What are Land Acknowledgements and How Do We Make Them Meaningful?
Land acknowledgements have become increasingly common in recent years. As they become more common, so do questions about their purpose and usefulness. This FAQ explores land acknowledgements, concerns about the practice and ways to make them meaningful and respectful.
What is a land acknowledgement?
A land acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes Indigenous people as original stewards of the lands where an event or organization is located. You may have heard a land acknowledgement before a public meeting or performance or displayed on a website or publication. These statements typically name the tribes or nations who have lived on and cared for the land since time immemorial.
Are land acknowledgements a modern concept?
No. Land acknowledgments are a traditional custom that dates back centuries for many Native nations and communities.
The National Museum of the American Indian (NAMI) states on its website that, “Land acknowledgment is a traditional custom that dates back centuries for many Native nations and communities. For example, in Coast Salish communities along the Pacific Coast, another tribe or nation would ask permission to come ashore, thus acknowledging they were visitors to the lands.”
Tribal member announces arrival during Canoe Journey 2023.
What are some critiques about land acknowledgements?
According to the National Museum of the American Indian, “Acknowledging original Indigenous inhabitants is often complex because of the centuries of devastating displacement experienced by Native people through (broken) treaties, government policy, and relocation efforts.”
Many critiques of land acknowledgements center on the idea that if they are not linked to concrete action, they have little value, and can often do more harm than good.
In a 2024 Salish Current article, Mary Big Bull-Lewis, enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and chairwoman of the Indigenous Roots and Reparation Foundation, explained, “It has to be an actionable item. You’re recognizing that you’re on this land — so what are you doing? How are you creating a connection? How are you giving back?”
Questions like these highlight the importance of approaching land acknowledgements thoughtfully, respectfully and with a commitment to further action.
What is important to consider when crafting a land acknowledgement?
Land acknowledgments can be meaningful if they are constructed in a way that is respectful to the tribes that claim the land, accurately represents history and sets a path forward for rectifying the harm done to Native people.
You may find the following tips from the Native Governance Center helpful:
- Start with self-reflection.Before starting work on your land acknowledgment statement, reflect on the process: Why am I doing this land acknowledgment? What is my end goal?
- Do your homework. Take time to research the Indigenous people to whom the land belongs.
- Use appropriate language. Don’t sugarcoat the history of how land was stolen by colonizers.
- Use past, present, and future tenses.Indigenous people are still here, and they’re thriving.
- Take action. Land acknowledgement is just the starting point.
Not sure how to begin? Start by reaching out to individual tribes in the area to understand their perspective on land acknowledgements. You can find a map of tribes in Washington on our website.
What are some examples of a land acknowledgement?
- The Suquamish Tribe offers this approved statement for public use:
We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is within the ancestral territory of the suq ̀ʷabš “People of Clear Salt Water” (Suquamish People). Expert fisherman, canoe builders and basket weavers, the suq ̀ʷabš live in harmony with the lands and waterways along Washington’s Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here, the suq ̀ʷabš live and protect the land and waters of their ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855.
- Squaxin Island Tribe Council Chairman Kris Peters endorsed the following land acknowledgement for the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges:
As a step toward honoring truth and achieving healing and reconciliation, we open today by acknowledging the traditional territories of the Squaxin Island Tribe of the South Puget Sound.The people of the Squaxin Island Tribe lived and prospered along the shores of the southernmost inlets of the Salish Sea for untold centuries. We acknowledge throughout time immemorial, the people of the Squaxin Island Tribe’s strong cultural connection with water, and traditionally known as the People of the Water. Today, we honor the descendants of the Squaxin Island Tribe, the People of the Water, on which Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges office resides.While our colleges are distributed across many first people’s nations, we remain dedicated to opening our time together by honoring those that came before us.We know that such statements only become truly meaningful when coupled with authentic relationships and sustained commitment, and as such, we commit to continued efforts to build our collective understanding and action to foster authentic Tribal community connections.
- North Thurston Public Schools in Washington uses the following land acknowledgement at school board meetings, assemblies, and public events:We acknowledge that North Thurston Public Schools resides on the traditional lands of the Nisqually people. The Nisqually have lived on and cared for this land and these waterways since time immemorial. We make this acknowledgment to open a space of recognition, inclusion, and respect for our sovereign tribal partners and all indigenous students, families, and staff in our community.On the NTPS website, this acknowledgement is accompanied by note that the statement was developed in partnership with the Nisqually Tribe and is one of many ways NTPS partners with area tribes. Other partnerships include the Native Student Program and government-to-government partnership with the Nisqually Tribe.