Acknowledging the land in which we are situated is happening more frequently than ever before. Stemming from stories of the land that span generations, it is a traditional custom of Indigenous people that dates back centuries when welcoming outsiders onto their land and into their homes.

Calgary Foundation believes in the intention of acknowledging the land not only as an act of reconciliation, awareness or inclusion but as an act that builds upon community and honors the authentic history of Turtle Island and the original people of this land.1
The greeting the Federation of Calgary Communities uses at its meetings, conferences, workshops, events and other community occasions is the same as one used by The City of Calgary. We encourage our communities to use the land acknowledgement greeting with intention and respect for the land they are situated on.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot First Nation tribes of Siksika, the Piikuni, the Kainai, the Stoney Nakoda First Nations tribes of Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. The city of Calgary is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.“

The phonetic pronunciation for the difficult ones are:
Piikuni – Pee-kah-nee
Siksika – Seeg-see-kah (emphasis on kah) (g/k almost sound the same) Kainai – G-ai-nah (g and k almost sound the same)
Tsuut’ina – Soot-tenna Chiniki – Chin-ick-ee

The pronunciation was confirmed by Evelyn Goodstriker, past Chair of CAUAC.

1 Adapted from the website of The Calgary Foundation https://calgaryfoundation.org/impact/vital- priorities/strengthening-relationships-with-indigenous-communities/land-acknowledgement/