Commentary
Across Canada, indigenous land acknowledgements are now routinely imposed on audiences at all kinds of public meetings. With few exceptions, this relatively new practice has not been debated or approved by the citizens who are required to sit through these political statements.
Geoffrey Horsman, biochemistry professor and father of three, is suing the Waterloo Region District School Board over the mandatory imposition of land acknowledgements at school council meetings. Prof. Horsman has been told that territorial acknowledgements will continue to be part of school council and WRDSB gatherings, and that questioning the validity of this “equity-focused initiative” would risk undermining “the dignity of members of our community.” In other words: Debates about political issues shall not be allowed if they risk causing offence….