For non-Indigenous communities, land acknowledgement is a powerful way of showing respect and honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the land on which we work and live. WebWHEREAS, land acknowledgments serve to illuminate ongoing indigenous presence, as well as recognize and counter settler-colonial legacies of violence and land expropriation, AND WHEREAS, the purpose of these statements is to show respect and honor the indigenous peoples that this land has been home to since time immemorial,1 AND A people that are still here, continuing to honor and bring to light their ancient heritage. This was a project of a senior high school student who worked closely with a Duwamish elder. We were absolutely committed to making sure that the land acknowledgement didnt devolve into just rhetoric.. Rochester , 8. The statement was approved by the OU Senate on February 18. There was no draft that was signed off on without it going back to our committee, Knutson said. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth. By officially enacting the acknowledgement on May 5, OU joins anumber of public institutions across the country in this step toward the inclusion of Indigenous communities. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. But it struck him that many Pueblos in the area would dispute those claims and a brief land acknowledgment would oversimplify what was actually a complex and contested history. The statement also serves as a reminder to connect with those people groups in tangible ways. In an era of reconciliation, they're political statements meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis territory, however many Indigenous people argue they've grown to become superficial, performative and problematic. "It's still the beginning of some kind of conversation," she said. Again, thank you to the faculty for driving this initiative, pushing for greater recognition and equity for Native peoples, engaging in our broader community, and for being invaluable partners in the ongoing development of our university. The statement reads: Oakland University resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabe, known as the Three Fires Confederacy, comprised of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. King wants to see institutions, organizations, or whoever plans on making a land acknowledgment to collaborate with and support Indigenous communities. Another issue that Deel-McKenzie observed was that many people seemed too caught up in the particulars of the statements wording, without enough consideration on how they planned to support Indigenous communities moving forward. LGBTQIA+ students, allies are Out for Business with new student org, Love with no borders: How Valentines Day is celebrated around the world, Oakland University's independent student newspaper, Your email address will not be published. 48309-4454 The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. The importance of land acknowledgments for non-indigenous individuals and communities relies on the recognition of their relationship to the original inhabitants of a location and to the land. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. We want to acknowledge the history and land, and honour the Indigenous people who continue to love this land here in Waawiyatanong (Detroit, Michigan). Land acknowledgments are generally meant to acknowledge the Indigenous history of the land one is on. But for Michael Lambert, many such statements dont adequately reflect how Indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their lands. I also think that we are exploring, putting a [permanent plaque of the acknowledgement] in a very public place so that it helps the community understand where we come from.. Start working together, Rajaee said. WebA Land Acknowledgement is a statement recognizing the people groups who originally stewarded the land prior to its colonization. In other cases, land acknowledgments might refer to stolen land a seemingly well-intentioned phrase designed to convey how Native people were driven from their homes. As one of the first Land Grant colleges, Michigan State University is a beneficiary of Land allotted through the passing of the Morrill Act in 1862. Furthermore, it is a way to show respect and gratitude to the traditional stewards of a specific location, while recognizing that colonialism is still an ongoing process. The next step in the drafting process was collaborating with OUs administration to adjust and advance the land acknowledgement. A grassroots initiative, this acknowledgement moved from students to faculty to the administration. Native Governance Center, a nonprofit organization that seeks to help tribal nations strengthen their governance systems and their capacity to exercise sovereignty, began developing resources on how to put together a land acknowledgment a few years ago as it noticed more people in the US talking about the issue. "It really actually becomes harmful to the actually existing Indigenous nations that are still trying to negotiate and unravel their diplomatic relationships with each other.". We pledge to elevate our ways of knowing to better reflect the sustainable practices and peaceful coexistence that has allowed our beloved university to thrive. saidSaulis. When we die, we return to the land and turn into the trees, rocks, and water that once gave us life, he wrote in Outside. Thats often how it can come off.. This acknowledgment may be written or may be spoken at the beginning of an event or program, showing a specific commitment to restorative justice (please read the recommended articles). This map represents the location and geographic spread of the entities analyzed through the survey. We are also here to honor our Native American ancestors whose ways of knowing demonstrated reverence and respect for the land on which Oakland University now stands. There has to be absolute action behind it," she said. Meadow Brook Staff "A tool of colonialism is to keep us in the past tense," said Nahanee. -The Title and/or Text of the Land Acknowledgement (if applicable). In addition to normal employment and family obligations, Indigenous people are working to heal their traumas, learn their languages, and support their nations. Filming at the Hall oakland university school of health sciences. There are hundreds of Indigenous communities across the United States. By clicking on each plotted point, you can access basic Land Acknowledgement data: -The Institution's/Entity's Name. WebOne example of an opening land acknowledgement was: We acknowledge that The University of Michigan, named for Michigami, the worlds largest freshwater system and located in the Huron River watershed, was formed and has grown through connections with the land stewarded by the Niswi Ishkodewan Anishinaabeg: The Three Fires People who Another issue Lambert sees in some land acknowledgments is that they can suggest Indigenous peoples and by extension, issues of land dispossession are a relic of the past, when Native communities are living many of these realities today. -The Address/City/State. MI A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Taking from our roots as a Mercy and Jesuit university, we are committed to justice and reconciliation for our Native neighbors. positionality in relation to that land. Necefer says his organization NativesOutdoors has moved away from the red pin emojis in social media captions that function as land acknowledgments and is instead focusing its efforts on more ambitious ways they can educate non-Native audiences about the history of the places they live. The purpose of this statement of acknowledgement is to remind us to continue to be mindful and respectful of the history of this land. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor and makevisible the universitys relationship to Native peoples. WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. King wants to see institutions, organizations, or whoever plans on making a land acknowledgment to collaborate with and support Indigenous communities. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. This app will show you what Indigenous land you're on. WebA Land Acknowledgement is a statement recognizing the people groups who originally stewarded the land prior to its colonization. I could see that people are just copying and pasting this stuff without really looking into the details, Necefer tells CNN. The land acknowledgement passed through the OU Senate on Feb. 18, and was presented to the Board of Trustees on Apr. A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. For universities, it might be offering free tuition for Indigenous students, and for corporations, it might be committing to hire Native people in leadership positions. Right now the administration is working on completing and expanding those goals. The formal and public acknowledgement is an explicit gesture intended to cultivate a mutually beneficial dialogue, which is an essential feature in building an inclusive campus community. The land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan. Land acknowledgements also raise awareness about the Indigenous histories, perspectives and experiences that are often suppressed or forgotten. Their voices lifted the project but there was still more to do. By officially enacting the acknowledgement on May 5, OU joins a number of public institutions across the country in this step toward the inclusion of Indigenous communities. She then sent it to me I posted it on Facebook, and thats when Professor Rajaee responded telling me Tara was a student of hers and that we should talk about getting it formally adopted.. The formal and public acknowledgement is an explicit gesture intended to cultivate a mutually beneficial dialogue, which is an essential feature in building an inclusive campus community. "Do the internal work before you decide to step out into the world with your reconciliation mime. We recognize Michigans 12 federally recognized Native Nations, historic Indigenous communities in Michigan, Indigenous individuals and communities who live here now, and those who were forcibly removed from their homelands. Rather, those critical of these statements emphasize that they should be seen as a starting point in a larger effort to understand the histories and realities of Indigenous people and to commit to change. Land acknowledgements also raise awareness about the Indigenous histories, perspectives and experiences that are often suppressed or forgotten. WebWe recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. WebA Land Acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Your acknowledgement should come from the heart, and we cannot provide you with the exact words to use. Im not Indigenous, and Andrea is not. It could involve showing up to demonstrations led by Indigenous people in the area. Web*Land acknowledgement: Detroit occupies the contemporary and ancestral homelands of three Anishinaabe nations of the Council of Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi. We worked to ensure that the Land Acknowledgement spoke up for the land, and for the living work and experiences of Indigenous peoples of Waawiantanong (Detroit), Peiser said. Its about the action that needs to happen.. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth. -The Institution Type. Many people who use the app tend to approach it as the endpoint rather than the starting point, he adds. A shortened land acknowledgement can also be used for email signatures. Wed like to extend special appreciation to Andrea Knutson (Assoc. Hours:Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.Wednesdays with extended hours 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. During the past several months, a group of faculty, students and administrators have collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth. As big of a step as the land acknowledgement is, its a foundational step that the committee wants to see built upon. In what Campus Communications deemed an explicit gesture intended to cultivate a mutually beneficial dialogue, Oakland University officially adopted the OU Land Acknowledgement Statement last month. It could be as simple as saying, This event is taking place on the traditional lands of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. It could take a more specific approach, such as We recognize the sustained oppression, land dispossession, and involuntary removals of the Muscogee and Cherokee peoples from Georgia and the Southeast On social media, it might show up as a red pushpin emoji, followed by the name of the tribe whose homelands one is on. This statement serves as both a reminder and a call to action to promote practices and policies that bring about equity and advancement for all people on our campus, in our community, and the world. Soon Assistant Professor of English Megan Peiser (tribal affiliation Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) and English STEP student Ashleigh Dubie (tribal affiliation Cherokee) were brought on board. Having a Land Acknowledgement is only one step toward building relationships with Native communities. Can you do this? With such emphasis and weight behind each individual word, Knutson referred to the multi-year writing process as the most intense work with language that shed ever done. The land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan. of Public Environmental Wellness, Land Acknowledgment Committee), Deborah Vanderlinde (Associate Professor of Music Education, School of Music, Theater, and Dance), Elizabeth Wallis (Cherokee, Associate Dean, University Libraries), Nivedita Mukherji (Interim Associate Provost, Faculty Affairs), Noelle Mongene (Anishinaabe, Graduate Student at OU). Heres why some take issue with land acknowledgments and what they say needs to happen for real repair and reconciliation to occur. "It's the very bottom layer you can do," she said of land acknowledgments. (248) 370-3496 Discovery Company. Some Indigenous people say recent land acknowledgments from outside their communities feel hollow. We invite the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability community to actively participate in these acts of respect, by getting to know better the history and present context of the Indigenous communities of the land where you live, study, and work. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. Jeff Thomas, Editor-in-ChiefJune 30, 2021. Among the many reasons for adopting the statement is the need for Oakland University to demonstrate a public show of respect to Native peoples who have been historically marginalized from American institutions, politics and academic curriculums. WebA Land Acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli, a dance and drum community circle, performs a land acknowledgment in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 8, 2021. -Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, Ontario, Canada. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.. WebFor non-Indigenous communities, land acknowledgement is a powerful way of showing respect and honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the land on which we work and live. Peiser expanded on this point and the groups mentality while crafting the language. Despite the problems with land acknowledgments, George wants people to continue making them. The statement will be displayed on the OU website, eventually integrated into courses on American history, politics, and culture, and, whenever appropriate, delivered at events. Necefer, a member of the Navajo Nation, recalls a recent experience he had while on a conference call, during which each participant was asked to recognize the Indigenous people whose homelands they were calling from. "I want people to be able to back up what you're saying, truly believe in it, and be ready to answer the question when someone criticizes you.". "You can have the nicest, most beautiful and most respectful land acknowledgment of all time but if you have no actions to back up your words, then why are you bothering?" Land Acknowledgement Statement Oakland University resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabe, known as the Three Fires Confederacy, comprised of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. WebWHEREAS, land acknowledgments serve to illuminate ongoing indigenous presence, as well as recognize and counter settler-colonial legacies of violence and land expropriation, AND WHEREAS, the purpose of these statements is to show respect and honor the indigenous peoples that this land has been home to since time immemorial,1 AND This is important when extending and personalizing a given acknowledgment statement. WebLand Acknowledgement Statement. A land acknowledgment might be spoken before a public gathering or issued as a written statement by an institution. And once you start getting together, you can start making things happen., Positive space: Singer, actress Kennedy Vernengo, How students are celebrating Valentines Day. One is on Board of Trustees on Apr acknowledgment might be spoken before a Public gathering issued. University school of health sciences on completing and expanding those goals the details, tells... 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