Rideau Park School – Land Acknowledgement

During last week’s Community Spirit Celebration, leadership students Maya and Estella presented a personalized Land Acknowledgement that wove together class acknowledgements created by students in grades ½, ¾ and grade 7. We are proud to share this acknowledgement with you.

We come from many different places, but today we live and learn together in Calgary, Alberta, on the traditional territory of Treaty 7. This land is the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Tsuut’ina Nation. We also recognize the Métis Nation of Alberta.
We are thankful to live on Treaty 7 territory because of the many opportunities the land provides. We feel connected to the land through the ways we spend time outside, such as hiking, skiing, biking, playing sports, camping, and exploring nature with our families and friends. We enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, and open spaces that surround our city. The land gives us fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, sunshine, and beautiful places to learn, play, and feel safe.
Elders have shared that treaties were meant to help people share the land and live well together. We honor this by taking care of the environment and showing respect for one another. This includes picking up litter, protecting plants and animals, saving water, and being mindful of how our actions affect the land. We also show respect by learning about Indigenous peoples’ history, cultures, and traditions, listening to Indigenous voices, and treating everyone with kindness and fairness.
By caring for the land and for each other, we help create a safe, welcoming, and respectful community for everyone who lives here today and for future generations.