Acknowledgements
Authors: Morris Melissa 
Published: November 2023

We want to first acknowledge that the University of Calgary and all those who teach, learn, and work within it, including the authors and editors of this journal, occupy Treaty 7 territory. In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory. This sacred gathering place provides us with an opportunity to engage in reconciliation.

The appearance of this first issue of The Motley Undergraduate Journal became possible thanks to the collective efforts of a number of key contributors. Dr. Maria Bakardjieva, Professor and Chair in Communication and Media Studies at the University of Calgary, recognized the lack of opportunities for undergraduate students to showcase their academic work and proposed this journal as a solution. Students and faculty who volunteered their time and acted as reviewers and editors have been integral to the realization of the idea. The Department of Communication, Media, and Film at the University of Calgary gave the project decisive support.

The Motley is freely and publicly accessible thanks to the Public Knowledge Project’s, Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform operating out of Simon Fraser University. OJS allows academic journals to freely utilize their publication software and training resources, with a mission of making academic knowledge accessible to all citizens. The entire OJS library team at the University of Calgary, especially Sarah Adams, offered the journal team invaluable assistance with building the site, resolving bugs, and providing continuous guidance.

Special recognition should go to undergraduate students Madison Daniels, Kaari Hall, Bray Jamieson, and Abigail Atmadja for their consistent support, advice, and excitement that motivated students to get involved with the journal. Each of these students brought unique skills to The Motley. Their careful editorial eyes, networking and promotion shaped The Motley greatly. Dr. Maria Victoria Guglietti played a central role in providing mentorship and guidance to the whole editorial team and spurring students into action with submission nominations.

The entire faculty of the department of Communication, Media and Film backed the initiative and donated their time, valuable perspectives, and expert feedback on submitted manuscripts. Special “thank you” to those who nominated and reviewed submissions, Drs. Annie Rudd, Charles Tepperman, Jessalynn Keller, Marcia Jenneth Epstein, Maria Victoria Guglietti, Ronald Glasberg, Tania Smith and graduate students Xenia Reloba de la Cruz, Asma Bernier, Brennan Chaudhry, and Amanda Zanco.

This first issue owes its existence to the phenomenal student authors who contributed their work to the journal. As The Motley’s first authors, you are trailblazers. Your ideas and creativity testify to the excellence of the teaching and learning that takes place at the University of Calgary, and they will inspire others.

The Motley builds upon the example, and inspiration gleaned from other student groups and prior student journals. As the first Managing Editor of The Motley and a former Red Deer Polytechnic student, I wish to acknowledge that my love for the publication process was sparked, and my skills were first learned through the invaluable instruction I received from two key members of the Editorial Board of Red Deer Polytechnic’s Agora Journal, Dr. Jacqueline Cowan and Dr. Heather Marcovitch.

Lastly, on behalf of the Motley team, I thank you, the readers of this journal, for giving us your time and attention in a world where everyone and everything are fighting for it. We hope you are inspired, educated, and invigorated by the work you find on these pages, and that you will join us again for the next issue!

-Melissa Morris, Managing Editor