How White People Can Go Beyond Land Acknowledgment To Support Indigenous People
Recently I attended an online seed library workshop. Before the keynote speaker began her talk, she recited a land acknowledgment. Her beautiful words began my search to better understand how to support Indigenous people.
NOTE: The image at the top of the post is the art installation “Never Forget” by Nicholas Galanin, a Tlingit and Unangax̂ artist and musician. It was created as a call to action for return of Native lands.
What is a Land Acknowledgment?
Land acknowledgments are not new. They are just new to non-native people. They are an Indigenous people’s practice of gratitude to their homeland, recognizing its original stewards.
Why Acknowledge the Land?
Land acknowledgments help us appreciate the history of our home. Recognizing the land brings awareness of its history and, potentially, behavior change.
The land you live on has likely been colonized, and the original people displaced. A land acknowledgment reminds us of that history. Hopefully, you will develop an awareness of your place in that history. Governments committed terrible acts of violence against Indigenous peoples. And along the way, colonizers have appropriated the indigenous culture. Awareness can bring change.
Want to do a Land Acknowledgement?
You may choose to incorporate this practice when you become aware of land acknowledgment, its sense of appreciation, gratitude, and reminder of the past. Before you do, consider the wishes of the local Indigenous community. What is their wish for acknowledgment? What changes do they wish for? Include their call to action in your statement.
And if they are supportive, don’t make them do the work to educate you and to create the statement. You can find templates online.
Some indigenous people believe a land acknowledgment should include an action plan with reparations. I’ve included excerpts from a statement to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from The Abiayala Sovereign Nations Citizens’ Collective (ASNCC.)
“The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) was chartered in 1789 as an institution designed to educate and further the careers of White men. It was founded with the intent of promoting the expansion of White supremacy and settler colonialism in North Carolina and in the rest of the newly created United States of America…UNC reaped significant profits — profits that are worth, with interest, an estimated $7 billion in 2021 — from stolen Chickasaw and Cherokee lands that together total more than 200,000 acres…We further acknowledge that UNC must proactively undertake actions to redress this illegitimately acquired land and labor that was crucial to the establishment and continued operation of this University. To this end, we call upon UNC to support three initiatives…”
If you can, read the full statement.
The American Anthropological Association has paused its land acknowledgments at the suggestion of Indigenous people. Instead, they created a task force to study the impact of their work on Indigenous peoples, such as how they have reinforced stereotypes and ignored the true owners of the land.
What Can White People Do to Support Indigenous People?
If you want to go beyond a land acknowledgment, here are ways to support Indigenous people.
Find the Native Land Where You Reside
Land acknowledgments are becoming more common. Enough that I have updated my Zoom name with an acknowledgment of the land where I live.
To find out the original inhabitants of your land, text your zip code to Native Lands at 907–312–5085. You’ll get a text back. Mine read:
“You are on Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Miccosukee.”
Explore the History
Read about the history in your area. Make sure to choose sites run by Indigenous people so you hear the history in their voices.
When I researched my area I had to go past about ten sites from non-Indigenous sources to get one from those with the lived experience. What I learned was fascinating and sobering.
The Yuchi people have claim as the original inhabitants of the land, and the Tennessee state name is from the Yuchi language and means meeting place, likely related to both river confluence and trading places. But the Yuchi suffered from diseases brought by Europeans and from war with the Cherokees. They eventually allied with the Miccosukee (Creek Nation) and are not recognized by the US Government. The Indian Wars scattered some Creeks westward, but many went to Florida.
In my area, the government forced 16,000 members of the Cherokee nation to what is now Oklahoma. Over 4000 people died in the terrible ‘Trail of Tears.’ The path is now a National Historic Trail that spans 9 nines states and keeps the story of this injustice alive. Today, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and Memorial are near me. The Museum and nearby Cherokee Memorial are owned and run by the Cherokee Nation.
Create an Action Plan
Hat tip to NativeGov.org for their excellent Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.
Decide what you can do and take steps to make it happen. Here are ideas:
- Set a recurring donation to support the efforts to reclaim the land. One way to do this is a voluntary land tax, a sort of ‘rent’ that goes toward resources Indigenous people need.
- If you are a landowner, you can return a portion or all to Indigenous people. Either now or in your estate.
- Buy from native-owned businesses.
- Join legislative efforts like protests or rallies. An example is the effort at Standing Rock to stop pipelines from going through sacred land.
In my seed-saving workshop, I was struck by the presentation by Sterling Johnson and Nina Sajovec, Co-Executive Directors of the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Tohono O’odham Nation. They asked that we acknowledge the originator of the seeds. But also strive not to profit from the seeds. And to share the stories of the seed: how they grow, when is the best time to harvest, and how to select seeds.
I want to share a seed story from my area. When the Cherokee band was forcibly removed from their land, they kept their seeds. Stashed in a pocket or sewn into the hem of clothes. The Trail of Tears pole bean is one of these varieties and is available at the nonprofit Seed Savers Exchange.
I received some of the lovely seeds at a seed swap. The seed pod is green, but the bean is a beautiful glossy black. After harvest this year, I will donate to my local seed library and share this story on the seed packet.
