IS THIS POLITE RITUAL MERE LIP SERVICE?

At Vancouver’s Stanley Park. Image credit: *ANTHONY MAW* on Unsplash.

By CHANDRAKANT SHAH, MD

I recently attended a meeting at the Alzheimer’s Society. As usual, the meeting started with the land acknowledgement, and we moved on to our agenda.

At the end of the meeting, during the question-answer period, I raised a question about this ritual. Is it like the Lord’s Prayer in school, something we did every morning? During our discussion, other individuals expressed similar feelings and wanted meaningful discourse on the subject.

As I was the one who had raised the question, I was assigned the task of exploring the subject. This article reflects what I presented to my group.

While land acknowledgements are not explicitly mentioned as one of the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, they are widely recognized as a practice inspired by the TRC’s work and a step toward reconciliation. The TRC’s calls to action, released in 2015, emphasize the need to acknowledge the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools and to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Land acknowledgements are seen as a way to demonstrate awareness of this history and a commitment to reconciliation. They have become common in Canada. At public events, in emails, on websites, and at the start of meetings.

They are meant to honour the Indigenous peoples who have lived on – and cared for – these lands since time immemorial. But as they become more routine, a question arises: Are we using them to genuinely advance reconciliation? Or are they becoming polite rituals we recite, and then forget?

During my research, I came across a powerful report by Public Health Ontario released in 2023 that looked at how land acknowledgements are used across different sectors – public health, education, and justice. It found something striking: most acknowledgements are well-intentioned, but lack depth, detail, and direction. They often don’t name the specific Indigenous nations whose land is being recognized. They don’t mention treaties or unceded status. They don’t include Indigenous languages. And most importantly – they’re not followed by action. And so, while the words may be spoken, the work remains undone.

So, what does it mean to move beyond land acknowledgement?

First and foremost, it means reflecting on our intent. Why are we acknowledging the land? Who is it for? What do we hope it accomplishes? If our intent is simply to check a box or appear politically correct, we miss the point entirely. But if our intent is to begin a process of learning, listening, and building relationships with Indigenous peoples, then we’re on the right path.

Second, we must understand that relationship-building is key. A meaningful acknowledgement starts with knowing whose land we are on. That means reaching out to local First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities. Learning their history. Asking how they want to be acknowledged. Listening to their stories, their struggles, their hopes. And this is not a one-time conversation. It’s a relationship – grounded in respect, reciprocity, and responsibility. We must ask: How can we walk together, not just speak of one another?

Third, we must look inward – at the systems and structures we’re part of. Public Health Ontario emphasizes the need for cultural safety training – not just for frontline workers, but across organizations. That means confronting the racism, colonialism, and inequities that still exist in our institutions. It means unlearning assumptions, examining policies, and changing the way we work. However, an acknowledgement that doesn’t lead to transformation is just a performance.

Now, let’s talk about action.

What are we doing, beyond the words? Are we supporting Indigenous leadership?

Are we investing in Indigenous health programs, education, or language revitalization?

Are we making space for Indigenous voices at decision-making tables? Let me cite two recent examples which illustrate the point.

Bill C -5, One Canadian Economy Act (2025) and Ontario’s Bill 5 to Amend the Mining Bill (2025), both initially omitted to consult and engage Indigenous People. After much protest from the Indigenous leaders, the bills were either amended or included the specific role of the Indigenous people on development on their treaty lands.

Even small steps matter: Learning to pronounce Indigenous names, incorporating Indigenous languages in our signage or ceremonies and revising curriculum to reflect Indigenous knowledge systems. Because every action tells a story about whose truth we honour, and whose future we care about. One of the most powerful ideas in the Public Health Ontario report is that land acknowledgements should be “living statements”. That means they grow with us. As our understanding deepens, our acknowledgements evolve. As relationships grow, so does our commitment. We need to ask ourselves, regularly: What have we learned since we last gave this acknowledgement? What have we done to honour the responsibility that comes with it? And if we haven’t taken action, we must have the courage to change that.

Talk to Indigenous neighbours, colleagues, and community members. Learn the treaties. Support Indigenous-led projects. Challenge the systems that cause harm. And most of all, act – not out of guilt or obligation – but out of shared humanity.

Let me be clear, land acknowledgements are not the problem. They are a starting point – a door opening. But the danger is when we treat them as the destination. When we let the words carry the weight, instead of carrying it ourselves. Reconciliation is not a sentence we read aloud. It is a journey we commit to – every day.

I invite each of my readers to take the next step. If you give a land acknowledgement – pause and ask what you can do next. If your organization gives one – ask what it’s doing to live those words.

Let our acknowledgements not just mark the beginning of a meeting – but the beginning of a movement. A movement toward truth. Toward justice. Toward right relations with the land and its first peoples.

For the interested reader:

Public Health Ontario: Land Acknowledgement Practices to Inform Public Health Professionals: www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/L/2023/land-acknowledgement-practices-public-health.

A Settler’s Journey Towards Reconciliation by Chandrakant P. Shah: https://maytree.com/publications/a-settlers-journey-towards-reconciliation. This is my story about how I transitioned from an ignorant first-generation settler to becoming an ally of the Indigenous People.

Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Honouring the Truth Reconciling for the Future, Summary Report, http://caid.ca/TRCFinExeSum2015.pdf.

SENIOR MOMENT

IS THIS POLITE RITUAL MERE LIP SERVICE?