The Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) acknowledges its presence on the ancestral territory of many Indigenous Nations including the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. We offer this land acknowledgement as an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those on whose territory we reside. It is a small way of honouring the Indigenous people who have for generations cared for this land and its waterways. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the history of what has brought us to reside here and understand our place within this history.

We are cognizant that we cannot separate the histories of York University from the history of settler colonialism and slavery in Canada, and in this regard, we also recognize thousands of African descendants have been enslaved, displaced, and judicialized on this same territory. Today, in Toronto, non-Indigenous people exist as settlers and as displaced peoples on traditional Indigenous lands which are currently held under treaty by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Knowing that colonial legacies continue through various modes of systemic oppression that affect the everyday lives of far too many people, we encourage our communities to take the time to learn about the history and to support the struggles and demands of Indigenous peoples as well as other communities who experience oppression and share the territories we occupy.

Through AGYU’s programming, we strive to build reciprocal relationships with Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities on and off campus and continually work to improve our anti-racist and anti-hate, equity, and ecological practices. We welcome your suggestions on how we may continue to grow in this regard.