I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land upon which I was born and thrive (west coast Canada) was and is the traditional and unceded territory of Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the Musqueam, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, and numerous Stó:lō Nations First Nations.