Resident proposes land acknowledgment for Canterbury tricentennial; board defers for study

Evan (identified in the meeting transcript only by first name) proposed that Canterbury adopt a formal land acknowledgment in recognition that the town is on land previously inhabited by Indigenous people. “The settlers that came here were not the first people to live on the lands that we now call Canterbury. And a land acknowledgment shows a formal recognition that the town knows that we are on stolen land,” Evan said.

Why it matters: Adopting a land acknowledgment is a symbolic step intended to publicly recognize Indigenous presence and history on the land, and can be implemented in multiple ways — e.g., minutes, plaques in public buildings, or event acknowledgments.

Details and next steps: Evan offered examples and research resources (including Native Land and Indigenous New Hampshire materials) and said he would email sample wording and links. Board members asked for those links and agreed to defer a decision to the next meeting to allow time for review: “If you could send us those links, that would be really helpful,” one board member said. The Select Board agreed to put the item on the next agenda for further discussion and possible tricentennial coordination.

Context and implementation concerns: Board members noted that different implementation options carry different upkeep responsibilities — for example, placing wording on every town document would be permanent and require ongoing attention; a plaque would be lower maintenance. The board asked Evan to provide sample language and sources and to consider whether the tricentennial committee should be involved.

What was decided: The Select Board did not adopt a land acknowledgment at the meeting and deferred action until members receive the materials and can discuss the item at a future meeting.