Start working together, Rajaee said. Likewise, we recognize that parts of what is now Michigan includes Land within the traditional Homelands of the Miami, Meskwaki, Sauk, Kickapoo, Menominee, and other Indigenous nations. Some of the tribes listed are functionally extinct, he says, and are grouped in with nations that continue to exist in the area. Do something different, actually work with Indigenous communities in a meaningful way.". We recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. The preservation and perpetuation of customs and traditions of Indigenous nations are essential to our shared cultural heritage. -The Address/City/State. Land acknowledgments can be a good way for people to learn more about Indigenous history and can signal respect for tribal nations. I could see that people are just copying and pasting this stuff without really looking into the details, Necefer tells CNN. 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. Further, we recognize the wrongs done to those forcibly removed from their Homelands and commit to fostering an environment of inclusion that is responsive to the needs of First Peoples through our words, policies, and actions. "A land acknowledgment should be an obligation," said King. A land acknowledgement is an optional statement, often given at the beginning of organized events, celebrations and activities, or published in printed materials. WebThe Universitys endowment was originally funded in significant measure by sale of land granted under Article 16 of the 1817 Treaty of the Foot of the Rapids, also known as the Treaty of Ft. Meigs. "The problem is that there are people, groups, institutions and systems that are benefiting from the continued land dispossession of Indigenous peoples while making territorial acknowledgments.". We recognize that Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. A land acknowledgement can be a few sentences or several pages. 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.. The exercise felt uncomfortable and awkward, Necefer wrote in Outside magazine. Outside of the usual satisfaction of a job well done, Dubie had deeper reflections about what the statement means for her as an Indigenous student. appreciated. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. We also acknowledge the Mtis community who were forced from their community on Bootaaganini-minis (Drummond Island), when the border was drawn between the US and Canada. We understand that there is an indelible relationship between the creation of Land Grant institutions, the simultaneous and ongoing expropriation of Indigenous Lands, and the governmentally-coordinated genocide against Indigenous peoples. It feels like a box checking activity, like people are doing it to signal their politics, says Len Necefer, an Indigenous studies scholar and founder and CEO of the apparel and media company NativesOutdoors. The land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan. I really hope that Native issues are centered in classroom conversations and that more students and faculty understand the history of this land and how it continues to impact their own relationships with Native lands. We want to acknowledge the history and land, and honour the Indigenous people who continue to love this land here in Waawiyatanong (Detroit, Michigan). We affirm and acknowledge the Burt Lake Band, who were literally burned from their houses in 1900. Stay in touch with whats happening at Meadow Brook Hall by signing up for our e-newsletter. It's something he saidhe now regrets. "You wouldn't say, 'I acknowledge that my hair is brown, my eyes brown.' He notices a similar lack of nuance in the ways people determine whose land theyre on. WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. But while some tribes might agree with that characterization, Necefer says, others view the situation differently: Rather than land belonging to people, people belong to the land. 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. 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. It comes across as a very painful denial of exactly what happened.. 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. The phrase on stolen land can unknowingly erase these cultural views.. Meadow Brook Staff Britt Rios-Ellis, Executive VP, Academic Affairs & ProvostGlenn McIntosh, Senior VP, Student Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer, Native American Advisory Committee - OU Representatives, Oakland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Plan, Amy Banes-Berceli (Interim Associate Provost, Operations), Ashleigh Dubie (Cherokee, English-STEP Student, Land Acknowledgment Committee), Andrea Knutson (Associate Professor, English, Land Acknowledgment Committee), Megan Peiser (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Assistant Professor of English, Land Acknowledgment Committee), Mozghon Rajaee (Assistant Professor, Dept. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade just featured a native land acknowledgment. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the people who occupied and stewarded before us. 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 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. We had to get language from them we had to hear what they wanted from land acknowledgements. WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. Its about the action that needs to happen.. An NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks opens with a land acknowledgment shown on the scoreboard. Its important people understand that when you put that upon Indigenous people, it can create a lot of additional stress on Native peoples and Native organizations., Larry Chavis, former director of UNCs American Indian Center, put it like this at a faculty council meeting after being asked to write a land acknowledgment for the university: Its like me writing my own thank you note for a gift that was taken from me.. 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. Land acknowledgments are generally meant to acknowledge the Indigenous history of the land one is on. Maudrie had graduated at that point, so Knutson and Rajaee took the next steps of bringing Indigenous voices into the process of progressing the land acknowledgement. The statement also serves as a reminder to connect with those people groups in tangible ways. I hope our administration will.. The analysis of this data, or separate/individual entries, can be found in the Land Acknowledgement database. A Land Acknowledgement is a statement recognizing the people groups who originally stewarded the land prior to its colonization. Thank you for your interest in the Duwamish Tribe! 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 It is up to you how you feel your acknowledgement should be carried out. This map represents the location and geographic spread of the entities analyzed through the survey. "A land acknowledgement is an optional statement, often given at the beginning of organized events, celebrations and activities, or published in printed materials," according to the Native American Institute within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University . 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. What's wrong with land acknowledgments, and how to make them better | CBC News Loaded. 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. 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 is currently a reporter with CBC Indigenous covering communities across Quebec. These statements, known as land acknowledgments, are an attempt to address the past, present and future of a particular location as it relates to Indigenous peoples as well as to understand ones own place within it. 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 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. In addition to normal employment and family obligations, Indigenous people are working to heal their traumas, learn their languages, and support their nations. 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. Eds. If spoken, the order should be: (1) Welcome and words about the event, (2) Land Acknowledgment and specific relations to individual or collective actions, (3) Move into thescheduled program. 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.. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the -The Institution Type. Its not about the verbiage, she says. Check out our land acknowledgment event livestream, and hear his comments at the 27-minute mark. We had a lot of inquiries from non-Native people saying, Hey, were wanting to do a land acknowledgement: Can you read this? and English STEP student Ashleigh Dubie (tribal affiliation, The Land Acknowledgement Committee worked with Deans, , Peiser said. Land acknowledgements also raise awareness about the Indigenous histories, perspectives and experiences that are often suppressed or forgotten. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. A deep understanding of Native peoples past and present informs the teaching, research, and community engagement of the university in its ongoing effort to elevate the dignity of all people and serve as shared stewards of the land. 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. Hayden King, who is Anishinaabe fromBeausoleil First Nation in Ontario,helped write Ryerson University's land acknowledgment in 2012. Moreover, we affirm that Michigan State University must support Indigenous communities and nations in Michigan, as well as throughout Turtle Island, and across the Fourth World. WebResource Map - Land Acknowledgements. 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). During the past several months, a group of faculty, students and administrators have collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. Further, we recognize the wrongs done to those forcibly removed from their Homelands and commit to fostering an environment of inclusion that is responsive to the needs of First Peoples through our words, policies, and actions.The preservation and perpetuation of customs and traditions of Indigenous nations are essential to our shared cultural heritage. Having a Land Acknowledgement is only one step toward building relationships with Native communities. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. U.S. Department of Arts and Culture: A Guide And Call To Acknowledgement, Teen Vogue: Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, Explained. 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. A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth. 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). Most of this work was actually teaching educating those in leadership positions who Native Peoples of Michigan are.. It was presented to the OU Board of Trustees at their April 8 meeting. A Warner Bros. That also means taking the time to research specific names of nations rather than sweeping generalizations, and being cautious of subtext. We receive countless inquiries on acknowledgements daily and request that those looking to make land acknowledgements first try to construct their own before contacting Duwamish Tribal Services for comments or help. MI "It's still the beginning of some kind of conversation," she said. 2023 Cable News Network. Professor, Health Sciences), Kevin Corcoran (Dean, College of Arts and Sciences), Cynthia Miree-Coppin (Faculty Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee), Joi Cunningham (Provosts Office), and the OU Senate committee (chaired by Jason Wasserman) for leading the effort to establish the OU Land Acknowledgement Statement, which 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. 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. In particular, the university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. The purpose of this statement of acknowledgement is to remind us to continue to be mindful and respectful of the history of this land. The Morrill Act, which enabled the Land Grant system, was passed in the same year as both the Homestead Actgranting 160 acres to individual settlers who improved and farmed land in the Westand the largest mass hanging in the history of the United States, the state-sanctioned murder of thirty-eight Dakota. The land acknowledgement passed through the OU Senate on Feb. 18, and was presented to the Board of Trustees on Apr. 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 King wants to see institutions, organizations, or whoever plans on making a land acknowledgment to collaborate with and support Indigenous communities. oakland university school of health sciences. It hasnt ended.. -The Address/City/State 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. 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. Address: 4705 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106, Tuesday 10AM5PMWednesday 10AM5PMThursday 10AM5PMFriday 10AM5PMSaturday 10AM5PMSunday ClosedMonday Closed. Jeff Thomas, Editor-in-ChiefJune 30, 2021. 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. 350 Estate Drive This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. The next step in the drafting process was collaborating with OUs administration to adjust and advance the land acknowledgement. Oakland Center, Suite 150 But for Michael Lambert, many such statements dont adequately reflect how Indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their lands. With that bigger picture in mind, this core four of Knutson, Peiser, Rajaee and Dubie continued the delicate work of drafting the statement. By clicking on each plotted point, you can access basic Land Acknowledgement data: Territories, Languages, and Treaties Digital Map, Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Acknowledgment. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth. Landscapess elements make up the blood, bone, and flesh that animate our bodies. Thats often how it can come off.. In recognizing the history and respecting the sovereignty of Michigans Indian Nations, Oakland University honors the heritage of Indigenous communities and their significant role in shaping the course of this region. As a community, we recognize that this is the ancestral land of the Three Fires Confederacy, the Ojibwa, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot nations. This map represents the location and geographic spread of the entities analyzed through the survey. The statement was approved by the OU Senate on February 18. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the Published But while land acknowledgments are usually well-intentioned, some Indigenous scholars and leaders say that the ways they are sometimes executed by non-Natives can seem hollow, performative and ultimately, problematic. 8. We greatly appreciate the increased interest in this traditional practice, but the large volume of inquiries received does not always allow us to respond in a timely manner. Discovery Company. Some land acknowledgments also fail to acknowledge the traumas that accompanied Native people being removed from their lands, Lambert adds. 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. There's much more to just words.". When it comes to action, Kahsennoktha George wants to see companies and institutions participating in systemic change. Including Mead, It may be dreary out today, but it won't be long b, A Servants Life: Special Downton Abbey Tour. Having a Land Acknowledgement is only one step toward building relationships with Native communities. WebThe Universitys endowment was originally funded in significant measure by sale of land granted under Article 16 of the 1817 Treaty of the Foot of the Rapids, also known as the Treaty of Ft. Meigs. We collectively understand that offering Land Acknowledgements or Land Recognitions do not absolve settler-colonial privilege or diminish colonial structures of violence, at either the individual or institutional level. Indigenous people across the US want their land back -- and the movement is gaining momentum, If theyre going to acknowledge what happened in the transfer of this land from Indian to non-Indian control, there has to be some proactive action on the part of the institution for the aggrieved group, he said. 312 Meadow Brook Rd Having a Land Acknowledgement is only one step toward building relationships with Native communities. That sentiment was echoed by Devon Saulis, a member of the Tobique First Nation who lives in Ottawa. 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 and Meadow Brook Hall now stands. Adrien Pochel, who is Oji-Cree and Lakota, drums and sings during a land acknowledgement ceremony for Chicago's Field Museum on October 26, 2018. We didnt want a watered-down generic statement thats more harmful than not having one at all.. For OU, the first steps in delivering a more inclusive campus for Indigenous students is going to be following up on the goals outlined in the Campus Communications release. The best way to create an appropriate land acknowledgement is to consult and collaborate local Tribal leaders, which Stanford University has donethrough the Native American Cultural Center, the university archaeologist's office, and the university president's office. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the Professor, English Dept. Another action it proposes is voluntary land taxes regular payments that go directly toward Native nations or organizations in the area. Following the 2018 LMDA conference in Toronto -- This is important when extending and personalizing a given acknowledgment statement. Im not Indigenous, and Andrea is not. It is important the statement honors and names the communities, and recognizes the occupied or unceded nature and history of the land. Watch the Baroness von Sketch Show's satirical take on land acknowledgments: King wants to see institutions, organizations, or whoever plans on making a land acknowledgment tocollaborate with and support Indigenous communities. Can you help us research? she says. "Not just saying that we're scoring a brownie point on our Truth andReconciliation Commission report card. If we can understand that, I think the rest will come.. For anyone interested in advocating for Indigenous people, the main advice from the committee is to find people and collaborate. 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. Rochester, Michigan 48309-4481, About A deep understanding of Native peoples past and present informs the teaching, research, and community engagement of the university in its ongoing effort to elevate the dignity of all people and serve as shared stewards of the land. "If you're going to explicitly say in your land acknowledgment that you want better relations, then you have to prove and you have to show consistency and that you're actually doing those actions.". It could involve showing up to demonstrations led by Indigenous people in the area. Most of this work was actually teaching educating those in leadership positions who Native Peoples of Michigan are., , our vice president for Student Affairs, and also our chief diversity officer, to really see how we can engage folks within the community, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, said. The land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan. -The Title and/or Text of the Land Acknowledgement (if applicable). In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. King said some of the problems he sees in Toronto is thatland acknowledgments are simply inaccurate, include the same nation multiple times under different terms, or misinterpret treaty conceptssuch as the Dish With One Spoon into a metaphor of a "multicultural utopia.". "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.". 8. Peiser expanded on this point and the groups mentality while crafting the language. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor and makevisible the universitys relationship to Native peoples. University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, 4001 W. McNichols Road Detroit, MI 48221-3038, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We have to understand what it is. Right now the administration is working on completing and expanding those goals. Land acknowledgements also raise awareness about the Indigenous histories, perspectives and experiences that are often suppressed or forgotten. Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center, 4705 West Marginal Way Southwest, Seattle, WA, 98106, United States. We acknowledge that this land was colonized via the Treaty of Detroit in 1807. Here is an additional example of a Duwamish land acknowledgement painted on the side of Seattle Mennonite Church in North Seattle: We at Seattle Mennonite church acknowledge that we are on the unceded ancestral lands of the Duwamish people. For Ta7talya Michelle Nahanee,who offers workshops on how to giveterritorial acknowledgments,land acknowledgments shouldn't be copied, pasted and read statements but rather meaningful personal commitments. 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.
