Land Acknowledgement

Let us begin by saying that a land acknowledgement should never be a static thing, but rather reflective of a continuous work in progress towards becoming better as an organization.  

PACT’s primary office is in Tkaron:to (colonially known as Toronto), which is and has always been, a gathering place for people from various nations, specifically the Haudenosaunee, Wendake, and Anishinaabe including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Today it continues to be home to peoples from these and many other diverse First nations from across Turtle Island. 

PACT is a national organization that serves theatre companies, of various sizes, across various nations of this land colonially called Canada, as well as employing staff who work remotely in their home communities. Thus, our work as a national organization must consider the diverse perspectives that continue to inform how we operate and serve our Members and Colleagues and their contexts. 

We acknowledge a history of governments and institutions, that have and continue to inflict massive harm to Indigenous communities, including but not limited to:  the theft and devastation of land; forced relocation; the separation of Indigenous families; forced sterilization of Indigenous women; murder, erasure and forced assimilation; residential schools; the Sixties Scoop; the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit folk; the construction of oil pipelines across important territories; the lack of access to safe drinking water and resources; the erasure or appropriation of Indigenous cultures and customs or for lack of a better phrasing, “cultural genocide”. 

As a sector, we rely heavily on government funders and colonial practices that contribute to assimilation, capitalism and a particular eurocentrism that must be named. Nonetheless, we are committed to the pursuit of decolonization, unlearning and challenging these systems of oppression. We aim to incorporate a more critical approach to the Canadian theatre industry, its leadership practices, creation methods and ways of operating. 

Though each individual PACT member has their own history with this land and with the violence of colonialism, we all recognize the long history of Indigenous presence and continued relationship with this land.  

As an institution led by non-Indigenous people, guided by a diverse membership of organizations, we acknowledge that we are on a continuous learning journey, that we will make mistakes, but commit to a process of listening, learning, reflecting, and improving our practices. 

Steps PACT is Taking: