Land Acknowledgement and Racial Justice: Approaches from Different Settler Societies
Learn about the origins and purpose of land acknowledgements in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Examine their role in racial justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and whether they create real change or remain symbolic gestures.
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- Start Date: 03 Jun 2025End Date: 03 Jun 2025Tue (Daytime): 14:30 - 16:30OnlineFull fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00
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What is the course about?
The course examines land acknowledgements in settler-colonial societies such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. We will explore their historical contexts, current use, critiques, and connections to broader struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and racial justice.
What will we cover?
• The history and purpose of land acknowledgements in North America, Australia, and New Zealand
• Differences in how settler societies approach land acknowledgements
• Critiques of land acknowledgements: symbolic recognition vs. meaningful action
• Indigenous perspectives on land acknowledgements and their limitations
• Case studies of Indigenous-led initiatives beyond land acknowledgements, such as treaty negotiations, land-back movements, and policy reforms
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Understand the historical and political context of land acknowledgements in different settler-colonial nations
• Have a sense of how different countries implement land acknowledgements
• Begin to assess whether land acknowledgements contribute to racial justice or remain symbolic
• Recognise examples of Indigenous-led actions that go beyond acknowledgements toward tangible change
• Discuss opportunities for land acknowledgement elsewhere
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.
However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
Given the sensitive nature of some of the topics the course will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course is a single session linked to the Day on Racism and Racial Justice in partnership with Amnesty International UK
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for notetaking .
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
- Ethnicity, Racism, Crime and the Criminal Justice System in Britain
- HPC276 Echoes of the Past: How America's History Shapes Modern Racial Injustice
- HP279 The philosophy of race
- VB262 Art for social change: introducing the photography of Gordon Parks
- Haka- the breath of Fire
- HMI34 Museums and Repatriation
- HMI39 Historical memory in Russia
- HMI40 Historical memory in Ukraine
- HMI41 History and memory in the United States of America
Olivia Durand is global historian doing work and teaching on the politics of history and memory, settler colonialism and colonial port cities in addition to the history of 19th century Russia, Ukraine and America. Olivia has worked at Oxford University, the Free University in Berlin and the Institute of Historical Justice and Reconciliation in the Hague and is keen to offer more courses at City Lit.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.