Territory Acknowledgement

On behalf of the 2024, BFA graduating class, we acknowledge the traditional lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. On their traditional lands we are able to live, work and create. We would like to show gratitude to the beautiful lands that we live on, to appreciate the garry oaks that greet us, to thank the ocean for the life it brings to our coast. To the chickadees that bring music to the mornings and the willow trees that flow with the wind. The serene natural world that we are welcomed into is an endless source of inspiration. As artists, the creative mind is given endless inspiration from the beauty of the scenery outside. Bursting with colour and texture, the world is incredibly rich for the senses as long as you are willing to look.

The colonial structures that govern our society have shifted our focus away from connection to the land. Living with and tending to the earth has been a pillar of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. To stand outside and be grateful for the people who cared for these trees and this soil, the streams we pass by and the flowers that bloom. As you read through this website, we ask that you take a moment to appreciate the immense beauty of the land we are living on.

— Sophie Tarrant