October 23, 2024
Official land acknowledgement passed nearly three years after subcommittee formed to develop recommendations, but some councillors feel process wasn’t done properly
ATHABASCA – Athabasca County councillors will be starting each meeting with a brief land acknowledgement to recognize and honour the Indigenous groups that lived in the area long before it had its modern name, although it took them three years to complete the process.
“We acknowledge Athabasca County is located on First Nations Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 traditional territory. We respect and honour all First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in connection to these lands, their history, language and culture,” reads the entire acknowledgement.
Councillors approved the acknowledgment in a 6-2 vote — councillors Ashtin Anderson and Joe Gerlach were opposed, and Coun. Natasha Kapitaniuk was absent — after being presented with two options to choose from during their Sept. 26 council meeting.