Land Acknowledgment: Setting the context for where we are

The city of Spokane is on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Spokane Tribe. The people of the river today live on the reservation west of town as well as throughout the region, serving as civic leaders, lawyers, historians, educators, artists and more.

Land Acknowledgments

“Acknowledgment is a simple, powerful way of showing respect and a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture and toward inviting and honoring the truth. Imagine this practice widely adopted: imagine cultural venues, classrooms, conference settings, places of worship, sports stadiums, and town halls, acknowledging traditional lands. Millions would be exposed – many for the first time – to the names of the traditional Indigenous inhabitants of the lands they are on, inspiring them to ongoing awareness and action.” (U.S. Department of Arts and Culture)

Offering land acknowledgments thoughtfully requires effort. Of primary importance:

  • Don’t ask an Indigenous person to deliver it. A land acknowledgement should bring awareness to the impacts of settler-colonialism and to Native peoples.
  • Don’t follow a specific formula or template. Modify the message for the event and purpose.
  • Take action. Land acknowledgment is merely a starting point for ongoing support of Indigenous communities.

Additional tips:

  • Reflect. Why am I doing this? What is my end goal? What will have the largest impact (think about timing and audience).
  • Research. Who are the indigenous people to whom the land belongs? What is their history? Are there living Indigenous people related to your work? What Indigenous place names and language can you include? Do you know the correct pronunciation of tribal places and individuals you are including?
  • Use proper language. Use present tense; Indigenous people are still here. Use terms like “stolen land” and “forced removal” to reflect actions of colonizers. Celebrate: Focus on the continued work of the Indigenous people, and the opportunity to empower that.