We Acknowledge
2019 granite
Victoria, BC, Canada
Created with the support and collaboration of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations www.songheesnation.ca/community/l-k-ng-n-traditional-territory to develop a land acknowledgement marker for a new plaza at the Parliament Buildings of British Columbia, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Three sculptures composed of a stone slab and an exact equal weight of boulders inhabit a new Two statements are engraved in the plaza paving. One acknowledges we are gathered on indigenous territory – “We acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people.”. The other is a welcome statement in the Lewungen language of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, “Hyš’q̌a gwns âne tēʔčəl sq̌we’ɫta taŋəxw Lekwəŋen ehʔ Xwsapsum ʔeɫ’ ta’l’ŋəxw.”
With special thanks and appreciation for their guidance and support to:
Songhees Nation Chief and Council www.songheesnation.ca/governance/chief-and-council
Florence Dick, nuumtunat, Songhees First Nation Liaison www.songheesnation.ca
Grant Keddie, Curator, of BC Archaeology | Indigenous Collections and Repatriation at the Royal BC Museum for helping to guide the creation of the work. www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
The boulders were salvaged from the foundation’s of Victoria’s historic 1898 Custom’s House which was under renovation.
Maps engraved on the top of the slabs show the Victoria region, pre-European contact & today.
