Land Acknowledgement Event

The College Land Acknowledgement Event took place Tuesday, October 7^th in the Good Medicine People Room in the Health Sciences building on campus at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Please enjoy the full video of this day:

The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition main office is Located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respect to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. We work to better understand the ongoing impacts of colonization on the land and to all of the Indigenous people who call kisiskâciwan home. We strive to listen and learn our responsibility to mending these relationships. We are committed to the truth and work towards mending these colonized lands. 

Furthermore

We've identified five key themes that help us respect the parallels between our curriculum and traditional Indigenous practices that utilized food and medicine for healing and spiritual well-being. We are committed in the spirit of truth to work towards mending these colonized lands with the goal of reconciliation.

People of the Land

We acknowledge that the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan is situated on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, Lakota, and Dakota peoples, and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this land, as being grounded with Mother Earth. Their deep knowledge of traditional medicines and healing practices continues to enrich our understanding of how to provide care in a good way.
 
 
The Medicine Wheel

We recognize the interconnectedness of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, as symbolized by the medicine wheel. In our commitment to fostering holistic approaches to healthcare, we acknowledge the wisdom of Indigenous teachings and invite them to guide our practices.
 
Cultural and Traditional Practices

We commit to ongoing dialogue, learning, and collaboration, guided by principles of reconciliation and mutual respect. As a college, we strive to ensure all people have access to culturally appropriate and equitable healthcare services.

Medicine and Healing

We acknowledge that pharmacy, nutrition, and Indigenous healing traditions share a common goal of promoting health and well-being, and we honor the diverse ways of healing that have sustained communities for generations in Saskatchewan.

Food is Medicine

We acknowledge that food is medicine, a principle deeply rooted in Indigenous culture in Treaty 6 territory. In educating future pharmacists and dietitians, we strive to integrate this belief into our curriculum and work, recognizing the importance of dietary practices and the healing properties of foods.
 
The Purpose 

As members of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, we desire to acknowledge, appreciate, and understand the meaning and importance of the land on which we live, work, and study. Applying a College-specific lens in looking at the meaning of the land, we aim to create a space for mutual respect, understanding, and integrity.

The Land Acknowledgement was developed in a good way with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, Faculty and Staff to enhance the CoPN commitment to reconciliation. We are committed to digging deeper into knowing how the Land Acknowledgement can be a great starting point for understanding the truth, and engaging in reconciliation. The Land Acknowledgement is an old tradition, and a way for visitors to show respect and surrender to the people of the land.

It has been a way for us, as visitors here, to strive for understanding of the Indigenous people we are engaging with. It recognizes the strength and wisdom of the place that has given rise to the people of that land.

MORE: https://pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca/land-acknowledgement.php