Guided Walk: Walking as Land Acknowledgement

Land acknowledgements have become a standard fixture at public gatherings, but as they grow more institutionalized, they risk becoming rote routines. This unique guided walking tour aims to bring the concept of land acknowledgements off the podium and directly onto the land itself, exploring the rich, complex layers of the area currently known as The Annex.

Walking as Witnessing Led by Saulteaux/Métis educator and memory activist Sam Howden alongside settler scholar and artist Andrew Lochhead, the walk invites participants to slow down and observe their surroundings with intention. Together, the group will trace the paths of Toronto's buried historical streams, identify native plant species and traditional medicines, and examine local architecture while discussing the social and political realities of moving through unceded or treaty lands.

Practical Info Hosted by the Bata Shoe Museum, the walk begins at 327 Bloor Street West on Sunday, August 16th at 5:00 PM and runs for approximately two hours. The event is completely free to attend, but because it takes place entirely outdoors, participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for late-summer weather. It is an insightful opportunity to look past the pavement and engage deeply with the Indigenous history and ecology embedded in Toronto's urban landscape.