Living in Relationship: Teachers Gather on the Land
In July 2025, educators, Elders, and community members came together in Edmonton for Living in Relationship: A Three-Day Gathering on Land, Learning and Acknowledgement. Over three days, we shared stories, walked the river valley, played traditional games, and sat in circle at kihcihkaw askî sacred site. At the heart of it all was a simple but profound question: what does it mean to live, teach, and acknowledge the land in a good way?
The gathering invited teachers to move beyond scripted land acknowledgements into practices of gratitude, presence, and relationship. Elders reminded us that the land is alive, with wisdom carried in water, plants, and stones. “If you don’t know the land, you can’t write about it,” one facilitator shared, challenging participants to root their acknowledgements in authentic knowing. Children, we were reminded, often model this naturally—speaking from the heart with ease and honesty.
One highlight was the laughter that rang out during Indigenous games led by knowledge keeper Lyndon Suntjens. In running, chasing, and berry-picking games, teachers re-discovered joy as a powerful entry point to learning. “You can teach through laughter,” one participant reflected. “When you teach with joy and spontaneity, students will do much better.”
Alongside play, the gathering was also a place for honesty about challenges. Teachers named the pressures of rigid curricula, limited time outdoors, and uncertainty around how to respectfully engage Elders and protocols. Yet in circle, they also found renewal—reminded that relationship and intention matter more than perfect words or polished scripts.
As the gathering closed, participants shared what they would carry forward: crafting acknowledgements that are heartfelt, integrating songs and stories into classrooms, and seeking balance between joy and responsibility. Above all, there was a shared commitment to continue walking together. Over the next school year, we will be holding seasonal gatherings in hybrid format—creating opportunities for teachers across regions to connect, share, and grow in relationship with land.
We invite teachers and educators to join this growing network. To be part of the conversation and receive updates on upcoming gatherings, email us at info@jhcentre.org. You can also explore our evolving Land Acknowledgement Bibliography, a resource tool of stories, songs, books, and classroom practices gathered through this work.
This gathering and ongoing work is made possible through the generous support of the Stollery Charitable Foundation and the Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage CSMARI program.
Living in Relationship reminded us that land acknowledgment is not just a statement, but a practice of living in relationship with land, ancestors, and generations yet to come.
