Free Resource to Explore Land Acknowledgments curated by Trevia Woods 

 

What is a Land Acknowledgement? 

"Land acknowledgements are an honest and historically accurate way to recognize the traditional First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit territories of a place. They can be presented verbally or visually: think signage, short theatre presentations or simple spoken-word greetings. According to Anishinaabe-kwe Wanda Nanibush, the first curator of Indigenous art at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), land acknowledgements have one goal, regardless of format: They commemorate Indigenous peoples’ principal kinship to the land—and the fact that we have not and cannot be erased from her, our collective first mother. “They’re a starting place to a change in how the land is seen and talked about,” she says. “[They] help redefine how people place themselves in relation to First Peoples.” ~What Are Land Acknowledgements and Why Do They Matter? By Selena Mills published in Local Love. 

One way to help dismantle systems of oppression is to tell the truth about them. All people with colonial ancestors benefited from Indigenous peoples being displaced, disenfranchised and oppressed. These lands weren't "discovered" they were taken & people were treated as second class citizens at best.  Original people of colonized lands suffered greatly because of it.  

It's also my belief that all people living in these systems of oppression are suffering. Remember, cultural appropriation hurts the taker.  The abuser is also abused in terms of trauma.  If we want to find our own histories, lineages and sources of power, we have to honor the truth of the land that sustains us now.  

The first step could be using a land acknowledgement when you meet with others, in your correspondence and in other areas of your life.

How to do a Land Acknowledgement

“When we talk about land, land is part of who we are. It’s a mixture of our blood, our past, our current, and our future. We carry our ancestors in us, and they’re around us. As you all do.” Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) ~ Why is Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Important? Published by Native Governance Center

 

The following steps are adapted and summarized from the Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.

1. Start with self-reflection.  Ask yourself why am I doing a land acknowledgment? Is it to inspire others or out of guilt? Do you have a goal in mind? What impact are you hoping for? 

2. Do your homework. Who has traditionally been on your lands and who is on them now? Treaty history of your area? Learn names of Indigenous people from these communities and in your field. Highlight them.  Use correct pronunciation for the names in your acknowledgement. 

3. Use Appropriate Language. Keep it real and not White washed for comfort. Use terms like stolen land, forced removal, ect. to explain the the actions done by colonizers. 

4. Use all tenses. Indigenous people are still here. 

5. They don't need to be grim. They can be living celebrations of Indigenous Communities. Focus on the positivity of who Indigenous people are today. 

 

Here's my land acknowledgement and story behind it:

 I live on the traditional lands of the Shakori, Catawba, Eno and the Occaneechi band of the Saponi Nation. 

(This is still a work in progress, as I believe we should try and improve instead of waiting to be perfect.)

The first step I took was going to the https://native-land.ca/ website and finding out which Indigenous people have/do live in my local area.  This site also has great suggestions and resources.  You can also donate to support their work. 

Since I have lived here in NC, USA I have signed up for the Occaneechi band of the Saponi Nation's facebook page.  I met with Elder John Blackfeather Jeffries with my students at a replica of a Native American village he spearheaded on the Eno River. I learned about traditional homes called Wigwams made of wood that were used in the area during my teaching unit on uses of wood. I have attended the Native American Indian Heritage Celebration at the NC Museum of History with two of my boys. 

I personally feel shy about approaching Native Americans here in NC because I am not from here and feel worried about being  not accepted.  I think many urban, displaced and mixed Indigenous carry this burden.  Here is something that I read while making this lesson that helped my soul. 

"It’s important to note, though, that not all Indigenous peoples can place themselves in this way—they may not know their direct lineage as a result of colonization and genocide. Be cognizant that one Indigenous person is just that: one person with one experience. Someone may identify with being Ojibwa, Inuit or Métis, while another may prefer Aboriginal, Native, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee or a specific nation within or outside of these alignments."~Selena Mills

We are all people living in many different systems of oppression. I say as a mixed-race Indigenous woman who does not have current ties to her present day Indigenous community, let's give ourselves and others a little grace. Let's keep building a more just and brighter future together. I will continue to connect and support the Indigenous people in my local area and everywhere.  I firmly put myself in that category. 

Is It Enough?

“They’re a good place to start, but there is a lot more work that needs to be done,” says Rachel Mishenene, executive staff for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education at the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. “As an Indigenous person, I feel good when I hear land acknowledgements, but I am also cognizant that it comes with a responsibility to demonstrate the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives through action. A land acknowledgement without action is just a statement.”  ~Land acknowledgements are a good first step, but there's a lot more work to be done. By Selena Mills published in Today's Parent. 

There has been some backlash on doing land acknowledgements because some people seem to being doing them to check off the box that they aren't anti-racist and move on.  While it's important to do them and try to do them well (Mine can certainly be improved), justice oriented people know that is just the first step. 

Here's some ideas to develop real understanding and support Indigenous people in your community. 

  • Contact the local Indigenous Nation(s) in your area.  Ask them about how to best do a land acknowledgement that honors their perspective. 

  • Attend local events such as a community pow-pow, celebrations or vigils. 

  • Be vocal to your peers about your support of Indigenous causes. 

  • Donate to local Indigenous causes and communities. 

  • Attend an event for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

Reflection Inquiry: 

What steps have you already done? 

What's one step you can do to dig a little deeper? 

 

Some great resources to continue to exploring in your decolonizing journey are here: https://www.nahaneecreative.com/ncstore/p/decolonize-a-recalibrating-guide-and-workbook

https://www.instagram.com/amrpodcast/

https://nativegov.org/resources/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/