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 CBC Indigenous spoke with five First Nations people about the issues they see, what they expect when others make land acknowledgmentsand advice on how they can ring less hollow. Learn more about Stanford's history with the Ohlone, Stanfords Relationships with Native Peoples, Beyond the Land Acknowledgment: College "LAND BACK" or Free Tuition for Native Students. Administrative adjustments made to the land acknowledge document were mainly to make the statement more specific to OU. The statement was approved by the OU Senate on February 18. Discovery Company. So for this issue, we begin by doing a territory acknowledgement for the place from which the magazine comes. During the past several months, a group of faculty, students and administrators have collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. In addition to normal employment and family obligations, Indigenous people are working to heal their traumas, learn their languages, and support their nations. WebWe recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. 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. So for this issue, we begin by doing a territory acknowledgement for the place from which the magazine comes. Although land acknowledgements are powerful statements, they are only meaningful when they are coupled with authentic and sustained relationships with Indigenous communities and community-informed actions. 2023 Cable News Network. Despite the problems with land acknowledgments, George wants people to continue making them. 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. Can you help us research? she says. The land acknowledgement passed through the OU Senate on Feb. 18, and was presented to the Board of Trustees on Apr. -The Institution Type and English STEP student Ashleigh Dubie (tribal affiliation, The Land Acknowledgement Committee worked with Deans, , Peiser said. 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. The University finds pride in calling itself The Nations Pioneer Land Grant College, a term we find highly problematic and recommend that it no longer be used. 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. -The Institution's/Entity's Name 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. ), Ashleigh Dubie (Cherokee, English/STEP, student), Megan Peiser (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Asst. 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. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.. 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. The Land Acknowledgement Committee worked with Deans Joe Shively and Kevin Corcoran in the College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty Senate, and the DEI Office, Peiser said. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. 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 recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. The University of Detroit Mercy operates on the land known as Waawiiyaatanong. Having a Land Acknowledgement is only one step toward building relationships with Native communities. There are hundreds of Indigenous communities across the United States. Some land acknowledgments also fail to acknowledge the traumas that accompanied Native people being removed from their lands, Lambert adds. A grassroots initiative, this acknowledgement moved from students to faculty to the administration. Territories, Languages, and Treaties Digital Map, Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Acknowledgment. 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. 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. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Many people who use the app tend to approach it as the endpoint rather than the starting point, he adds. With that bigger picture in mind, this core four of Knutson, Peiser, Rajaee and Dubie continued the delicate work of drafting the statement. "Are they ready to give us back our land? MI 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 land acknowledgement passed through the OU Senate on Feb. 18, and was presented to the Board of Trustees on Apr. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. 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. 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. Its a view shared by many Indigenous scholars and activists, though they might have different ideas on what constitutes sufficient action. Though Indigenous communities have practiced land acknowledgments for generations, Westerners have only recently adopted the custom. For anyone interested in advocating for Indigenous people, the main advice from the committee is to find people and collaborate. 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. Hours, Directions & Parking -Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, Ontario, Canada. "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.". Together, Oakland University faculty, students and administrators collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. Their voices lifted the project but there was still more to do. 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. 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 It hasnt ended.. We didnt want a watered-down generic statement thats more harmful than not having one at all.. 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. Check out our land acknowledgment event livestream, and hear his comments at the 27-minute mark. 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. "Not just saying that we're scoring a brownie point on our Truth andReconciliation Commission report card. 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. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. 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. 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. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the 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. A land acknowledgement can be a few sentences or several pages. Acknowledgement can be a thank you or an honoring. "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. 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. Deel-McKenzie says a land acknowledgment should be seen as a first step one that must be followed by a call to action. 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. -The Address/City/State 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. Stay in touch with whats happening at Meadow Brook Hall by signing up for our e-newsletter. -Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, Ontario, Canada. But despite the flaws in some land acknowledgments, he and others say they arent suggesting that the practice be done away with altogether. 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. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade just featured a native land acknowledgment. "To speak about your territorial acknowledgment in the past continues that dominant narrative.". WebLand Acknowledgement Statement. When that Campus Communications email announcement made the OU Land Acknowledgement Statement official, there was definitely a sense of pride in what had been accomplished. The statement reflects the values at the heart of OUs continual engagement to shape a more knowledgeable, diverse and fair society. 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. "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 . 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 The phrase on stolen land can unknowingly erase these cultural views.. In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. Reflect on the kind of engagement you have with these groups and recognize your positionality in relation to that land. This app will show you what Indigenous land you're on. Rochester , A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Native Governance Center counts land repatriation as one of several ways that institutions and individuals might go beyond a simple land acknowledgment. A Warner Bros. WebWe recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. Eds. Like King, Saulis said she's personally not a fan of land acknowledgments because of their performative nature. [Were considering] some type of an ongoing event that would honor Native Americans Native American History Month or some other activity. (location map) WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. Individually, Id been thinking about this for a couple years before this before we started working together so there are folks who care about similar issues. U.S. Department of Arts and Culture: A Guide And Call To Acknowledgement, Teen Vogue: Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, Explained. 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 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. Left to right: Andrea Knutson, Megan Peiser and Ashleigh Dubie doing research while crafting OUs Land Acknowledgement Statement. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. 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. If you are looking to make your own land acknowledgement, please use this example to construct your own: I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe. It is important to note that this kind of acknowledgement is not a new practice developed by colonial institutions. That must be followed by a Call to acknowledgement, Explained Teen:... Past continues that dominant narrative. `` Do the internal work before you decide to step out into the with... To step out into the world with your reconciliation mime this app will show you what land. To right: Andrea Knutson, Megan Peiser and Ashleigh Dubie ( tribal affiliation, the land as... And others say they arent suggesting that the practice be done away with altogether acknowledge document were mainly to the! To step out into the world with your email address to receive and. 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