On January 23, the 秀色直播 Department of Family Medicine hosted an in-person Land Acknowledgement Workshop that explored personal and collective relationships to land and territory. The workshop brought together faculty, learners, and staff for a reflective, dialogue-driven discussion on what land acknowledgements can and should mean in practice. Organized by the Department鈥檚 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, the workshop took place in the Indigenous Space and was facilitated by Indigenous Professors Alex McComber, Bear Clan Kanien鈥檏eha:ka, and Richard Budgell, Labrador Inuk, alongside Megan L茅gar茅, a second-year Family Medicine PhD student of Kanien鈥檏eha:ka and European settler heritage.
鈥淚 wanted to do this so we could have a safe and open conversation about Land Acknowledgements. They can become performative when confined to a checkbox, so we wanted to step outside that box, connect genuinely, and support people's learning around them,鈥� says Megan L茅gar茅, Kanien鈥檏eha:ka, Family Medicine PhD student.
Relationships to Land
The first part of the workshop invited participants to reflect on their own relationships to land. Facilitators encouraged participants to consider land not only as a physical place, but as something deeply connected to people, ancestry, and a sense of belonging. For many, living in an urban environment such as Montreal prompted reflections on feelings of disconnection from land or nature, highlighting how city life can create distance from the land, even while remaining situated on it. Participants also shared how spending time in nature, whether in Montreal鈥檚 parks or in more rural settings, can have a tangible impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. These reflections reinforced the understanding that relationships to land are lived and embodied, with direct implications for health, care and community.
Discussions further acknowledged the complexity of feeling connected to a single place, particularly for immigrants or individuals who have moved frequently. This multiplicity of connection was recognized as valid and meaningful, challenging simplified notions of belonging. The group also explored how climate change and environmental degradation reflect broader patterns of human disconnection from land and how these dynamics affect both planetary health and personal wellbeing.
Rethinking Land Acknowledgements in Practice
The second half of the workshop focused on Land Acknowledgements at 秀色直播, namely short statements often read aloud at the beginning of public events that recognize the land and the Indigenous Peoples who lived on it prior to Canada鈥檚 colonial history and, in many cases, continue to live on and steward today. We learnt that Land Acknowledgments can trace their origins to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which called on institutions and individuals to 鈥渉onour the past and reconcile the future鈥� by addressing the enduring harms of the residential school system and its ongoing legacies.
While Land Acknowledgements were originally intended as acts of awareness and accountability, facilitators invited participants to critically reflect on how they are commonly used today. Without intention or engagement, they cautioned, acknowledgements risk becoming performative gestures rather than opportunities for learning and responsibility.
The workshop emphasized that meaningful Land Acknowledgements require humility, sincerity, and thoughtful reflection. Those delivering an acknowledgement were encouraged to speak from their own lived relationship to the land and to reflect on their role within their institution. When grounded in personal understanding and purpose, Land Acknowledgements can foster genuine recognition and dialogue.
Throughout the session, facilitators created a space rooted in openness, reflection, and shared responsibility. The event reinforced the Department of Family Medicine鈥檚 ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, and served as a reminder that meaningful change begins with relationship, reflection and action.
The Role of the EDI Committee
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, which operates within the Department鈥檚 Graduate Programs, is dedicated to cultivating a culture of respect, belonging, and inclusive excellence. Composed of faculty, staff, and learners, the committee works collaboratively to identify barriers, advance equity-driven initiatives and amplify underrepresented voices across the Department鈥檚 academic, clinical, and research spheres. Through ongoing reflection, education, and advocacy, the EDI Committee helps ensure that the Department of Family Medicine remains a welcoming environment, one where diverse perspectives are valued, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
For more events happening at the Department of Family Medicine, please visit /familymed/events
