The Vancouver International Children’s Festival Society stands by our Land Acknowledgement statement that was created following the leadership of local Indigenous people. Our organization is committed to our collective responsibility to fully implement the 94 Calls to Action and the 18 Calls for Justice.
We are answering the call and invite others to as well. Our land acknowledgement is a living document that changes as we learn and grow as an organization.
The Festival uses two Land Acknowledgements for different purposes and audiences.
Our written Land Acknowledgement reflects the guidance of Indigenous leaders and includes historical context about the impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples. We remain committed to the use of the term cultural genocide in our written acknowledgement. Cultural genocide refers to deliberate actions intended to destroy the language, culture, and traditions of a specific group. This language aligns with the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and helps us acknowledge the historical realities that continue to shape Indigenous communities today.
Our spoken Land Acknowledgement is shared before performances and was created by Speech Arts students from the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Designed by young people for young people, it uses age-appropriate language that children and families can understand while fostering respect, learning, and meaningful connection to the lands and Nations that host the Festival.
While the language and approach differ, both acknowledgements are grounded in the same commitment: to honour the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations on whose ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories the Festival takes place, and to support the ongoing work of truth, reconciliation, and justice.
Here are some resources that can help with our journey towards Reconciliation:
- Truth and Reconciliation Committee 94 Calls to Action
- Reclaiming Power and Place 18 Calls for Justice
- In Plain Sight Health Care Report
- UN Definition of Genocide
- CBC Article
Here are some books for age-appropriate conversations with your child on the subject:
- Shi-she-etko by Nicola Campbell
- Shin-chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell
- When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and Gabrielle Grimard
- Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, and Liz Amini-Holmes
- A Stranger at Home (sequel to Fatty Legs) by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kacer, and Gillian Newland
- Stolen Words by Melanie Florence and Gabrielle Grimard
- Phylliss’ Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad, Brock Nicol, and Allison Parker
- When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett
And here is a more comprehensive list of books with the recommended age groups, compiled by David A. Robertson.
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