Land Acknowledgement

Our Land Acknowledgement

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School acknowledges that the lands on which we gather, learn, work, play, and worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We honour their enduring presence, their ongoing care for these lands and waters, and the traditional knowledge they continue to pass from generation to generation, recognizing creation as a sacred gift entrusted to our care by God the Creator.

Guided by the Gospel, we pray for the wisdom and grace to listen, learn, build relationships in good faith, and walk together in truth, restorative justice, healing, and reconciliation.

Why We Acknowledge the Land

A land acknowledgement recognizes the Indigenous Peoples whose relationships with these lands and waters have existed since time immemorial and continue today. The word unceded recognizes that these territories were not surrendered or transferred through treaty.

Acknowledging the land is only a beginning. It invites us to understand the continuing effects of colonization and to accept our responsibility to build respectful and accountable relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Living Nations and Living Cultures

The xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ are distinct and thriving Nations, each with its own government, language, culture, teachings, and relationship with the land and water. We use their Indigenous names and traditional orthography to honour their languages and continuing presence.

Our Catholic Commitment

Our Catholic faith teaches that creation is a sacred gift from God and that every person possesses inherent dignity. It calls us to speak truthfully about injustice, seek forgiveness, repair harm, and work toward right relationships.

We recognize the profound harms caused by colonization and the residential school system, including the involvement of Catholic institutions. Reconciliation therefore requires more than words: it calls us to listen with humility, learn from Indigenous voices, support healing, pursue restorative justice, and transform our relationships with one another and with creation.

Living Our Acknowledgement

As a Catholic learning community, we commit to:

• teaching Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary realities with care and accuracy;
• learning from Indigenous voices and using resources created or approved by Indigenous Peoples;
• supporting age-appropriate learning about residential schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
• caring responsibly for the lands and waters entrusted to us; and
• reviewing this acknowledgement in response to guidance from the local Nations, the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and CISVA.