The African Canadian Ancestral Acknowledgement honours African-descended peoples impacted by the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement, recognizes the unique relationship of Black, African, and Caribbean peoples to these lands, and affirms enduring resistance and struggles for justice.

At Brock University, this acknowledgement has been formally adopted to be used in solidarity with the Land Acknowledgement. Together, these acknowledgements help us name shared entanglements with settler colonialism while recognizing the distinct histories and ongoing realities of Black communities in Canada, including the Niagara region.

This acknowledgement has long been held and read within Black communities. Its adoption at Brock reflects a commitment to listening to community knowledge and taking institutional responsibility for addressing anti-Black racism.

Download the African-Canadian Ancestral Acknowledgement Package

This downloadable package includes:

• The Full African-Canadian Ancestral Acknowledgement

• The Short African-Canadian Ancestral Acknowledgement

• A Guide on purpose, use, and accessibility considerations