Here at Pope Francis Catholic Elementary School, we wanted to make our land acknowledgement more personal, heartfelt, and historically accurate.
Last year a small group of our Grade 8’s, along with Mr. Belvedere and Ms. Marrone, set out to write a land acknowledgement that is specific for the land we are currently learning and living on.
Our new Land Acknowledgement reads as follows:
We respectfully acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Petun, Algonquin, and Mississaugas, upon which we live, learn and practice our faith at Pope Francis Catholic Elementary School.
These traditional territories are steeped in rich Indigenous history and traditions.
We pray to the Creator that we will continue to respect the past and increase the present connections of Indigenous peoples with this land, its waterways, and its resources to forward reconciliation.