OUR TERRITORY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Youth Food Network is composed of young individuals that are passionate about good food and want to engage further in their food systems. Every one of us engages with the land and waters in some way; we eat, we grow, we forage, we fish. As we do so, we hold the understanding of where our practices come from, and how they affect our surroundings.  

The Youth Food Network works, educates, learns, and grows on the stolen territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən, SENĆOŦEN, and Hul'q'umi'num speaking peoples. Within this are the territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees), Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIKEM (Tseycum), Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht, MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), Pune’laxutth’ (Penelekut), Stz'uminus (Chemainus), Ts’uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan), Halalt, Lyackson, sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen), SEMYOME (Semiahmoo), and Quw'utsun (Cowichan) Nations.

We honour the stewards of these lands, including the people, plants, animals, who have an intimate knowledge of the foods of this land. We hold them up for the work they continuously do to protect and connect with the land. 

To us, a land acknowledgment means recognizing the continuous harm being done to all our relations, while also reminding everyone of the resilience, strength, and power that is built within this land. Let us all hold this knowledge as we walk through this world, and continuously find ways to understand how we play a role in these truths. How will we act on this moving forward?