Jennifer Pighin, LTFN artist, and Jennifer Parisian, Practice Advisor Indigenous Relations, reveal new artwork.
CLBC’s Prince George office recently hosted a special land acknowledgement ceremony to show recognition and respect for the unceded traditional ancestral territory of the Lheidli T’enneh peoples, past and present, whose land our office resides on.
The practice of acknowledging Indigenous traditional territories is particularly important to CLBC as it aligns with our government mandate to adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. It is also a critical part of CLBC’s commitment to building relationships with Indigenous communities. Guiding principles and processes for the display of Indigenous artwork, signage and/or land acknowledgments have been developed to enhance the cultural safety and inclusivity within our workplaces and for all those who access CLBC spaces.
The day included an unveiling of artwork from Artist Jennifer Annaïs Pighin, in collaboration with Kim Gouchie guiding the land acknowledgement process. Jennifer is a visual artist, student, educator, and mother. She is a proud member of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. Kim Gouchie is a respected elder-in-training of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, a musician and performer bringing awareness to First Nations and women’s issues, promoting reconciliation and community building.
This event marked the third of many land acknowledgement ceremonies planned by CLBC’s Indigenous Relations team in collaboration with the Indigenous Advisory Committee, Elder’s Council and local Indigenous representatives.
