of substance over mere words. Chii migwetch for sharing your thoughts! 🧡🙏🏽
I have noticed that in an effort to make land acknowledgements personal people have started talking about their own cultural backgrounds and how their ancestors suffered oppression so they understand the Indigenous experience. Recently I heard a land acknowledgement where the person, whose family is from South Korea, talked at length about their family's experience with colonialism and as a result they were able to understand what the Indigenous people have suffered. I felt it was very inappropriate for the person to presume they understand the Indigenous experience. This is happening more and more. I have also heard someone liken the Indigenous experience to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and say therefore they understand. I would like to know your thoughts on this. Thanks,
1st...I experienced a "Land acknowledgement" at a speech from the former Secretary of the Interior. USA. I didn't have the slightest idea what was going on and I don't think most did. 2nd If you had a magic wand, for real, what would full reconciliation look like? Always thankful
Excellent commentary. Threads are important but what are they used to create? Individual quilt squares are important but will they be parr of? Composition and the enduring narrative are important.
Personally I feel the vast majority of land acknowledgements are performative. However, the one benefit of them that I see, is making people more aware of Indigenous Peoples.
You’re absolutely correct Jeannette! They do help people become more aware if they’re not and hopefully inspire a percentage to learn more after establishing that awareness 🥰❤️ chi miigwetch!
Hi Mallory, I am not much on the Land Acknowledgements, but I have been to a few meetings about Land acknowledgements in the past. It have witnessed some of the statements you metioned in the video first hand. Seen the government officials stated one thing and do another to benefit themselves on the land resources even when those resources are on our lands. They take what is not theirs and make up sanctions or polices that were not there to get those resources and we the Indigenous people are left once again with nothing. Anyways, I learned about our seven generations of thinking and how we as Indigenous people look and respect the land in different ways than the rest of society. Our children are our future and we do not take what is not ours, we know the resources are there, but we do not take away from our children, so that one day they too can share this knowledge with their children. So I would say in my perspective I would thinking Land Acknowledgement would be more meaningful than performance, in my opinion, we are all from our Earth Mother and we should all respect her and what she has provided for us and it our duty to take care of her, likes she takes care of us. All relations!!
This is so complex. I'm experiencing land acknowledgement is now being removed altogether to avoid doing harm. Last year I have been to a few university and state events that had done land acknowledgements and this year zero events have done it because they are afraid of causing hurt or being performative. It's now back to business as usual and I feel weird that for a brief moment in time we did land acknowledgement and now it's no longer being done. I don't know what the answer is.
Land acknowledgements have a time and place. When my son graduated from grade school, they made a land acknowledgement. At the same time, my son told me his teacher didn't understand why they were doing it, nor did he understand or agree with the indigenous students being recognized for their achievements. It's hard to hear the school placate and acknowledge the land when their staff are often racist (VP at the high school calling another native student a "berry picker") or willfully ignorant.
Your experience highlights a common issue with land acknowledgments - they can sometimes feel insincere or performative, especially when there is a lack of understanding or support for Indigenous students and issues within the school community. It's essential for educational institutions to not only acknowledge the land but also actively work towards creating a culturally inclusive and respectful environment for Indigenous students and staff. True reconciliation goes beyond words and requires meaningful actions to address the systemic issues that perpetuate racism and discrimination. Thank you for sharing your perspective. 🧡🙏🏽
Great video, Mallory! I do agree that many times the land acknowledgement is a token gesture, and this video will be used to help clarify the practice in my workplace-at least I hope so! We have a (pardon me for my rudeness, but it is true) "wanna-be" that tries to tell staff how to recognize, celebrate or practice First Nations culture who has completely skewed the point of the land acknowledgement for our team. It is difficult to correct her, even as a native person myself, because of my own insecurities and reluctance to 'ruffle feathers'.
I’m so glad to hear that you think the video is great! When addressing situations where cultural practices are misunderstood, approach them with sensitivity and patience, aiming for mutual learning and understanding. Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts. 🙏🏽🧡
Thank you for this insightful video! Unfortunately, I think most come off as tokenist and insincere for those that are well informed. However, I also agree that there are benefits to them regardless. In the end, it's better to have them than not. Subscribed!
Thank you Mallory! As always, you did an amazing job presenting both sides of this new practice. I work in child welfare and I find land acknowledgments to be an educational introduction to child removal practices and modern day oppression and racism! Thank you for producing this thoughtful guide!
Thank you for your very insightful feedback @mkline ❤️ I appreciate your work in child welfare especially having a clear pulse on these important cultural identity practices. Thank you for your support, kind words, and for everything you do in a crucial field of protecting young ones ❤️❤️❤️
100% performative. I don't believe people writing/making these announcements actually want to revert society back to the way it was centuries ago, nor do I think educating the public about history is anyone's motivation for making such an announcement. It's simple virtue signalling.
Meegwetch for discussing this topic, Mallory. I find it a difficult subject because the results are unquantifiable. How does one measure sincerity or awareness? And in that regard, can it make a difference? How will that difference manifest itself? And will it arrive in time to see wrongs righted? I don't think there's a tangible way to calculate its effectiveness. One can certainly hope that it spreads into the larger consciousness but without actionable deeds to back up those words, they come off as just that - words. Oddly enough, this clip from a comedy show summed it up: ruclips.net/video/xlG17C19nYo/видео.htmlsi=SdkbYkeoAXSMg2ZG
Mallory, today I watched a video that was made some time ago, it was about smudging mistakes. It was a good video. Yet I have noticed a serious mistake that you are making. First let me tell you that I am a seventy-seven-year-old woman with strong indigenous blood lines. My grandmother and her grandmother still impart their wisdom to those who will accept it. Now I will reiterate on your mistake. You smudge using an abalone shell. Shells like the one you use are given to us by Creator to be used in water ceremony. A flat rock or a bowl made from earth that has been turned hard in fire is what we are meant. to use in our smudging ceremony. You are far from being alone in this mistake. I have been to many gatherings where these beautiful shells are used to smudge. I guess they just do not understand that water will always cancel out fire. Please feel free to contact me if you need. made
I’m embarrassed when they make the announcement. I feel Indigenous are being mocked. It’s token, because so little if any progress in reconciliation. I look very white so people around me feel free to express their distain.
Just another form of virtue signaling. Now if a company or group returned the land they own to the indigenous community that previously lived there, then that would be a significant gesture.
Mallory I not sure about land acknowledgment will do much good see how the truth was never really told much because here in the states Not very many people even know what the tail of trier was really about how in the peace agreement they were offered land in the west and was lied to about how much land and what land rights they actually had I hear stories about that All because of things like gold silver and hunting and water rights To this very day a lot of tribes are still in poverty because the government would not give they full land rights But I guess it’s a start
Thank you for this video. This is a new phenomenon in the US. Especially in the non-profit, social justice, education space. I was asked if I would do a land acknowledgment today. I am the ONLY Native American student in my academic program. I feel like they can be a good start but are definitely performative. I am also in the camp that people of color should not have to educate white folks about injustice. That should be an ally's job. As you said, they would most likely listen to someone they already view as a leader.
What do you think? Performative or Meaningful?
performative I find that labeling does nothing but separate us, labeling is to keep us aware, but labelling people only separates us all. Loved this topic thank you for addressing it. I cringe when people in meeting do this, I refuse to. I feel like its all an act. We are taught this land is all, we are connected, not this part of the land is their and this is for them. No more separation its killing our community!
I'm not 100% sure what you mean by this, new age sort of expression, By performative you mean "for show" as apposed to actually being of benefit. Well I think it's a bit of both. I think Treaty lands were beneficial and detrimental in that they're was some pretty obvious Racism against Natives in the past so in some sense it could shelter first nations people from some of that hatred But not all of it. But I feel and truley hope that that is a thing of the past. I have never in my 67 years in Calgary witnessed racism first hand so it can have a back lash effect If native's constantly sort of push the past in our face, as an excuse for not being responsible and/or Independent in the present. I also totally agree with VikkehBee's comment The land is connected to us all, and should connect us Not divide us. I grew up hunting, fishing and camping. and my ancestry is Scots-Britt. my father was an old time, what they called Sportsman, we even had working Black Lab Retrievers. getting out in the wild is for me like going to church might be for some people. Now I just looked down at the selection here on RUclips and I see some thing called, LandBack; Indigenous Liberation Movement. And I ask my self is this A divisive movement, Reverse racism, or more of a sort of SELF Improvement effort ?. don't know that I answerd the question but, they're ya go
Thank you for sharing this. I do believe it has just become a repetitive thing that people do because they believe it’s being respectful but have really lost the meaning around it and what it is to acknowledge the injustice over the many many years. I’ll be showing this video at my next staff meeting.
You're welcome! I'm glad you found the information valuable. Sharing this video during your staff meeting is a great idea as it can help raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the significance of land acknowledgment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🧡🙏🏽
@@MalloryRoseCo thank you. I look forward to more of your videos.
Wow. This has become an age old qurstion in short time. This might put it in perspective if I gather up all the cell phones for all the students in my class and take them to the front and tell them I'll give them back to the later and then I decide I don't want to do that but instead I say I'm acknowledging that I have your phones, I'm not giving them back to you...then what would happen? Parents upset, police might be called. I might even go to jail. But i'm still not giving them back I want them and they're mine now. That's how i see land acknowledgements. So you acknowledge it, now what? There are definitely people In mainstream society who do find the land acknowledgment to be performative. We struggle with them at my place. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and using a relatable analogy to illustrate your point. It's essential to move beyond acknowledgment and into meaningful actions that promote reconciliation and address the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. Your comment highlights the need for sincerity in these acknowledgments. 🙏🏽🧡
Mallory, I greatly appreciate your video on Land Acknowledgement. I believe that too often these acknowledgements are done without true meaning and respect. I also believe some individuals are trying to do the right thing. Pointing out that Indigenous Peoples should not be the ones to read these acknowledgements is extremely important. When an Indigenous person is the reader then meaning is missed. Thanks for the work you do for our Indigenous Peoples.
Thank you for your thoughtful response. 🧡 You're absolutely right that the true meaning and respect behind land acknowledgments matter greatly. It's crucial to approach them with sincerity and to ensure that they are not just performative gestures. Acknowledging the importance of having non-Indigenous individuals take on this responsibility helps to shift the focus from merely checking a box to genuinely understanding and addressing the historical and ongoing issues faced by Indigenous Peoples. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! 🙏🏽
I totally agree with this comment! However, we need to remember that land acknowledgments should be a work in progress. There are many non-Indigenous people trying to educate themselves and others, and trying to do the right thing. It is critical we have open discussions to move forward and change the process of a land acknowledgment to reflect that growth. I was afraid from the beginning a land acknowledgment would become a rote or repetitious quickly. It is when I studied the words with my students, and created a new one, that it actually began to make sense for us. A similar activity was done with our kindergartens, and every time they speak their land acknowledgment, people in the audience will tear up, because it makes sense. It also stresses the action that the individual needs to do to make things right.
Thank-you for this Mallory Rose. Im a white settler woman of British and Finnish descent. Ive been practicing digging into my internalized racism with help from various people who can hold me accountable. I find for myself it is real work and something I need to keep doing, or I easily slip back into denial and non action. So, i can inly speak from my own experience but, for me i find hearing or saying land acknowledgements helps remind me to keep taking steps to be more anti-racist and to do the hard things. Because one day i hope to not have to hear land acknowledgements anymore to keep me doing the work i need to do to change my mindset.
Thank you for sharing the video, Mallory. I totally agree. I feel that in most cases reading land acknowledgements are simply performative and not leading to any meaningful action. Yet, there are positive effects of informing those people who are totally unaware of the real history.
You're welcome, and I appreciate your perspective. Indeed, there can be positive effects in terms of raising awareness and educating people about the real history and the importance of indigenous lands and peoples. The key is to move beyond performative actions and towards meaningful engagement and support for Indigenous communities. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🧡
I’m so glad you posted this video. Yakoke! As someone in the Broadway industry, this is done at so many NYC theatres and on their websites. I am sharing this on all my socials for my fellow non native theatre peers and producers.
I’m so glad to hear this has been helpful! Id also love to hear more of your thoughts on how Land Acknowledgments are perceived in the broadway industry as a whole! Thank you for sharing and I’m very interested to hear more about you and your peers experiences with Indigenous Reconciliation on these platforms! Thank you for sharing and supporting authentic work with native peoples ❤️🤩
Just in time. I am officiating a wedding in September (upstate New York). The couple asked for a smudging ceremony and a land acknowledgment. I told them I felt uncomfortable doing the smudge, so they changed it to call it a smoke cleansing. Still not entirely comfortable. And now seeing this, I’m not comfortable with the land acknowledgment either. I do feel it was asked for to raise awareness. But now I just don’t know if I should do either.
Thank you for sharing! If you're uncomfortable with performing a smudging ceremony and a land acknowledgment, it's perfectly okay to express your concerns to the couple. It might be an opportunity for a meaningful dialogue about cultural sensitivity, awareness, and finding alternative ways to honor and respect the Indigenous culture and the land. 🧡
@@MalloryRoseCo I just took it out of the ceremony all together. As well as the "smoke cleansing" ... I have other ceremonial rituals that I will suggest! All is Well. I am SO SO THANKFUL that you sent the email with the video!
I'm a Native American Studies M.A. student. We just had this discussion in one of my classes. Oh, and I did the likey/subscribey thing.
Thank you for this video. This is a new phenomenon in the US. Especially in the non-profit, social justice, education space. I was asked if I would do a land acknowledgment today. I am the ONLY Native American student in my academic program. I feel like they can be a good start but are definitely performative. I am also in the camp that people of color should not have to educate white folks about injustice. That should be an ally's job. As you said, they would most likely listen to someone they already view as a leader.
Thank you Mallory. Your video is really helpful and arrived in my email the same day our team was discussing land acknowledgements. Your points make a lot of sense and will help me to better ensure that any land acknowledgements I give are more thoughtful, action-oriented and respectful. I also really appreciate you sharing your wisdom and expertise in this and your other videos. I have learned a lot from you and know I have a lot more to learn!
Mallory,
I deeply appreciate your patience and willingness to share this truth with those of us that are not indigenous. To me your precious, I want my conduct to leave you feeling treasured, respected.
I’m committed to correcting all aspects of my behavior and language impacted by colonization. I’m committed to stopping my ways that create pain onto others.
I study your ways because they are ancient and based on experience gained over time in memoriam. The ways of indigenous communities.. across the globe have clearly created communities of human beings that are based on reciprocity and gratitude. I’m my opinion, as I see it, thess communities resulted in the greatest development human beings are capable of.
My colony is pure destruction. It just is, ..
my ancestors.. before kings, organized religion, currency-all central power, we’re indigenous. My ancestors were current day Sami people in Finland. I can honor these ancestors and learn. My ancestors are with your ancestors.. it is a time of coming together to heal Mother Earth.
Thank you for your patience and compassion in sharing. I remain silent most of the time. There are many from my colony that are committed to learning the right ‘ways’ .. work to heal one another.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
ODelle
Thank you for your heartfelt message, Odelle. Your willingness to learn, reflect, and make positive changes is truly commendable. It's important to recognize and respect indigenous wisdom and ways while working towards healing and understanding. Every effort matters, and as you continue on this path, your contributions to a more respectful and harmonious world are valuable. Keep listening, learning, and fostering compassion. 🙏🏼🧡
Question for anyone: have you ever heard a land acknowledgement that also refers to the transatlantic slave trade and Canada’s history of racism? I’ve just recently heard one and really didn’t like it. Firstly, I felt it took away from what I thought was the purpose, acknowledging Indigenous peoples. Secondly, while I appreciate slavery took place on the territory that is now part of Canada, the fact is that it had been abolished decades before Canada was formed. It made the entire experience absurd for me. Finally, being Black I felt blindsided as I had no idea this was coming and felt singled out; it didn’t help that a white person was the one reading it. But have any of you all experienced this?
So long as Indigenous people believe that land acknowledgements can be done respectfully, I am perfectly happy to participate meaningfully in them, although I share much of the scepticism expressed by other commenters and strongly suspect that the land acknowledgements often benefit the person giving them more than the people to whom they are addressed.
Thank you for such an insightful video and for your authenticity in sharing your perspective and experience. ❤
My family has been here for damn near 200 years (I know not as long as Indigenous people) and over the course of my lifetime I have donated (paid taxes) well over half of my income to this country. I have volunteered countless times to help my community. I have never stolen, cheated or swindled from any one or any group for any of the things I have earned. I consider myself an upstanding contributor to our society. I have studied Canadian and world history quite extensively and believe that I have a decent understanding of how this Country has evolved. I have travelled to and worked in every province and territory in Canada. I consider this land to be part of me and me part of it, and quite frankly I get annoyed every time someone tries to make me feel guilty for living on "Stolen" land. I understand that Indigenous peoples were not treated very well by the First Europeans but in all honesty they weren't treating each other all that well either. Inter tribal warfare, slavery and cannibalism were not uncommon. Maybe we can agree that All of our ancestors were not always the most humane towards each other and move past it and work towards a better future for our descendants.
💯💯💯
Well put.
I'm not surprised that this comment only has 10 likes. People don't like whites like this. I'm also a positive contributor to my community but somehow I'm always reminded that I'm white and how entitled I am. This indigenous "reconciliation " has become a brand name. Just remember people, just keep contributing, having compassion, being in service of the people and most importantly taking care of yourself!!!
Thank you for sharing this. I completely support the Native Americans I'm part Cherokee and I can remember being in school learning about the trail of tears and thinking how unfair it is that they have only a small portion of land to live on when they were here first. And the more I am learning the more unfair things are being made clear to me God Bless them 🙏 ✨️ ❤❤
Thank you for your support. Understanding the history and challenges that our Indigenous peoples have faced is essential in building a more just and inclusive society. Your compassion is appreciated! 🙏🏽🧡
Thank you for this. I had never even heard of land acknowledgments before this so it was very enlightening. You make great points and I appreciate your energy of common sense when presenting this information.
You're very welcome! I'm glad to hear that you found the information enlightening, and I appreciate your kind words. 🧡
Hi Mallory,
Thank you for sharing this and very well done. As an elder for a Mens Circle group that has a ceremony for the beginning of our "work" towards bringing peace, healing, wisdom, compassion and humility to ourselves and our community, I take responsibility to to be sure that the Land acknowledgement comes from the heart. It is important to understand that the "privilege" to stand and walk where we are today came with a cost/debt. Without heartfelt awareness and "acknowledgement", it loses meaning and becomes performative. We must keep the focus on the why we do this, not just checking off the "did it" box.
Thank you Mallory. You raise extremely important points of reference with sound and thought-provoking statements. Any land-acknowledgement done automatically certainly can become meaningless, but hopefully, nothing falls on deaf ears. Miigwetch .
both - I feel Land acknowledgment has become a duty for eg government leaders - hopefully, they speak out of respect - but sometimes I hear them rattle off the Land Acknowledgment, jump right into their message, and I am left hanging - what does the land acknowledgment mean?? On the other hand, if they did not speak a land acknowledgement, I would not have known.
Great points Valinda. Land acknowledgments are indeed meant to be a show of respect for the indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands we are on. While some may recite them as a formality, the hope is that they serve as a reminder of the need for meaningful action and engagement with Indigenous issues. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙏🏽
At the likelihood of sounding redundant - I honestly feel that Land Acknowledgments are both Performative and Meaningful.
Initially, when Indigenous Peoples were granted basic and elementary guaranteed freedoms (right to vote, right to be treated equally and with dignity, etc… think mainly post 1982 Charter era), Land Acknowledgements weren’t expected or mandatory; rather, they were often spontaneously, differing in dialogue but maintaining the same message.
Today, Land Acknowledgements are Performative and imo counter-productive when evidently being forced or made to recite due to “Truth & Reconciliation “ attempts. There’s many of these individuals out there opening up with Land Acknowledgments when they have zero clue about they actually meaningfully hold. For an example, I’m indigenous. When someone gives a Land Acknowledgment, please 🙏 do it not by force, but from the heart.
Oh, and in the correct land that you are actually acknowledging! I’ve seen /heard that mistake a few times! 😲
I was just talking about this and how it is just a statement with no purpose. Thank you for sheding light on this!
You're welcome! I'm glad the video resonated with you. And thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🧡🙏🏽
In Aus we also have land acknowledgement. But we are also having a referendum to change our constitution as part of the way foreward. I fully support the change but dont ho old a lot of hope
So appreciate the care-full and thoughtful work you do that helps us All. 🙏🏽
Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad I could be of help. 🧡
@@MalloryRoseCoAlso, re your suggestion to ask an elder for an appropriate land blessing following a sincere acknowledgment: this really speaks to the opportunity for true ‘reconciliation’, perhaps a bit of mind, heart and spirit reset for anyone in attendance. Love your focus on the supportive attitude and approach that can be taken (by anyone) to bring the energy (power, influence, attention) and our relationship with Grandmother Earth back into balance.
Mallory, I hate Land acknowledgements and anything that offers lip service with no substance. I'm glad they feel better, but at what expense, and at WHOSE expense. BTW enjoyed the video, the "others" should pay heed to your lesson and ACT on them . Wenibozhoo, chi miigwetch. Muqwa HaNyoNeh.
I appreciate your perspective, and I understand your concerns about empty gestures. It's essential that acknowledgments and actions go hand in hand, leading to meaningful change and reconciliation. Your voice adds depth to this conversation, emphasizing the importance of substance over mere words. Chii migwetch for sharing your thoughts! 🧡🙏🏽
I think it's really important to recognize that it used to be our land and it was conquered it fair and square
I have noticed that in an effort to make land acknowledgements personal people have started talking about their own cultural backgrounds and how their ancestors suffered oppression so they understand the Indigenous experience. Recently I heard a land acknowledgement where the person, whose family is from South Korea, talked at length about their family's experience with colonialism and as a result they were able to understand what the Indigenous people have suffered. I felt it was very inappropriate for the person to presume they understand the Indigenous experience. This is happening more and more. I have also heard someone liken the Indigenous experience to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and say therefore they understand. I would like to know your thoughts on this. Thanks,
1st...I experienced a "Land acknowledgement" at a speech from the former Secretary of the Interior. USA. I didn't have the slightest idea what was going on and I don't think most did.
2nd If you had a magic wand, for real, what would full reconciliation look like? Always thankful
Wow, Mallory. Wonderful. Valuable.
Glad you think so! 🙏🏽🧡
Excellent commentary. Threads are important but what are they used to create? Individual quilt squares are important but will they be parr of? Composition and the enduring narrative are important.
Personally I feel the vast majority of land acknowledgements are performative. However, the one benefit of them that I see, is making people more aware of Indigenous Peoples.
You’re absolutely correct Jeannette! They do help people become more aware if they’re not and hopefully inspire a percentage to learn more after establishing that awareness 🥰❤️ chi miigwetch!
Hi Mallory, I am not much on the Land Acknowledgements, but I have been to a few meetings about Land acknowledgements in the past. It have witnessed some of the statements you metioned in the video first hand. Seen the government officials stated one thing and do another to benefit themselves on the land resources even when those resources are on our lands. They take what is not theirs and make up sanctions or polices that were not there to get those resources and we the Indigenous people are left once again with nothing. Anyways, I learned about our seven generations of thinking and how we as Indigenous people look and respect the land in different ways than the rest of society. Our children are our future and we do not take what is not ours, we know the resources are there, but we do not take away from our children, so that one day they too can share this knowledge with their children. So I would say in my perspective I would thinking Land Acknowledgement would be more meaningful than performance, in my opinion, we are all from our Earth Mother and we should all respect her and what she has provided for us and it our duty to take care of her, likes she takes care of us. All relations!!
This is so complex. I'm experiencing land acknowledgement is now being removed altogether to avoid doing harm. Last year I have been to a few university and state events that had done land acknowledgements and this year zero events have done it because they are afraid of causing hurt or being performative. It's now back to business as usual and I feel weird that for a brief moment in time we did land acknowledgement and now it's no longer being done. I don't know what the answer is.
It's always performative.
Land acknowledgements have a time and place. When my son graduated from grade school, they made a land acknowledgement. At the same time, my son told me his teacher didn't understand why they were doing it, nor did he understand or agree with the indigenous students being recognized for their achievements. It's hard to hear the school placate and acknowledge the land when their staff are often racist (VP at the high school calling another native student a "berry picker") or willfully ignorant.
Your experience highlights a common issue with land acknowledgments - they can sometimes feel insincere or performative, especially when there is a lack of understanding or support for Indigenous students and issues within the school community. It's essential for educational institutions to not only acknowledge the land but also actively work towards creating a culturally inclusive and respectful environment for Indigenous students and staff. True reconciliation goes beyond words and requires meaningful actions to address the systemic issues that perpetuate racism and discrimination. Thank you for sharing your perspective. 🧡🙏🏽
This is the problem. Many of our schools are reciting an acknowledgment, and that is it. This can easily hide those of racist thoughts and/or ideas.
Great video, Mallory! I do agree that many times the land acknowledgement is a token gesture, and this video will be used to help clarify the practice in my workplace-at least I hope so! We have a (pardon me for my rudeness, but it is true) "wanna-be" that tries to tell staff how to recognize, celebrate or practice First Nations culture who has completely skewed the point of the land acknowledgement for our team. It is difficult to correct her, even as a native person myself, because of my own insecurities and reluctance to 'ruffle feathers'.
I’m so glad to hear that you think the video is great! When addressing situations where cultural practices are misunderstood, approach them with sensitivity and patience, aiming for mutual learning and understanding. Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts. 🙏🏽🧡
Thank you for this insightful video!
Unfortunately, I think most come off as tokenist and insincere for those that are well informed. However, I also agree that there are benefits to them regardless. In the end, it's better to have them than not.
Subscribed!
Thanks for the great info!
Thank you Mallory! As always, you did an amazing job presenting both sides of this new practice. I work in child welfare and I find land acknowledgments to be an educational introduction to child removal practices and modern day oppression and racism! Thank you for producing this thoughtful guide!
Thank you for your very insightful feedback @mkline ❤️ I appreciate your work in child welfare especially having a clear pulse on these important cultural identity practices. Thank you for your support, kind words, and for everything you do in a crucial field of protecting young ones ❤️❤️❤️
Definitely performative in our workplace because it's rushed through as part of our morning announcements. It's very sad in my opinion.
Your raise good points and provide helpful information; however, the video editing is, to me, annoying, a distraction, and unnecessary.
Thank you for the helpful feedback. I’ll bring this back to my editor, and I appreciate your honesty! 💗
I'm always sure to say my land acknowledgments don't they sound like I'm bragging that we're living on their land and they can just suck it up
100% performative. I don't believe people writing/making these announcements actually want to revert society back to the way it was centuries ago, nor do I think educating the public about history is anyone's motivation for making such an announcement. It's simple virtue signalling.
Meegwetch for discussing this topic, Mallory. I find it a difficult subject because the results are unquantifiable. How does one measure sincerity or awareness? And in that regard, can it make a difference? How will that difference manifest itself? And will it arrive in time to see wrongs righted? I don't think there's a tangible way to calculate its effectiveness. One can certainly hope that it spreads into the larger consciousness but without actionable deeds to back up those words, they come off as just that - words. Oddly enough, this clip from a comedy show summed it up: ruclips.net/video/xlG17C19nYo/видео.htmlsi=SdkbYkeoAXSMg2ZG
I’m tired of the guilt trip. I work hard and pay taxes. Do indigenous people acknowledge how generous the Canadian taxpayer is towards them?
I want a reading
Hello boozhoo, Aniin how are you?
I will watch your video right now
Mallory, today I watched a video that was made some time ago, it was about smudging mistakes. It was a good video. Yet I have noticed a serious mistake that you are making. First let me tell you that I am a seventy-seven-year-old woman with strong indigenous blood lines. My grandmother and her grandmother still impart their wisdom to those who will accept it.
Now I will reiterate on your mistake. You smudge using an abalone shell. Shells like the one you use are given to us by Creator to be used in water ceremony. A flat rock or a bowl made from earth that has been turned hard in fire is what we are meant.
to use in our smudging ceremony.
You are far from being alone in this mistake. I have been to many gatherings where these beautiful shells are used to smudge. I guess they just do not understand that water will always cancel out fire.
Please feel free to contact me if you need.
made
I’m embarrassed when they make the announcement. I feel Indigenous are being mocked. It’s token, because so little if any progress in reconciliation. I look very white so people around me feel free to express their distain.
Just another form of virtue signaling. Now if a company or group returned the land they own to the indigenous community that previously lived there, then that would be a significant gesture.
Hi. I sent a message. Did i offend?
Mallory I not sure about land acknowledgment will do much good see how the truth was never really told much because here in the states
Not very many people even know what the tail of trier was really about how in the peace agreement they were offered land in the west and was lied to about how much land and what land rights they actually had
I hear stories about that
All because of things like gold silver and hunting and water rights
To this very day a lot of tribes are still in poverty because the government would not give they full land rights
But I guess it’s a start
Because I am part vicking Irish Cherokee and French but I was thought the Lakota was and I studied the my vicking heritage
That were my blue green eyes and blonde hair comes from
They have even changed the name of the tail of tears to Nass trace park
My eyes letter changes colors from blue to green
And I have actually seen one green and the other blue once
Thank you for this video. This is a new phenomenon in the US. Especially in the non-profit, social justice, education space. I was asked if I would do a land acknowledgment today. I am the ONLY Native American student in my academic program. I feel like they can be a good start but are definitely performative. I am also in the camp that people of color should not have to educate white folks about injustice. That should be an ally's job. As you said, they would most likely listen to someone they already view as a leader.