Territorial acknowledgments seeds for growth, action

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2023 (899 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I was recently invited to speak and spend time with a congregation at a church in Mitchell.

Located three kilometres west of Steinbach, the Mitchell Community Fellowship is a small, non-denominational church on Highway 52. It is not led by a single pastor, but instead invites a variety of guest speakers.

On April 16, I was that guest — asked to speak on the purpose of territorial acknowledgments.

Over the past decade, I’ve spoken at around 100 churches across Manitoba. From Otterburne to Steinbach to Ashern and everything in between (including 70 in Winnipeg), I’ve covered most denominations (with the vast majority being Catholic, Anglican and United).

Like businesses and offices, almost all make territorial acknowledgments. (Note: I don’t call them “land” acknowledgments, as they are about relationships within land).

Something happened though in Mitchell that was unique and remarkable.

The service began with a prayer and a territorial acknowledgment by community leader Val Hiebert.

Hiebert (a gardener and grandmother) gave one of the most remarkable, beautiful territorial acknowledgments I’ve ever heard.

“We acknowledge this land, and its soils, are alive; powerful in spirit and mystery. The story of this land is lived by the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Red River Métis. We join this story and seek to live in right relations with all other spiritual beings of this place.”

Hiebert went on to acknowledge the history of colonization, violence and struggle in the area, while announcing a commitment to truth as a seed of “spring emerging around us.”

“Seeds are the beginning of a journey, the plant living on into another season,” she said. “Creation lives out her promise every spring, that from death comes life. And so, as I always do every spring when I get up here, I welcome you to feel the power of resurrection that is spring.”

My speech after that was easy; I just reflected upon what Hiebert said.

Territorial acknowledgments are seeds; opportunities for truth-telling, growth and action. They require us to plant, nurture and care for them, so we must take seriously the responsibilities they require of us.

If we deny or abandon the seeds we plant, nothing will grow or, worse, grow in ways we may not know or appreciate.

Seeds are the birth of hope because of their power and potential of being.

Territorial acknowledgments have received a lot of flack lately.

There’s a solo show in Toronto by Indigenous playwright Cliff Cardinal making fun of their “performativity.” There was a highly-viewed comedy bit from CBC’s Baroness von Sketch Show pointing out their absurdity.

After long being the only Canadian NHL team to not adopt one, the Calgary Flames made a “land acknowledgment” before last month’s “Indigenous Celebration Game.”

For the most part, these critiques all have merit. Territorial acknowledgments mean nothing if the person saying the words thinks little of what’s being said.

Territorial acknowledgments must always be personalized.

They must answer questions such as: what does it mean to share lands with Indigenous nations? How has history impacted the way we see or not see one another? What do we do once we commit to seeing differently?

Most importantly: how do we make this world we see a peaceful and ethical one based in treaty, justice and collectivity?

Using Hiebert’s words: how do we see territorial acknowledgments as seeds of life?

It was important for me to hear this from Mitchell-area residents.

The town sits on the northern migration route of my community, the Anishinaabe. The lands were settled mostly by Russian Mennonites in 1874, who moved into the area after Treaty 1 was signed and reserves such as Brokenhead and Roseau River were created.

In other words, people were removed for others to move in.

Hearing those on our traditional territories make an acknowledgment that recognizes Anishinaabe and other Indigenous nations, alongside the earth, while committing to change and growth, was inspiring.

Following my speech, the congregation invited me to share food and coffee. We all sat in a circle, sharing what seed each of us would plant.

I heard commitments to learn, teach children, speak with relatives and share time and resources.

Many pointed out territorial acknowledgments embody Jesus’s teachings of love and responsibility, while Indigenous land theft, unmarked graves at residential schools, and murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit peoples do not.

It was a remarkable Sunday morning, in a church, just a few kilometres outside of Steinbach.

A seed of life.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca