Land Acknowledgement
"We acknowledge with gratitude that the meeting place of California State University, Bakersfield is the traditional territory of the Kitanemuk (Ki-ta-ne-muk) people of the Tejon Tribe, a place their nation has called home, since time immemorial.
After the Tejon Tribal leaders worked for over 15 years petitioning the federal government for recognition, the Tribe finally received Tribal re-affirmation in January 2012 which reaffirmed the Tribes status as a federally-recognized sovereign Indian nation with an established government to government relationship with the United States of America.
The land on which we gather today, and its surrounding areas are still home to many indigenous communities. We are grateful for all the indigenous people who continue to care for and remain interconnected with this land. We promise to be conscientious stewards of this land for the future generations."
What Is a Land Acknowledgement?
A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects the indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of this land, the enduring relationship that exists between indigenous peoples and their traditional lands. This is an act of conciliation that makes a statement recognizing the traditional land of the indigenous people who have called and still call the land home before and after the arrival of settlers.
Why Do We Recognize the Land?
To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose homelands you reside on and a recognition of the original people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. It is important to realize the longstanding history that has brought you to reside on the lands and to seek to appreciate your place within that history. Land acknowledgements do not exist in past tense or outside historical context. Colonialism is an ongoing process and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. The use of a land acknowledgement statement also encourages individuals to think about what it means to occupy space on indigenous lands.
The acknowledgment of indigenous lands ultimately provides exposure and a learning opportunity for individuals who may have never heard the names of the tribes that have and continue to live and learn from the land they are standing on. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is indigenous/tribal protocol and the practice establishes a respectful routine and habit of supporting reconciliation.
Acknowledging the land is a transformative act that works to undo the intentional erasure of indigenous peoples is the first step in decolonizing land relations.
Responsibility: Important Things to Know About Acknowledgement
Why
The way acknowledgment is delivered matters. It should not be a formulaic recitation. It is important to understand that the land was not given away to settlers. This is unceded land and this requires respect in the acknowledgement at the very least.
A land acknowledgment is not something you “just do” before an event. Rather it is a reflective process in which you build mindfulness and intention before walking into whatever gathering you are having.
How
- The person giving the acknowledgement should be the host of the event or meeting themselves. However, we encourage that the group collectively read aloud together the land acknowledgement, when possible.
- Include a formal thank you to the host nation whenever making a presentation or holding
a meeting, whether or not indigenous individuals are part of the meeting or gathering.
- Be respectful and practice saying the name out loud.
When
- The opening of each campus video
- First day of class
- Before a special meeting or event
- Campus-wide events
- Graduation
- Academic Senate
- Sporting events
- ASI events
Email Signature
"We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory and homelands of the Kitanemuk people.”