Fellow Kin,

If you have taken a look at the 2021 Annual General Meeting agenda, you may have noticed that there is a new addition to the beginning of our national meeting – the Indigenous Land Acknowledgment that will be lead by National President Terri Iredale.

An Indigenous Land Acknowledgement involves making a statement recognizing the traditional territory of the Indigenous peoples of Canada who called this land home before colonialism.

Indigenous peoples have been acknowledging land at the start of gatherings, ceremonies, and events for some time now and it has become a modern business practice that more nonindigenous people and organizations are recognizing the importance of.

For Kin Canada, Indigenous Land Acknowledgments are the first step and an important way for our Association to participate in reconciliation and contribute to fostering positive relationships with our Indigenous peoples across Canada.

The National Board of Directors have already started using such an acknowledgment as part of their meetings. Going forward, you will hear one during all National official meetings, with the first one being at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on August 21, 2021.

For many Kin, the AGM will be their first experience with an Indigenous Land Acknowledgement. That is why we are sharing the guide below to help all Kin better understand this important practice before we come together virtually this weekend. The guide also provides information to support clubs in adopting this practice at their meetings and/or community events if they would like to do so in the future.

National President Terri Iredale will also be delivering a short educational session on Indigenous Land Acknowledgments as part of the presentations that are happening before the Call-to-Order of the AGM on August 21, 2021.

Please take some time to review the guide on Indigenous Land Acknowledgments, and consider adding a discussion about this important practice to a future meeting agenda.

If you have any questions, National Club Support Coordinator Lindsay King or your District Club Support Director can assist you.

Yours in Kin,

Kin Canada