Land Acknowledgment
Meghan Esch, the author of this blog, would like to thank Zoe Reagan for the contributions and resources that she provided on this subject. Zoe is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. The information and resources listed are focused in North America, predominantly the United States, where HENSLEE HR is based.
What is Land Acknowledgment?
Land acknowledgement is the practice of identifying and honoring the Indigenous land that you occupy. Examples of the practice often include listing tribe names on websites, stating them in meetings, or participating in local events or social justice movements. When executed intentionally and respectfully, land acknowledgements celebrate Indigenous communities and their contributions while simultaneously recognizing the genocide that transpired when colonists laid claim of the land that is now called the United States.
A Brief History
Land acknowledgement is a fairly new practice in the US. Its origins trace back to Australia in the 1970s with the Aboriginal/Torres Strait people requesting permission to visit other tribal land. This resulted in a sort of welcoming ceremony that honored the native tribe and respectfully allowed the visiting people to move freely across the land. The practice wasn’t popularized as a method of acknowledgment amongst non-Indigenous people until 2015 with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. From Canada, land acknowledgements trickled down to the US.
Why Acknowledge Native Land?
For non-Indigenous people and companies, participating is both a call-to-action and a public recognition. This statement acknowledges that ownership and use of land in the United States was acquired using violent, genocidal tactics; displacement, destruction of food and water sources, disease, and forced removal and indoctrination of children. These tactics and their outcomes are broadly referred to as “colonization” and land acknowledgements are one way to participate in the act of “decolonization.”
Land acknowledgement should be used as a catalyst for change and as a tool for historical preservation. Many businesses fall short in this practice because they are eager to participate, but they fail to follow through with action. Before moving forward, take a moment to imagine yourself or your company publicly announcing the following statements:
“We want to honor and protect Indigenous culture and contributions to art, music, dance, food systems, and environmental stewardship.”
“We want to take the opportunity to specifically name and bring attention to individual tribes whose land was stolen through acts of genocide.”
“We recognize and acknowledge the discrimination and racism that still impacts Indigenous people. We support the celebration of Indigenous culture, we support land back initiatives for Indigenous people, and we fight for social justice for the racism, pay inequity, and cultural dismissal that thrives today.”
How To Respectfully and Proactively Participate in Land Acknowledgement
Participation in land acknowledgement is trending in the business world, however, participation without the foundation of education and a plan of action takes advantage of the true purpose of the practice.
So, as with all new endeavors, we begin with education! This involves research into the tribes who occupy or previously occupied your land. It also requires a change of perspective; think and act in the present tense. Yes, tragic acts of genocide occurred in the past, but racism and social, cultural and political neglect still exist and need action.
Let’s run through some best practices, next steps, and common pitfalls that companies can face while observing land acknowledgement:
Do your research and acknowledge your sources. There are many ways to find the names of the tribes who are or were the stewards of the land you occupy. Some cities or zip codes will have a record of several tribes. When checking your sources, look for answers to the following questions: What was their relationship? Have the original tribes been displaced or forcibly removed? Do you occupy the land of a confederated tribe, and, if so, who is that tribe built of?
Don’t rely on a single source of information, and always acknowledge the sources you use. Often, land maps or tribe location resources are run by Indigenous people, many of whom are volunteers. Consider donating to these organizations after you use their services.
Know how to pronounce the names of the tribes. Non-Indigenous participants of land acknowledgement must take responsibility if they choose to participate. Mispronouncing or stumbling through a tribe name at the beginning of a presentation, or copying a tribe name onto your website and forgetting it, is actively disrespectful. No one is expecting immediate perfection, and many online sources offer pronunciation guides that eliminate the guesswork. Do your part and commit these names to memory.
Have a discussion with your team. Decide how your company will participate. Think back to the initial considerations you took and make sure your team is up for the investment. As you navigate this space, consider the opinions and feelings of your Indigenous employees as well. Do your best to make this journey a safe and inclusive one for all.
Make a plan. Once your team is ready, get moving! If you decide to list tribes in meetings or on team bios, make sure everyone is prepared. Many teams occupy different lands across the country. Who is responsible for doing the research? How are you following up with your team about pronunciation or general education? What is your company doing to support Indigenous culture, social justice, land back initiatives and historical preservation beyond stating tribe names?
Follow through. However you decide to use land acknowledgement, don’t let it be forgotten. Have a plan in place for continued education and recurring donations. Set up new employees with the tools and resources they need to participate. While there are serious and uncomfortable things to acknowledge in this practice, it can and should also be an act of celebration! Indigenous people have contributed so much to art, food, conservation, and culture. Appreciating and supporting those contributions is another form of acknowledgment that can bring joy to your community and team.
What now?
Identify Whose Land You Occupy
Text: 907-312-5085
Decide If, Where and How You Share
Some companies acknowledge internally, some externally. However your company chooses to acknowledge, it should resonate as genuine and purposeful. Here are a few commonly used methods:
Website, email signatures and social media pages
Team bios on various internal and external platforms
Spoken aloud during meetings and events (internal and external)
Physical acknowledgments (plaque, statue, dedicated space, etc.)
Participation Ideas
Donate to Land Back Initiatives*
Partner with/purchase from Indigenous-ran businesses*
Attend and financially support Indigenous cultural events, such as art shows, dance and music performances, film festivals, etc.*
Donate to social justice initiatives*
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at your company (November).**
Honor Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
Start an Indigenous book or movie club***
Understand that this is an ongoing process. We are all here to learn and grow together!
Land Acknowledgement at HENSLEE HR
HENSLEE HR is a proud participant of land acknowledgment, though we must admit that our initial efforts were not well-executed. We jumped into the practice with minimal effort and limited education. This blog is a reflection of our own process, which began with self-evaluation and acceptance that we could do better. We hope that our personal experience of growth will inspire you to approach land acknowledgement with intention, openness and drive to inspire change.
Leslie Hensley, Lee Turner and Alanna Kamin are located in the Bay Area, occupying the Confederate Villages of Lisjan, Muwekma Ohlone and Ramaytush Ohlone land. Meghan Esch is located in Beaverton, OR, occupying Atfalati, Kalapuya, The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde land.
We have a list of resources, participation and donation options below.
As always, thank you for your time and remember to lead with heart 💗!
Resources
Guides and History of Land Acknowledgement
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Maps
Tribe Resources (specific to the members of HENSLEE)
Cultural & Social Justice Organizations *
Media ***
Reservation Dogs (personal recommendation from HENSLEE members Lee Turner and Meghan Esch)