Land Acknowledgement

Click here to view video transcript.

IABC/Toronto is gathered in Tkaronto (now known as Toronto), which in Mohawk means “where there are trees standing in the water”. Our members call various parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home, which are traditional territories of many First Peoples. Similarly, Tkaronto is covered under Treaty 13 and the Williams Treaties and is the traditional territory of many First Nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

As we gather here today, these nations continue to experience ongoing colonization and displacement — where land acknowledgements are offered in place of land itself. The city we call home was also built on stolen land and stolen African and Black labour and resources — and one cannot be remembered without the other. We also recognize how the labour of many immigrants, newcomers, and migrants continues to be exploited.

As a community of storytellers, we honour the stories shared on Turtle Island since time immemorial. We commit to uplifting Indigenous voices and advancing the ongoing work of Truth and Reconciliation by fostering honest and difficult conversations.

We honour and recognize the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land we’re on. Mindful of the broken treaties across Turtle Island, we acknowledge our responsibilities as Treaty people to engage in a meaningful, continuous process of Truth and Reconciliation with all our relations.

IABC/Toronto is early in its reconciliation journey. As communicators, we are committed to leveraging the power of communications to achieve the 94 Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report every day.

Pronunciations:

• Tkaronto: (t-karont-oh)
• Mississaugas: (miss-is-saagaas)
• Anishnaabe: (ah-nish-naw-bay)
• Chippewa: (chi-puh-waa)
• Haudenosaunee: (hoed-eno-show-nee)
• Wendat: (when-dat)

Video Credits:
Video direction, production, editing, and accessibility: Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC and Dean Lobo
ASL interpreter: Paula MacDonald
Featuring the voices of (in order of appearance):

• Chris Lee
• Brent Carey, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow
• Arlene Amitirigala
• Nathalie Noël
• Andrea Walasek
• Ayushman Pisupati
• Chantelle Cabral, SCMPⓇ
• Dean Lobo
• Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC
• Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC

Produced in 2025. If you have any questions or feedback, email toronto-
idea@iabc.to.

Resources: Click on the hyperlinks below to learn more

• Reclaiming Power and Place: The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to action
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports
• What are land acknowledgements and why do they matter?
• Indigenous Canada: A12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada.
• native-land.ca: Learn about the Indigenous Nations that care for the land you are on, and where you might come from.

Adapted from resources by The 519 and the City of Toronto.