During your time at UBC Vancouver, you’ll often hear or read that UBC or a department, unit, or faculty is situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.

Over the past few years, this land acknowledgement has become common practice at University events, business meetings, and in official documents. Don’t be surprised to hear it spoken by President Ono and other senior administrators, your professors, and fellow students.

It’s important that this recognition of Musqueam territory and our relationship with the Musqueam people don't appear as just a formality. Take a moment to appreciate the meaning behind the words we use:

Traditional: recognizes lands traditionally used and/or occupied by the Musqueam people or other First Nations in other parts of the country.

Ancestral: recognizes land that is handed down from generation to generation.

Unceded: refers to land that was not turned over to the Crown (government) by a treaty or other agreement.

As you begin your journey at UBC, take some time to learn about the history of this land and to honour its original inhabitants.

To offer a land acknowledgement, you can say:

I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.

Learn more at the UBC Vancouver Indigenous Portal.