CSLA Mourns the Passing of Senator Murray Sinclair, Honorary Member of the CSLA
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) mourns the loss of the Honorable Murray Sinclair, Anishinaabe lawyer, judge, and senator, and a distinguished champion for justice, equity, and reconciliation. Senator Sinclair, whose Spirit Name was Mizhana Gheezhik (The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky), was a member of the Peguis First Nation. We extend our deepest condolences to the Sinclair family and all those who were inspired by his vision and wisdom.
The CSLA had the honor of recognizing Senator Sinclair’s contributions by bestowing upon him an Honorary Membership at our annual congress hosted in Winnipeg in May 2024. His belief in the interconnectedness of all life and the respect owed to the land aligns deeply with the values of our organization and inspires our members to engage more meaningfully with Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship. The CSLA remains committed to upholding his values in our ongoing journey toward truth, reconciliation, and respect for all. His unwavering dedication to justice and reconciliation will live on, and his legacy will continue to guide our work.
"... all people owe each other as well as the environment, including animals and plants, a duty of respect. In turn, a healthy environment provides for our well-being, through clean air and water, plentiful food and favourable weather. The respect is mutual." - Senator Murray Sinclair
CSLA Adopts the UNDRIP as a Framework for Action and Decision-Making
At its recent Board Meeting, the CSLA adopted the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework for action and decision-making. By doing so, we are ensuring that the profession operates under the same standards of other organizations we collaborate with and demonstrates our commitment to Indigenous partners. Learn more
CSLA Guide to Land Acknowledgements
It is intended to offer baseline information to guide members and friends of the CSLA as they embark on developing a land acknowledgement.
It is not to be viewed as a standardized checklist; rather, it provides the important considerations you will need to understand as you develop a meaningful land acknowledgement. Learn more
CSLA Statement on Reconciliation and the Profession
The statement is based on input gathered from an environmental scan of CSLA provincial, regional and territorial component associations, universities, related professional associations, Indigenous organizations and practitioners, and CSLA members. Click here to read the CSLA's statement on reconciliation
CSLA's LP Magazine Themes an Issue on Reconciliation
In the Fall 2019, Reconciliation issue of Landscapes I Paysages, read how David Thomas, other Indigenous designers and landscape architects, as well as many firms across the country are discussing the applying the concepts of reconciliation in their projects and practices.
Members of the Reconciliation Advisory Committee
Grant Fahlgren (Co-Chair), Naomi Ratte (Co-Chair), Michelle Legault (Executive Director), Hope Parnham (Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives), Margaret Ferguson (Board Champion), Terence Radford, Désirée Thériault, Marie-France Turgeon, Tiffany Adair, Doriena Hassett, Jordan Cantafio