A Guide for Land Acknowledgements by Lorén Spears
As communities think about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice(DEIJ); more and more people are looking to acknowledge the land they are on. It is important to understand that these acknowledgements recognize the settler colonial construct that befell this land with the invasion that took place. It is more than recognizing who once lived here but realizing those people are still here and are now dual citizens of their tribal nation and the country that invaded, displaced, subjugated, massacred, enslaved, acculturated, and continues now to oppress through social, economic, legal and political means. The Indigenous people of what is now called the United States of America should be respected as the First Peoples and the traditional stewards of the land. As Federally Recognized Tribal Nations, they have a nation to nation relationship with the US federal government. They are domestic sovereigns with a trust relationship with the United States. For those state recognized tribes and those not formally recognized as well as those that were dispossessed, dissolved, erased and combined with other tribal nations, they still deserve recognition. Do not erase or sanitize the past, state truths.
Land Acknowledgements (LA) are complex, location specific, yet there is no distinct formula for the creation of a LA. Land Acknowledgements are different if presented by Indigenous people verse non-Native people. If presented by Indigenous people, they often will do it as a welcome to their homelands and if by non-Native people it is done to acknowledge the traditional land stewardship, contributions and continuation of the First Peoples. Creating a land acknowledgement can be difficult to fulfill all needs or goals. However, it is important to start somewhere and refine as needed. It is also important to know a Land Acknowledgement is the beginning of the inclusion of Indigenous voice, diversity exploration, incorporation in all fields, supporting Indigenous nations and organizations, empowering Indigenous peoples (economic justice), supporting Indigenous-led grassroots campaigns, environmental justice, land and water rights and ultimately land return to Indigenous nations.
There are many important questions or ideas to consider:
Reflect on why you are doing a LA. What’s the goal? Why is it important to you and your institution?
Who is in the group or committee devising this LA? Who isn’t at the table?
Whose land are you on? Who are the First or Indigenous Peoples? Who are the federally recognized (state) tribal nation(s) in the area you are referencing? Is the Indigenous community not recognized but still there? Who can you invite from these communities to acknowledge the land and their relationship to this place over time?
If possible, reach out to local tribal nations, organizations, urban Indian Councils for support in creating the LA. (be sure to remunerate for their expertise)
Be sure to learn pronunciations of tribal nation names and locations utilizing local tribal languages (sometimes you can find audios or videos where they are pronounced or call tribal nation offices to ask for pronunciation.
If you are representing a particular town or city, be sure to acknowledge the specific tribal nation whose homeland that is. If it changed over time, recognize those shifts(for example, nations removed from their original homeland and now located elsewhere).
Acknowledge treaties, Indigenous land & water rights, and the continuous presence of Indigenous peoples.
LA are not past tense but reflect on the ongoing presence, perseverance, and survivance of Indigenous peoples.
LA are a celebration of the continuation and vibrancy of the Native communities. They can act as a catalyst for empowerment, equity and justice.
Respect the intersectionality of tribes and the kinship networks; acknowledge all Indigenous peoples within the state you are representing. For example, In RI the Narragansett Nation is the only Federally recognized tribal nation, but there is historically other tribal presence in what is geographically the state boundaries such as the Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Niantic nations. Recognize and honor the kinship relationships between tribal nations and their relationship with the land, waters, and all living things.
Use the term “nation" vs tribe, it is a settler colonial aggression to belittle our nation status. Please note, this is not universally used as many Indigenous nations use the terms tribe, band, clan, rancheria, federation, or confederacy. Check with your local Native Nation and ask how they want to be recognized.
If you must use a general term such as Native American, many prefer Indigenous which means the original people of a particular place. "Indian" was an error of explorers who thought they were in Asia. American Indian or Native American are terms to increase dominance over the First Peoples by implying America was here all along rather than a few hundred years vs the Indigenous population being here for tens of thousands of years.
Emphasize the connection to the land. As Indigenous people we are directly connected to the land. We are the land, the land is us. As Indigenous people, our traditions, culture, history, lifeways, health, language, spirituality and science connect to this land.
If possible, a land acknowledgement may be given by a tribal elder or community member. This is often referred to as a welcome to their homelands and may include a blessing or prayer which may be presented in their language followed by English. It may also include a traditional song. (be sure to remunerate for their expertise, traditional ecological knowledge, “emotional labor” and their time. Often Indigenous people are asked to do this and other types of work for free. It is a dominant perspective that “we” should want to educate others and that it is a “gift” they are allowing us to share our knowledge. This is not acceptable.
If not, the person doing The LA should recognize the Indigenous continuance, contributions, and stewardship of this land since time immemorial.
Drafting and utilizing a land acknowledgement is a FIRST STEP in the process of decolonization of institutional programs, recognizing the dispossession of the land, acknowledging settler colonialism, and the historical traumas that befell the Indigenous peoples of this specific place.
It supports education and breaks the mythology that these nations and peoples are “gone" or “vanished”. It also opens up dialogue to understanding the history of the land you are on, the process of settler colonialism and how we begin to unpack this history and heal from the historical trauma.
If possible recognize known Indigenous leaders that reflect your work, field, or Institution.
Environmental justice is Indigenous rights. Hunting, fishing, agricultural and harvesting rights are tantamount to our culture, identity and lifeways. Through the gifts of the Creator, this land provides all we need: water, food, clothing, housing, medicine, tools, and other resources. We give thanks for these gifts.
If unable to invite an Elder or community member from local tribal nation, you may write your own land acknowledgement utilizing this and other resources. “We are on the homelands of _____” Our conference (or meeting) is taking place on the ancestral homelands of the _____” When possible include language which affirms modern nation presence on this land by stating the names of tribal nations within the area or state you are referring to. Honor and respect the First Peoples and their contributions today. (samples below)
Recognize that you are working toward decolonization and applying strategies to incorporate this in your work.
Example, “There is no Rhode Island history WITHOUT Narragansett and other Indigenous history. There is no United States of America history without Indigenous history.” stated by Lorén Spears. We are all connected to this history. We must acknowledge the contributions of the First Peoples. Indigenous history is woven throughout US history, as it is stated 10,000 or more years prior to the European invasion and has continued over these ~400 years.
Drafting and utilizing the LA is not the end of the story or the process of decolonization, it is the beginning of a conversation.
We should seek to AMPLIFY untold stories of nations/tribes/peoples of this land.
Be mindful of word choice: avoid the passive voice and past tense: Indigenous peoples are STILL HERE.
The violence of colonization disrupts connections with traditional knowledge of this land and its resources and history. This knowledge, however, survives in the "cumulative memory" of the Indigenous nation.
LA should work to pose ideas and actions on how to be “allies” to work to amplify the voices and stories of the nations and peoples. LA should work to pose ideas and actions on how to be “co-conspirators” to advocate for justice, reparations, and equity.
LA should acknowledge that not all documented history is accurate, and acknowledge the Indigenous people are the experts on their culture, history, traditional ecological knowledge.
LA should be a catalyst to further inclusion of Indigenous people, stories, culture, and history in the work of our organizations.
Shared history must be included in larger framework of our understanding of U.S. (or your state’s) history.
Avoid turning LA into a "history essay;” keep it brief and use as a launch for other discussions, inclusion in your work, and proactive DEIJ actions.
Ask group for feedback on impact of LA after reading in workshop groups or other small group events. Include on your evaluations at conferences and other large group events. But be sure to understand that just because it may not impact others, it is still important to acknowledge the First Peoples and begin the dialogue.
Begin by drafting one acknowledging the tribal nation(s)for the location of your event takes place, then work to create lines for specific regions/territories to tell a more detailed story and include otherwise unrecognized nations/tribes/peoples.
Land Acknowledgements are the beginning of the work of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Indigenous people (Native American, American Indian, First Nations, First Peoples, Aboriginal, Native, etc.,) are the most underserved, under-represented peoples yet still reside in their homelands, lead vibrant lives, continuing traditional cultural knowledge, and contributing to this country in a myriad of ways despite conquest, colonization, land dispossession, genocide, forced assimilation, internment, economic deprivation and legal injustice. We are still here as stewards of this land, passing down traditional ecological knowledge to the next generations to come. Acknowledging our inherent right to these lands is a first step acknowledging the inclusion, equity and justice we are pursuing. This is a way you can be an ally. The work that builds from here is how you can be a “co-conspirator” to act in ways that ensures justice prevails.
Examples:
https://kluge-ruhe.org/about/acknowledging-indigenous-owners/
https://www.brown.edu/sheridan/teaching-learning-resources/inclusive-teaching/statements
https://www.cablemuseum.org/land-acknowledgement-statement/
https://brownschool.wustl.edu/About/Documents/Native%20Land%20Acknowledgement.pdf
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/land-acknowledgment
https://fneccweb.sitehost.iu.edu/land-acknowledgement/
https://nacp.uconn.edu/land-acknowledgement/
http://convention.myacpa.org/boston2019/inclusion/land-acknowledgement/
https://sites.tufts.edu/museumstudents/tag/decolonization/