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. During the past several months, a group of faculty, students and administrators have collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. By clicking on each plotted point, you can access basic Land Acknowledgement data: -The Institution's/Entity's Name. 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. Thank you for your interest in the Duwamish Tribe! Challenge Detroit 2023-2024 Fellowship Job Opportunity, MSU College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (CANR), MSU in the 313 Pre College Summer Experience Scholarship, UOE Lunch and Learn - Native American Institute, James Madison College - Black History Month symposium, Subscribe to get information about our events and activities by e-mail. By clicking on each plotted point, you can access basic Land Acknowledgement data: -The Institution's/Entity's Name. As big of a step as the land acknowledgement is, its a foundational step that the committee wants to see built upon. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. We want to acknowledge the history and land, and honour the Indigenous people who continue to love this land here in Waawiyatanong (Detroit, Michigan). So for this issue, we begin by doing a territory acknowledgement for the place from which the magazine comes. 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. As a community, we recognize that this is the ancestral land of the Three Fires Confederacy, the Ojibwa, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot nations. With such emphasis and weight behind each individual word, Knutson referred to the multi-year writing process as the most intense work with language that shed ever done. Peiser expanded on this point and the groups mentality while crafting the language. 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. A shortened land acknowledgement can also be used for email signatures. Can you help us research? she says. 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. 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 pledge to elevate our ways of knowing to better reflect the sustainable practices and peaceful coexistence that has allowed our beloved university to thrive. This statement can be used as is or if you can find ways to connect it to your specific field of study you may do so. 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. In an era of reconciliation, they're political statements meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis territory, however many Indigenous people argue they've grown to become superficial, performative and problematic. 8. 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. Deel-McKenzie says a land acknowledgment should be seen as a first step one that must be followed by a call to action. We didnt want a watered-down generic statement thats more harmful than not having one at all.. Its not about your statement being correct. Its not about performance either. We promise to do a better job in the future, says Lambert, who is an enrolled citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Together, Oakland University faculty, students and administrators collaborated to draft the Land Acknowledgement Statement. By officially enacting the acknowledgement on May 5, OU joins anumber of public institutions across the country in this step toward the inclusion of Indigenous communities. 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 So for this issue, we begin by doing a territory acknowledgement for the place from which the magazine comes. I think that Indians would say, We want the land back.. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone 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 Required fields are marked *, The people behind OUs Land Acknowledgement Statement, Sault Sainte Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians, American Indian Health and Family Services. Giving a land acknowledgement requires research and reflection to understand the historical and contemporary Indigenous communities having a relationship with the land. Heres why some take issue with land acknowledgments and what they say needs to happen for real repair and reconciliation to occur. 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. Learning the importance of honoring and acknowledging the land on which you live, work and play. This map represents the location and geographic spread of the entities analyzed through the survey. Eds. 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 350 Estate Drive The land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan. 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. 2023 Indigenous Land and Territorial Acknowledgements for Institutions, Indigenous Land and Territorial Acknowledgements for Institutions. 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 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. Universities around the state and country have issued similar land acknowledgement statements. That also means taking the time to research specific names of nations rather than sweeping generalizations, and being cautious of subtext. 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. So for this issue, we begin by doing a territory acknowledgement for the place from which the magazine comes. Deel-McKenzie says a land acknowledgment should be seen as a first step one that must be followed by a call to action. Land acknowledgments are generally meant to acknowledge the Indigenous history of the land one is on. 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. By recognizing the ways that settler-colonial institutions benefit from these interconnected histories, we work to hold the University accountable. ), Ashleigh Dubie (Cherokee, English/STEP, student), Megan Peiser (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Asst. Wed like to extend special appreciation to Andrea Knutson (Assoc. Administrative adjustments made to the land acknowledge document were mainly to make the statement more specific to OU. 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). There are hundreds of Indigenous communities across the United States. 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. 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. This is important when extending and personalizing a given acknowledgment statement. 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 land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan.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. I could see that people are just copying and pasting this stuff without really looking into the details, Necefer tells CNN. It comes across as a very painful denial of exactly what happened.. 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. An NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks opens with a land acknowledgment shown on the scoreboard. And once you start getting together, you can start making things happen., Positive space: Singer, actress Kennedy Vernengo, How students are celebrating Valentines Day. With that bigger picture in mind, this core four of Knutson, Peiser, Rajaee and Dubie continued the delicate work of drafting the statement. We were absolutely committed to making sure that the land acknowledgement didnt devolve into just rhetoric.. 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. 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. -Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, Ontario, Canada. We recognize that Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. 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. 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. What's wrong with land acknowledgments, and how to make them better | CBC News Loaded. In addition to normal employment and family obligations, Indigenous people are working to heal their traumas, learn their languages, and support their nations. "Not just saying that we're scoring a brownie point on our Truth andReconciliation Commission report card. By clicking on each plotted point, you can access basic Land Acknowledgement data: Jeff Thomas, Editor-in-ChiefJune 30, 2021. In AIIS, we push Michigan State University to recruit, retain, and support American Indian and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. 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. If you are a member of the Duwamish Tribe, please visit our Membership page to subscribe to a separate list. The university resides on land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.. In an era of reconciliation, land acknowledgments are meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit and Mtis territory, but many Indigenous people argue theyve grown to become superficial, performative and problematic. We had a lot of inquiries from non-Native people saying, Hey, were wanting to do a land acknowledgement: Can you read this? The land was ceded in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit and makes up southeast Michigan. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor and makevisible the universitys relationship to Native peoples. -The Institution Type 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. It had to go slowly. Rochester , That process of transferring control from the Indians to the non-Indians was fraught with conflict, it was violent, it involved murder in some cases and extreme pain, he says. But the map only includes the names of those tribes, without the history or context around potentially contested claims to the land. The statement also serves as a reminder to connect with those people groups in tangible ways. We acknowledge that this land was colonized via the Treaty of Detroit in 1807. Including Mead, It may be dreary out today, but it won't be long b, A Servants Life: Special Downton Abbey Tour. oakland university school of health sciences. WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. The land acknowledgement passed through the OU Senate on Feb. 18, and was presented to the Board of Trustees on Apr. The statement serves as a reminder that the land we occupy is stolen and that we should honor the WebA Land Acknowledgement is a statement recognizing the people groups who originally stewarded the land prior to its colonization. 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. This statement serves as both a reminder and a call to action to promote practices and policies that bring about equity and advancement for all people on our campus, in our community, and the world. The exercise felt uncomfortable and awkward, Necefer wrote in Outside magazine. Despite the problems with land acknowledgments, George wants people to continue making them. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), as well as other Indigenous people and historic tribes in Michigan (Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, Mackinac Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, and Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes), across Turtle Island, and throughout the Fourth World. Thats often how it can come off.. 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. Oakland needs to step up with money and real resources, Peiser said. 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 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. 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. 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. "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. We recognize that settler and Indigenous signatories understood the terms of the treaties in starkly different terms. WebThe purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. 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. 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. WebResource Map - Land Acknowledgements. But despite the flaws in some land acknowledgments, he and others say they arent suggesting that the practice be done away with altogether. Stay in touch with whats happening at Meadow Brook Hall by signing up for our e-newsletter. (Native Lands Digital, which did not immediately respond to questions from CNN, says in a disclaimer on the site that the map is not perfect and is a work in progress.) Eds. You just are on the land of these peoples," she said. There was no draft that was signed off on without it going back to our committee, Knutson said. WebWe recognize that Land Acknowledgements must be preceded and followed with ongoing and unwavering commitments to American Indian and Indigenous communities. 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 about the action that needs to happen.. 312 Meadow Brook Rd Right now the administration is working on completing and expanding those goals. Build real, authentic relationships with Indigenous people. Interactions between the two sides during negotiations were collaborative and respectful. It had to emerge out of conversations with native communities, Knutson said. 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