Land Acknowledgement

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As organizers we recognize that we are uninvited visitors on the lands on which we live and work. Being based at Simon Fraser University, we acknowledge and respect the Coast Salish peoples on whose traditional and unceded territory the universities campuses stand which includes the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples.​ We express our deepest appreciation for the Indigenous peoples and Indigenous values and laws which have kept the land in a good way since time immemorial.

 

Living, working and holding this gathering on these lands is an unearned privilege, and we therefore strive to ensure that the original stewards of these lands are centered in our work, and that we take it upon ourselves to adopt decolonial practices in our daily lives. We do this by disrupting scientific imperialism, refuting tera nulius, recognizing the genocide committed by Canada, fighting against the systemic racism that remains pervasive in our society, and supporting Indigenous resurgence in our personal and professional lives. Together we as an academic community have the opportunity to build an environment where we can come together in support and kinship as scientists and as fellow humans. In our research we honour our responsibility to our human and nonhuman kin, and hold ourselves accountable to our ancestors, our peers, our research
partners, and future generations. We invite all participants in this conference to join us in this important goal and make both our field and the world a better and more just place.​

 

Signed, The Organizing Committee of the Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference 2023