How to Incorporate Reciprocity into Your Event

What is Reciprocity Trusts

Do you ever hear or give a land acknowledgement before a show and think what’s the point if we aren’t doing anything about it? You’re not the only one! While land acknowledgements may be well-intentioned (and adapted from a long-standing Indigenous tradition), many resonate with the awkward feeling that they are just checking a box rather than meaningfully recognizing the weight of being on unceded land and demonstrating real gratitude to local host Nations.

Fret no more! There is a new and exciting way for shows, events and venues on the South Island to increase the felt impact of their land acknowledgements and their ability to connect with their audience on social values by making contributions directly to local First Nations through Reciprocity Trusts.

Reciprocity Trusts is a non-profit organization that facilitates the transfer of voluntary Reciprocity payments to the ten First Nations of the South Island, creating a way for local event organizers, venues, residents and small businesses to contribute to local Indigenous land, language and Nation-building initiatives and the overall social and ecological health of the place we call home.

Reciprocity payments can be envisioned as a gratitude-based form of rent paid to local host First Nations as a material symbol of gratitude and respect. Payments are held in a Regional Indigenous Reciprocity Trust, which is governed by local beneficiary First Nations and distributed once a year. Trust funds are put towards initiatives that uplift social and ecological well-being in these communities.

Check out the Reciprocity web-map to see the hundreds of homes and businesses in the CRD that have become Reciprocity-certified! Together, we have mobilized over $175,000 to local First Nations since June 2023.

As a performer, event organizer or venue, you are in the unique position of reaching a wide and diverse audience on a regular basis – and having a huge impact in terms of increasing the visibility of Indigenous rights in urban areas!

There are multiple ways events can make or support contributions to Reciprocity Trusts:

1. 1. Commit 1% (or any other amount) of ticket sales;
2. 2. Add an option for attendees to contribute 1% of their ticket cost;
3. 3. Incorporate Reciprocity Trusts into your event agreement package for organizers;
4. 4. Display Reciprocity Trusts materials at events;
5. 5. Recognize Reciprocity Trusts in your land acknowledgement & encourage attendees to contribute for their homes or small businesses.

In the spirit of reciprocity, contributions of over $50 in a year are eligible for a tax-deductible receipt, as well as a Reciprocity window decal and digital media assets that you can use to communicate your participation in Reciprocity across your circles. By displaying these items, you also actively contribute to increasing the visibility and acknowledgment of Indigenous lands across the region.

There are several local Reciprocity events that you might recognize… like Rifflandia music festival and BC CrabFest! “...We love being connected to [Reciprocity Trusts] and meeting the people that we have met through [Reciprocity]. I would say, you know, obviously it feels like moving forward is never fast enough. I think that more people could be participating as homeowners, but ultimately, every event in the city could also be participating in the same way that we are.” - Vanessa Leong, CEO, Rifflandia Entertainment Co.

How to Incorporate Reciprocity into Your Event

To contribute to the South Island Indigenous Reciprocity Trust and become Reciprocity certified, simply follow the steps on our event payment calculator page, and you will be put in contact with the Reciprocity team.

We are all here to stay, and it’s up to us to determine the terms of our belonging!

On behalf of everyone at Reciprocity Trusts and the ten beneficiary Nations of the South Island Indigenous Reciprocity Trust, we thank you for your consideration, and your commitment to the meaningful recognition of Indigenous lands. To learn more visit ReciprocityTrusts.ca