Traditional territory refers to the lands that Indigenous nations have historically occupied, used, and governed according to their own laws and customs, often for thousands of years before European contact. Traditional territories may extend far beyond current reserve boundaries and don't necessarily align with provincial or municipal borders. Indigenous nations maintain cultural, spiritual, and legal connections to traditional territories even where they don't hold legal title under Canadian law. Land acknowledgments recognize traditional territories at public events. Duty to consult obligations require governments to engage Indigenous nations regarding activities on their traditional territories. Understanding traditional territory is fundamental to reconciliation and respectful relationships between Indigenous peoples, governments, and Canadian society.