(Town of Blackfalds/Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Honouring Indigenous Voices

Town of Blackfalds introduces revitalized land acknowledgement

Oct 8, 2025 | 2:14 PM

The Town of Blackfalds unveiled its new land acknowledgment on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

It was a collaborative project between the town council, administration, and local Indigenous leaders.

It all started in January when the town created the Treaty 6 Land Acknowledgement Review Committee. The committee was formed because the town felt that the previous land acknowledgment wasn’t authentic and should be more meaningful and genuine. They felt it should also reflect the town’s commitment to reconciliation.

From there, the committee met with local Elders and knowledge keepers for guidance and input. They also shared a draft of the acknowledgment with the Buffalo Clan, which includes students from the Iron Ridge Junior Campus and the Iron Ridge Secondary Campus.

The new land acknowledgment is as follows:

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“In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, the Town of Blackfalds acknowledges that we are on Treaty 6 territory, the ancestral lands of Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and non-status peoples whose footsteps have marked these lands since time immemorial. We recognize the inherent relationships Indigenous communities have with this land and its creatures and commit to supporting reconciliation and healing. We honour the resilience, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, past and present. As we gather, we pledge to listen, learn, and take meaningful action toward a future based on mutual respect and understanding as we continue on our journey of truth and healing. We recognize that reconciliation is not a single act but a lifelong journey – one that requires accountability, humility, and the centring of Indigenous voices.”

The Town of Blackfalds would like to thank Elders Charlene and Russell Burns, Daryll Lickers, and the Buffalo Clan for their efforts.

The land acknowledgement was given to Bada Jean, a Nêhiyaw (Cree), Dene, and Welsh visual artist from Treaty 6 and 7 territory, who visually interpreted the acknowledgment and created an art piece to accompany it.

“At the centre of the piece, a fancy dancer soars throughout the artwork. Her regalia is adorned with strawberries, a sacred and significant berry to us. Known as the heart berry or women’s berry, the strawberry nourishes us and symbolizes love and connection,” Jean shared. “Beneath her shawl is the silhouette of the plains, where bison roam under the glow of a colourful sunset. Above her, the sky turns into night, spotted with stars and a crescent moon. The Nehiyawak (Cree people) call themselves Star People, as we believe we are born from the stars and return to them when we pass on. Because of this teaching, stars have always held a special place in my artwork.”

With the acknowledgement and artwork completed, the Town of Blackfalds officially unveiled both during the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.