Explore East Coast acknowledges that it explores work on the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq and Peskotomuhkati peoples. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which these nations first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources, but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

Explore East Coast recognizes that we are all treaty people and have responsibilities to each other and the land. We pay respect to the elders, past and present, and descendants of this land and islands. We also recognize the 400+ year history of communities of African descent and the 50 African Nova Scotian communities throughout the region today.

We are grateful to continually learn more about how we can deeply engage and move forward the work of truth, reconciliation, and equity. We recognize that without action, an acknowledgment is empty. It marks the beginning of the work ahead of us, not the end.