Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization

The Canadian Operatic Arts Academy (COAA) is committed to providing  opportunities to emerging operatic artists of all backgrounds, ethnicities, sexualities, and/or gender identities. We offer and cultivate safe spaces for all participants to share their artistry. COAA encourages a wide variety of perspectives and ideas that represent the varied and unique individuals who make up our artists, instructors, coaches, guests, directors and audiences.

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COAA acknowledges that our program is held on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak  and Attawandaron.

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We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.   

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The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London, Ontario are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures and customs.    

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We encourage everyone to be informed about the traditional lands, Treaties, history, and cultures of the Indigenous people local to the region.  

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