Without the land — and without Indigenous peoples’ deep understanding of humanity’s profound interdependence with nature, millennia of stewardship, and knowledge cultivated through living in attunement and reciprocal relationship with the Earth — “civilization” as we know it would not exist. Much of the peril and interconnected crises we now face stem from dominant extractive economic systems and cultural paradigms that abandoned this essential relationship with nature, and with ourselves as part of nature.

From the Author and Founder of Co-Arising’s personal places where I feel a deep sense of home:

I acknowledge my early home is located on the traditional lands of Treaty 7, the ancestral territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy — including the Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika Nations — as well as the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Stoney Nakoda Nations, and the Métis Nation of Alberta. We honor and respect the original stewards of this land, past and present, whose histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions continue to enrich these communities today.

I also acknowledge my current home is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Duwamish People — the first people of what is now known as Seattle. We honor with gratitude the land itself, the Duwamish Tribe, past and present, and the broader Coast Salish peoples who have cared for and stewarded this region since time immemorial.

We recognize that acknowledgment alone is insufficient, and we are committed to ongoing learning, relationship-building, and tangible action in support of Indigenous sovereignty, cultural vitality, and ecological regeneration.

As we collaborate in helping to bring forth the transformational change needed for all beings to flourish, building authentic, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities around the world is an essential part of the work ahead. We recognize the importance of truth, reconciliation, repair, and meaningful action in response to the harms and injustices of the past and present. We are grateful for the leadership, wisdom, and guidance Indigenous peoples continue to offer in the shared work of restoring and regenerating our common home — Mother Earth.