In American Indian and Indigenous Studies, we recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigans twelve federally-recognized Indian nations (Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Hannahville Indian Community, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Sault Ste. -The Address/City/State. To ensure they achieved their goals, the group made the language tangible by acknowledging specific Indigenous communities and accurately reflecting history. 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. "I don't tell people which word to use, but I ask them to consider each word critically," said Nahanee, founder and CEO of the Vancouver-based business Nahanee Creative, a company that provides education and awareness to promote social change. (location map) -The Institution Type. 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. 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. With that bigger picture in mind, this core four of Knutson, Peiser, Rajaee and Dubie continued the delicate work of drafting the statement. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. WebA land acknowledgment is a traditional custom in many Native communities and nations to show respect to the people of the land since time immemorial. Kanhehs:io Deer is a Kanienkeh:ka journalist from Kahnaw:ke, south of Montreal. The University of Detroit Mercy operates on the land known as Waawiiyaatanong. ), Ashleigh Dubie (Cherokee, English/STEP, student), Megan Peiser (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Asst. 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. 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). Like King, Saulis said she's personally not a fan of land acknowledgments because of their performative nature. They've become so commonplace that you'll hear land acknowledgments at the start of hockey games, during academic conferencesand even written at the bottom of corporate email signatures. 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 are still here. Im not Indigenous, and Andrea is not. We acknowledge the real ways that the State of Michigan, Michigan State University, and residents of this Land have benefitted from the forced and systematic removal of Anishinaabeg and other Indigenous peoples from Michigan, particularly during the Indian Removal period of the nineteenth century. The land acknowledgement passed through the OU Senate on Feb. 18, and was presented to the Board of Trustees on Apr. While Indigenous peoples have practiced land acknowledgments for generations, Westerners have adopted the custom relatively recently as they attempt to reckon with the harms brought on by colonization. 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. 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. 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. While the process of getting the statement enacted progressed through the OU administration relatively quickly during the winter semester, years of work went on behind the scenes. And to fully fund them not ask Native faculty to beg for support Allies need to step up and take on that work. -The Institution Type. Nahanee is Swxw7mesh (Squamish) from Eslha7an (Ustlawn) in B.C. We were absolutely committed to making sure that the land acknowledgement didnt devolve into just rhetoric.. 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 As big of a step as the land acknowledgement is, its a foundational step that the committee wants to see built upon. Another action it proposes is voluntary land taxes regular payments that go directly toward Native nations or organizations in the area. 8. -The Address/City/State. Can you do this? 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. ) 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. This app will show you what Indigenous land you're on. For me its important because OU has been where Ive been studying, which obviously has a close place to my heart and yet it, up to this point, had not really acknowledged Indigenous people, Dubie said. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center, 4705 West Marginal Way Southwest, Seattle, WA, 98106, United States. For anyone interested in advocating for Indigenous people, the main advice from the committee is to find people and collaborate. 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 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. 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. It is important the statement honors and names the communities, and recognizes the occupied or unceded nature and history of the land. "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 recognize that Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Rochester, Michigan 48309-4481, About Many people who use the app tend to approach it as the endpoint rather than the starting point, he adds. "Do the internal work before you decide to step out into the world with your reconciliation mime. -The Institution Type. Address: 4705 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106, Tuesday 10AM5PMWednesday 10AM5PMThursday 10AM5PMFriday 10AM5PMSaturday 10AM5PMSunday ClosedMonday Closed. A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. A land acknowledgement is an optional statement, often given at the beginning of organized events, celebrations and activities, or published in printed materials. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth. "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.". In offering this land acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history and experiences., Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. According to a map within the University archive, Anishinaabeg maintained an Indian Encampment south of the Red Cedar River when classes were first held at the University (then known as Michigan Agricultural College) on May 13, 1857. During the past several months, a group of faculty, students and administrators have collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. Can you help us research? she says. Deel-McKenzie says a land acknowledgment should be seen as a first step one that must be followed by a call to action. 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 MSU Native American Institute provides a land acknowledgement for the university based to raise awareness about the Indigenous histories, perspectives and experiences that took place before Michigan State University. Having a Land Acknowledgement is only one step toward building relationships with Native communities. It had to go slowly. MI We had a lot of inquiries from non-Native people saying, Hey, were wanting to do a land acknowledgement: Can you read this? The purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. WebLand Acknowledgement Statement. 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 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. 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. "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 . In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. Deel-McKenzie says a land acknowledgment should be seen as a first step one that must be followed by a call to action. Giving a land acknowledgement requires research and reflection to understand the historical and contemporary Indigenous communities having a relationship with the land. All Rights Reserved. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. By clicking on each plotted point, you can access basic Land Acknowledgement data: -The Institution's/Entity's Name. This statement can be present in your syllabus, read before presentations, or events. WebLand Acknowledgement Statement. In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. Im working with Glenn McIntosh, 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 Britt Rios-Ellis said. In addition to normal employment and family obligations, Indigenous people are working to heal their traumas, learn their languages, and support their nations. 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.. We didnt want a watered-down generic statement thats more harmful than not having one at all.. WebLand Acknowledgements Map. "A tool of colonialism is to keep us in the past tense," said Nahanee. 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. To him, that language obscures the fact that tribal nations were sovereign over those lands and that they werent just caretakers. -Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, Ontario, Canada. WebA Land Acknowledgement is a statement recognizing the people groups who originally stewarded the land prior to its colonization. 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. She is from Kanesatake in Quebecand is the ambassador and education and mobilization officer for Mikana, a non-profit organization that works for social change by educating different audiences on the realities and perspectives of Indigenous peoples. 8. Landscapess elements make up the blood, bone, and flesh that animate our bodies. Discovery Company. 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. 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. If we can understand that, I think the rest will come.. 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. 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. 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. We took a draft and we shared it with [Indigenous] folks and then got feedback and made modifications.. There has to be absolute action behind it," she said. 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. When it comes to action, Kahsennoktha George wants to see companies and institutions participating in systemic change. King wants to see institutions, organizations, or whoever plans on making a land acknowledgment to collaborate with and support Indigenous communities. 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 So for this issue, we begin by doing a territory acknowledgement for the place from which the magazine comes. Most of this work was actually teaching educating those in leadership positions who Native Peoples of Michigan are.. Some of the tribes listed are functionally extinct, he says, and are grouped in with nations that continue to exist in the area. "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 . In order to be transformative, it is important to move away from performative acts, as Megan Red-Shirt Shawsays in her essay Beyond the Land Acknowledgment: College "LAND BACK" or Free Tuition for Native Students, into a mindful way to show awareness, create accountability, and actively disrupt colonial structures. 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. WebWe recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. Did you encounter any technical issues? ), Mozhgon Rajaee (Asst. WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. Following the 2018 LMDA conference in Toronto -- This moment that connected Maudrie, Knutson and Assistant Professor of Public Health Mozhgon Rajaee occurred in August of 2019. 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. WebWe recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. 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.". WebResource Map - Land Acknowledgements. 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. 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. As a community, we recognize that this is the ancestral land of the Three Fires Confederacy, the Ojibwa, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot nations. A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. 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