Territorial Acknowledgement

In academic work, it is customary for researchers to identify, acknowledge, and thank those who have somehow played a role in the research.

This may include lab technicians, data cleaners, or people whose conversations sparked the research itself. In my case, however, I believe that the research that comes out of my lab is also the direct result of the effect the Indigenous communities have had on my understanding of the world. With that in mind, I’ve decided that all research publications that come from my lab will formally recognize the Indigenous contributions and the ancestral and treaty lands on which the work has been conducted.

If you are interested in doing the same, this page might be useful. I’ve included an example acknowledgement below which borrows from the University of Guelph’s Territorial Acknowledgement. This by no means is a static acknowledgement, as it will be updated and modified to reflect the partnerships, contributions, and lands that support our research.

Lab Acknowledgement

The Dish With One Spoon Covenant speaks to our collective responsibility to steward and sustain the land and environment in which we live and work, so that all peoples, present and future, may benefit from the sustenance it provides. As we continue to strive to strengthen our relationships with and continue to learn from our Indigenous neighbours, we recognize the partnerships and knowledge that have guided the research conducted in our labs. We acknowledge that the University of Guelph resides in the ancestral and treaty lands of several Indigenous peoples, including the Attawandaron people and the Mississaugas of the Credit, and we recognize and honour our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Métis neighbours. We acknowledge that Left resides on the ancestral lands of the Katzie, and Lummi people, and we also acknowledge the contributions and guidance of the original peoples of Labrador: the Inuit of Nunatsiavut, the Inuit of NunatuKavut, the Innu of Nitassinan, and their ancestors. We acknowledge that the work presented here has occurred on their traditional lands so that we might work to build lasting partnerships that respect, honour, and value the culture, traditions, and wisdom of those who have lived here since time immemorial.