What is a Land Acknowledgment?

 "A 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.

To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. It is important to understand the long standing history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history. Land acknowledgments do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol."  https://www.northwestern.edu/native-american-and-indigenous-peoples/about/Land%20Acknowledgement.html

During this lunchtime meeting geared towards the literary teaching artist, but open to the public, we will hear from Osage poet Duane BigEagle, former CalPoets' Poet-Teacher, former Area Coordinator of Marin County and former President of the CalPoets' board of directors.   At this constructive, collaborative meeting, participants will be invited to learn, share, and ask questions about this practice - and then begin the process of formulating their own land acknowledgement reflecting their own geography and authenticity, if they so choose.

It is important to note that there is much to consider, in creating a land acknowledgement. Duane BigEagle says:  "Personally, I don’t recommend land acknowledgement unless you’ve done your research and you mean the words you’re saying. Native people (and all youth) have had enough of empty words."  On its own this practice is merely a starting point.  Homework and further action is required.  We've included some interesting links below that may help you begin to think about how you may start to employ this practice, in an authentic way.

Documents to download from Duane BigEagle:

Notes for Teachers on Native American Cultures

Basic Elements/Characteristics of Native Americans Cultures

Indian Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors, Together with Educational Considerations

Whose land are you on?  

https://native-land.ca/

https://ncidc.org/California_Indian_Pre-Contact_Tribal_Territories

Points to consider in preparing a land acknowledgement:  https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/are-you-planning-to-do-land.html

More points to consider in preparing a land acknowledgement:

https://apihtawikosisan.com/2016/09/beyond-territorial-acknowledgments/

More resources:

https://native-land.ca/resources/territory-acknowledgement/

https://nativegov.org/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/

Duane BigEagle is a member of the Northern California Osage Association and was born in Claremore, Oklahoma. He has taught creative writing since 1976 with the California Poets In The School program.  He has  taught in Native Studies programs at San Francisco State, Sonoma State, and presently teaches at College of Marin.  He has been awarded Artist in Residence grants from the California Arts Council and the Headlands Center for the Arts and has served on various local, state, and national grant and policy review panels for many agencies including the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. He has received several awards for poetry including the W. A. Gerbode Poetry Award in 1993. He is a founding Board Member of the American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland, CA., and has served as an educational reform consultant for many agencies including the Annenberg Institute for School Reform. Duane BigEagle is also a cultural activist, a traditional American Indian singer and an Osage Southern Straight traditional dancer.  He is former a President of the Board of California Poets in the Schools.