Land Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement of Traditional Land
We acknowledge that the Special Olympics Ontario office is located on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations.
This land is governed by the Dish with one spoon covenant between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Confederacy of Ojibway and Allied Nations.
This covenant is an agreement to share, work and protect this land together in harmony.
Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work, live and play on this land.
If we can improve on this statement, please email us at info@specialolympicsontario.com.
Special Olympics Ontario celebrates and champions diversity and inclusion – it is a central pillar of our programming. This must include anti-racism work. One small, but important and necessary step is making sure we acknowledge the land on which we live, play and grow. For us this means the land where we practice, compete, work and host Games.
The Importance of Acknowledging the Land
Acknowledging the Land is a sign of respect and recognition for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. It also provides an awareness of Indigenous land rights, their beliefs and honor them as the original occupants of the land.
Actions to Acknowledge the Land
Special Olympics Ontario is committed to providing Land Acknowledgements on our provincially managed websites, at meetings, ahead of competitions and all other provincially hosted gatherings.
Land Acknowledgements will also be included on all Community and District managed websites, and should be used ahead of meetings and competitions.
Land Acknowledgements should precede the singing of the National Anthem and the reciting of the Athlete’s Oath.
Land Acknowledgements for Community Websites:
When placing a land acknowledgement on a community website please use a plain background or a suitable faded image with the following text modified for the geographic location or context: (Please see below for the land acknowledgement appropriate for your locale.)
We acknowledge that our Special Olympics Ontario community is located on/in INSERT LOCAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE.
Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work, live and play on this land.
Land Acknowledgements for Virtual Meetings
When meetings are held virtually or over the telephone it is important to acknowledge both where you are situated and where the community you are representing is situated by using the following statement modified for the geographic location or context: (Please see below for the land acknowledgement appropriate for your locale.)
We begin by acknowledging that though we are meeting virtually, we are all on land that has been inhabited by Indigenous people for thousands of years.
We acknowledge that the Special Olympics Ontario INSERT COMMUNITY NAME community is located on/in INSERT LOCAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE.
Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work, live and play on this land.
Land Acknowledgement at In Person Meetings, Competitions and Events:
When events (meetings, competitions, special events) are held live it is important to acknowledge the land and peoples for the location in which the event is being held or hosted. The following statement should be used modified for the geographic location or context: (Please see below for the land acknowledgement appropriate for your locale.)
We begin this meeting/competition/event by acknowledging that we are on land that has been inhabited by Indigenous people for thousands of years.
We acknowledge that the Special Olympics Ontario INSERT COMMUNITY NAME community is located on/in INSERT LOCAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE.
Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work, live and play on this land.
Additional Resources
Local Land Acknowledgements
All Special Olympics Ontario Communities sit on Indigenous Land, which we have the privilege of working, playing and competing on.
You can find information about Land Acknowledgement for communities across Ontario below.
Using the controls at the top of the list you will be able to search by community name or filter by Special Olympics District or the Indigenous territory it sits within.