Protocols for Engaging with Indigenous Peoples & Community

Land acknowledgments and personal introductions are a way of showing respect and gratitude for Indigenous cultures and the traditional lands we live on. Land acknowledgments can influence organizational culture as a reminder of who we are as peoples in Canada. Meaningful consultation and dialogue as a community with Indigenous and non-Indigenous members will ensure it is implemented appropriately.

Recommendations for moving forward with developing a land acknowledgment include, but are not limited to:

• Practice cultural humility and know that improving relations cross-culturally is a lifelong journey of learning and responsibility. Being authentic in your approach is essential. The goal is to steer away from a script or a generic approach.
• Educate yourself about the Indigenous history of your location and how this impacts your land acknowledgment (e.g., are there environmental concerns, reclaiming of traditional names, important landmarks, etc., that should be acknowledged).
• Understand the difference between a land acknowledgment and a Welcome to Territory.
• Welcome to Territory is a traditional gesture of hospitality that is delivered by an Indigenous on their home nation to welcome guests.
• Land acknowledgments should not be delivered by the host nation or its members; they should be presented by the outside organization as a sign of respect.
• If you have invited representatives from the host nation or more than one Indigenous community, be sure to speak to them beforehand if you would like to have them offer opening remarks or a territorial welcome following your land acknowledgment.

Whether you are Indigenous or non-Indigenous, personal introductions are a way to show respect to the traditional lands where you live or come from. It is important to consider writing something authentic and unscripted. A personal introduction with intention behind it can include:

• Your name, title, and organization (if title and organization are applicable).
• Where you come from, geographically and/or ancestrally; this can include your family’s geographical or cultural background.
• The treaty or traditional lands you reside on and/or are meeting on.
• Give thanks to delegates in attendance: Elders, Knowledge Keepers, government officials, executives, staff, organizers, audience members, etc.
• Be intentional. Consider themes such as reflection, awareness, acknowledgment, accountability, and commitment.

This can look like:

• Reflecting on your relationship with the land,
• Acknowledging who came before you, but always recognizing that Indigenous Peoples are still here,
• Accountability for our carbon footprints, and/or
• Your commitment moving forward and what that looks like for you or your organization.

Research:

• Who are the traditional caretakers (First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis communities) of the lands you are on?
• What do these local nations and communities call themselves? There may be a difference between how a nation or community refers to themselves versus how early settlers referred to them, or their English name.
• It’s important to note that many Indigenous communities have taken the time to develop guidelines and examples for how to respectfully address their history and treaty rights. You can look at their website for guidance and remove any guesswork.
• Ensure you have the proper pronunciation of the Indigenous communities being acknowledged within your statement as a sign of respect. Mistakes are inevitable. Be humble, acknowledge when you make a mistake, and be open to learning.
• If you reside within a town or city, acknowledge the urban Indigenous community (i.e., First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) as well. This is important as land acknowledgments should not only be about the past.
• Within the land acknowledgment, identify if your community is on treaty lands or unceded territories. For example, the City of Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
• Invest the time and resources to collaborate with Indigenous communities in the following ways:
  • Support in obtaining historical knowledge to build out the land acknowledgment with accuracy.
  • Ask Indigenous community members to review drafts of the land acknowledgment developed by your organization. Consider their time and offer an honorarium.
  • Welcome feedback from the Indigenous nations and communities being identified in your commitment to reconciliation on a shared path forward as a community.
  • Invite a local or regional Elder to inaugurate the land acknowledgment by providing a teaching to improve its meaning and relevancy on how we share the land as a community.
    • Ensure the principles outlined in Section 3 of this guide are followed to adequately compensate Indigenous collaborators.
• Spend the time to review resources appropriately and cross-reference what it is you are researching (more guidance on this in Section 7). Refrain from relying solely on crowd-sourced data to prevent any misunderstanding and to ensure the appropriate consultation has taken place.
• Take the time to research and understand treaty and land rights terms: ceded and unceded, historic treaties, modern treaties, Indigenous title, Indigenous rights, inherent rights, time immemorial, host nation, etc.
• Resources:
  • Nation/community websites (many but not all communities have websites)
  • Indigenous service providers (e.g., Friendship and Cultural Centres, not-for-profits, etc.)
  • Whose Land tool
  • Local municipality website
  • Post-secondary institutions
  • School boards/districts

Presenting or exchanging gifts is a sign of respect and mutual understanding during cross-cultural engagements. Gift-giving is a separate exchange from an honorarium and is usually done after the event or presentation is complete. It should be noted that gift-giving from Indigenous perspectives has different meanings compared to Western perspectives. In the Western worldview, it is seen as a transaction, obligation, payback, or mandatory act, whereas from an Indigenous point of view, it is seen as a sign of respect, kinship, and responsibility. When an organization participates in gift-giving, they are engaging in a kinship that extends beyond the presentation or event. A relationship that extends after the contractual obligation is to be expected. The form of the gift is determined by the organizer; however, the act of gift-giving welcomes one into the organization’s environment.

Appropriate Gifts:

A gift given with thought and care further extends kinship. It is important to consult and liaise with local and regional Indigenous community members to identify an appropriate gift to ensure it is respectful and will not offend the recipient. If one is not available, research who the gift is for. Where are they from? Do they have a clan? Is there an Indigenous artist or business within their own community? Is there something from your own community that you can gift? Common gifts include artwork, books, food, kitchenware, blankets, and medicines. It is recommended that when purchasing an art piece that it is authentically Indigenous made. (Note: It is not recommended to gift alcohol as it may be taken offensively. Historically, the exchange of alcohol has been problematic, and some communities have zero alcohol policies.)

Exchanging Tobacco:

It is sometimes recommended to exchange tobacco as a sign of respect; however, it is not a culturally relevant practice for all Indigenous nations and communities. It should be noted that Inuit do not use tobacco, so research should be done beforehand to know what to exchange. When appropriate, it is recommended to present tobacco when a ceremony is involved, such as smudging.

It’s best to use traditional tobacco (not for commercial smoking use) that has been gifted or purchased from an Indigenous community or business. Many online retailers offer tobacco for the purpose of ceremony, and it is typically wrapped in a small square of fabric. If you have appropriate guidance, you could also purchase the fabric and tobacco separately and prepare your own bundles before an event or ceremony, making sure you impart your prayers or intentions inside each one.

Exchanging tobacco should be done in person before the event or presentation, usually when the Indigenous speaker or guest is first contacted or first arrives at the event. If possible, speak with your guest beforehand in case they are more comfortable with this exchange taking place in a private setting, or they want to do it as part of the event so they can use it as a teaching moment. When presenting tobacco, use your left hand to extend it forward and be mindful that the recipient is not obligated to accept the offer. Note: Exchanging tobacco and gift-giving are two separate practices.

You can find more information on the Four Sacred Medicines on this page.

For events, teachings, workshops, trainings, or any other business with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or cultural advisors, all parties must be clear if the engagement will be photographed or recorded. A release form should be created and include a statement that is culturally sensitive to what is being captured and how the media will be redistributed. For example, in some ceremonial practices, it is inappropriate to record or photograph. For any media reproductions of the engagement, ensure that the integrity of the words spoken, and knowledge shared will be maintained, and that consent is gained on the final materials.

This understanding should also be shared publicly at events. For instance, if an Elder is conducting a smudge ceremony and asks not to be photographed, audience members should be clearly instructed to refrain from taking photos during that time. A short note explaining the photo and video protocol could be included in the event package or agenda to reinforce expectations for participants.

All professionals engaging with Indigenous community members during the planning and execution of the engagement should receive training on Indigenous protocols and codes of conduct. When producing any media materials, a commonly heard phrase is “Nothing about us, without us.” A helpful resource to guide your processes is the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples principle of free, prior, and informed consent for approval on all Indigenous-led productions.