Territorial Acknowledgement

The work of Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of several Host Nations, including the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (Songhees Nation and Xʷsepsəm Nation), W̱SÁNEĆ peoples (BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), and W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) Nations), T’Sou-ke, SĆIȺNEW̱, paaʔčiidʔatx̣ (Pacheedaht), and Spune’luxutth (Penelekut) Nations. We acknowledge and honour the deep and enduring connections that these Nations have with the lands and waters. This is not just an acknowledgment of past injustices, but a living commitment to help shape an equitable future. For millennia, these lands have been stewarded by communities through deep relationships, knowledge, laws, and practices.

As a conservation organization, we recognize that the current state of conservation is a result of colonial systems that have historically dispossessed Indigenous peoples from their territories and excluded their voices and wisdom. We believe that true and lasting conservation can only be achieved through reconciliation and the decolonization of our practices. Under the continued guidance of our Indigenous Hosts on these territories, HAT is building on the lessons learned from our external decolonization audit. We are working to embed meaningful action and principles into HAT’s structures, policies, and communications. We acknowledge that this work is ongoing, and we are prioritizing cultivating trust-based relationships with Host Nations and communities alike.