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Words to Actions: Building Accountable Land Acknowledgements Together

As part of Bow Valley Community Week, we ask you to join us for this free community event to reflect on what it means to create a genuine, personal and accountable land acknowledgment. Through this event, you can expect to deepen your connection to the land, deepen your understanding of Indigenous perspectives, and leave with actionable steps toward reconciliation.

Details:

This event takes place in two parts

Part One: Immersive Walk

3:30pm-5pm: We’ll begin with an immersive walk guided by Adam from Experience Howl and Travis Rider, inviting participants to connect with the land in a meaningful way. This walk provides an opportunity to reflect on our surroundings, Indigenous histories, and our own place within them.

5pm: Break with refreshments

Part Two: Donuts and Conversation

5:30pm-7:30pm: We'll come together for Donuts and Conversation lead by Dawn Saunders Dahl and Makaylah Frankie D's Donuts). During this guided conversation we will discuss misconceptions, discomforts, and responsibilities surrounding land acknowledgments, moving from performative gestures to genuine accountability. Participants will begin drafting a personalized land acknowledgment as a living document that evolves over time. Finally, we’ll explore practical ways to incorporate the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into our land acknowledgments and daily lives.

This event is a collaboration between Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (BVIP), Dawn Saunders Dahl, Experience Howl and Frankie D's Donuts.

Thank you to our funding partners and sponsors: artsPlace, Banff Canmore Foundation, Canmore Rotary Foundation, Pauw Foundation, Rotary Club of Canmore (Indigenous Learning Group), Town of Canmore

Further Event Details

• Who is this event for?

• This event has been curated for non-indigenous residents of the Bow Valley to attend. All genders, backgrounds, and ages welcome. 

• This event will be conducted in English. Please email Tineke.vandermerwe@banff.ca  if you need any language accommodations.

• Dress Code

• Come in whatever is most comfortable for you. Please be aware the first 90 minutes will be outside, so we encourage you to wear clothes that are appropriate for colder weather and allow for body movement. From 5-7:30pm we will be indoors.

• What to bring

• Paper and pen to write notes with

• We encourage you to write a land acknowledgement to bring with you as a starting point. This is not required to attend.

• If able, we encourage you to bring a donation for the Iyarhe Nakoda Food Bank. This is not required to attend.

• What will be provided

• Water and some hot drinks

• Donuts with some GF/Vegan options (provided by Frankie D's Donuts)

If you have any questions or any accommodation requests please message Tineke at Tineke.VanderMerwe@banff.ca or Makaylah at hello@frankiedsdonuts.com (at least 48 hours before the event begins, and we will try our best to accommodate).