Land Acknowledgement

Canada’s National History Society acknowledges that we meet and work across the ancestral lands of many Indigenous peoples. While the Society is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, within Treaty 1 territory — the traditional lands of First Nation Anishinabe, Ininew, Anisininew, Dene, and Dakota and the National homeland of the Red River Métis Nation — the work of the Society extends to all ancestral lands in this place now known as Canada.

Since its inception, Canada’s History Society has dedicated itself to raising awareness of our country’s past. As a storytelling organization, we know that through stories, we can consider different perspectives, learn about different ideas, empathize with other experiences, and ultimately bring people together.

Storytelling holds power: in the voices that we choose to include or exclude, and in the historical narratives that we promote.

Through colonialism, we have been part of a system that obscures certain stories, while reinforcing others. Settler societies often silence Indigenous voices and control narratives, leaving out or misrepresenting Indigenous histories, cultures, and traditions.

Canada’s History Society plays an important role in both the sharing of truth and the journey towards reconciliation. We must revisit the past, ask difficult questions, and explore multiple perspectives.

We are committed to collaborating with diverse communities, seeking out new storytellers, and embarking on the next steps of this continuing journey. We will continue to amplify Indigenous histories and centre Indigenous voices in their own stories.

“Let us together, with Indigenous peoples, tell a new story, a story of truth, understanding, and respect. After all, history belongs to the children.”

Elder Claudette Commanda