Land Acknowledgement & Beyond by Miyazawa, Kaoru

Cove, Arizona Navajo Nation

miyazawa2 — 2023-03-17 18:24:12 UTC

There were more than 500 uranium mines in the Navajo Nation during the cold war. The U.S. government purchased the ore to make a nuclear weapon. Many people in the Navajo who worked in the mine and lived near the mines have been suffering from medical conditions due to uranium contamination. Navajo nation asked for compensation, but one-third of the mining companies have shut down or have run out of money. There are 160,000 abandoned hard rock mines, which continue to pollute the land.
Kaoru Miyazawa ( Miya) March 17th, 2023

I share this information because of my recent work on Hibakusha in Fukushima and their international network. Hibakusha, which initially referred to victims of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has never ceased to expand since 1945. It is not coincidental that these victims are in socially and geographically marginalized locations worldwide. In addition to Navajo Nations in the U.S., Bikini Atoll, Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, Three Mile Island in the U.S., Chornobyl in Ukrainian, and Fukushima, Japan, produced Hibakusha. These hibakushas, their land, and water have been susceptible to contamination for generations. Can you imagine that half year of Uranium235 is 700 million years? Is nuclear energy sustainable? Who is benefiting from atomic energy in the sacrifice of whose life, health, and land?

Indian Island, ME 04468, USA

kimberlympost — 2023-03-18 14:35:55 UTC

I live and work in Maine, which was tribal land long before white settlers arrived.

It first was stewarded by four Indigenous tribes: the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Micmac tribes.

Together, they fall under the umbrella of Wabanaki Nation.

More than 40 years ago, the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act was signed into law, but the conversations surrounding the Wabanaki Nation and its future are far from over.

*It's important to note that the question surrounding sovereignty and the future of the tribes remains unresolved.

In fact, some would like to see the act scrapped completely and instead have members of Wabanaki Nation and Maine officials go back to the drawing board.

"I believe that the Maine Settlement Act has locked us again into this paternalistic relationship with the state of Maine, a relationship that we don't want, we haven't wanted for a long time," Giourard said. "It didn't serve us well, you know, all the years leading up to the land claims, and so there's nothing that can convince me that anyone expected that to continue, and it's almost like the land claims kept us in shackles."

First Encounter Beach, Eastham, MA

2023-03-18 18:34:31 UTC

My name is Linda R. I pinned this site because of its place in our history and its place in my family's history. My family has a little cottage near this beach. It has become a refuge for our family and a very happy place. It is also the 1st place where my children learned about 'spin' as it relates to our relationship with Native Americas and their tribal lands. This beach is referred to as the site of the 1st Encounter between the native peoples and the Pilgrims. For years, it was told as an attack by the Native Americans upon the Pilgrims. Historical research has revealed that this was not the case; the Native Americans were not the aggressors. It is an important new lens through which to begin our course and to think about our history.

New London, CT, USA

2023-03-19 03:58:48 UTC

Jen Ryley Welsh

I work at a small college in New London, Connecticut, located directly on what is referred to as the Thames River. This name is used widely in the designation of streets and businesses throughout the city and is even used to name a significant program within our institution. The name of the river is a constant reminder of colonizing acts committed by white, European settlers and the ongoing legacy of their claims to land seized from indigenous people of the Pequot Nation, who have continuously occupied the land for over 10,000 years.

A recent bill proposed to the CT General Assembly to rename the Thames River to the Pequot River has both support and opposition among the local Mashantucket Pequot, Eastern Pequot, and Mohegan tribes. While there is historical precedent of the river being referred to as both the Mohegan and the Pequot, the names do not reflect the traditional indigenous references to the body of water. The Mohegan Tribe, which has historically referred to the river as the Massapequotuck, has called for further discussion to find agreement on a name that is respectful to both the Mohegan Tribe and Pequot Tribal Nation.

Agreement among the tribes is necessary for any forward movement of the bill in the state legislative process. This important dialog exemplifies the critical centering of native voices and the work being done regionally to honor the native experience.

Lynders, M. (2023, March 3). Proposal to rename the Thames River sparks debate among Connecticut tribes. CT Mirror. https://ctmirror.org/2023/03/03/ct-thames-river-rename-pequot-tribe-debate/

The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation. (n.d.). Tribal history. https://www.mptn-nsn.gov/tribalhistory.aspx

Deerfield, Massachusetts

2023-03-19 20:38:36 UTC

I grew up in various towns in Western Massachusetts, in Franklin County, which is Pocumtuc, Nipmuck, and Wabanaki land. One of the towns I lived in, Deerfield, is a museum of colonial American life that was famous for what is now called the Raid on Deerfield but was for many years called the "Deerfield Massacre," which occurred in February of 1704. How we talk about this incident, the words we use to describe the participants, people’s understandings of the reasons for the conflict, and even what we call Deerfield itself is evidence of how conflicted the stories are.

This history is personally uncomfortable for me as I can trace my family tree back to at least four of the prominent families that settled Deerfield in the 17th century and stole the land from the Pocumtuck people. I have been relieved to return to the museum and see the ways that they have worked to reframe the narratives and critically examine the way that the museum presents these events. For the 300th anniversary of 1704 the museum launched a website called The Raid on Deerfield: the Many Stories of 1704 (http://www.1704.deerfield.history.museum/home.do) which explores the many complications of the raid.

-Sadie Cora

St. Louis, MO

2023-03-19 22:56:37 UTC

In the summer of 2019, I visited the land of the Choctaw to see the Cahokia Mounds. There is an ancient "stone henge" astronomical observatory as well as huge mounds where over 20,000 people lived at one time (possibly ancestors to Choctaw, but known as Mississippian culture). This is one of the largest Indigenous complexes to ever exist in what is now known as the United States. It is relevant to my research because it highlights the general invisibility of great achievements and thriving civilizations of Native Americans (i.e.: the missing piece of Indigenous history) - Claudia

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, I-90 Frontage Rd, Crow Agency, MT

cfoxtree — 2023-03-19 23:10:55 UTC

In 2019, I went to the land of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and the Crow Nation. I took a class at Montana State University. It was about understanding the events at the Battle of Little Big Horn, which is situated in the middle of Crow Nation. The parking lot, museum, and national cemetery are owned by the U.S. (even though they are on someone else's land). Among other things, I learned about the importance of Indigenous oral traditions and the power of the dominant culture to tell a narrative and convince future generations of its validity, even though it is wrong. I also learned that research (in this case, archaeology) is a tool to right those wrongs and bring back Indigenous stories and voice - Claudia

Powell, WY

cfoxtree — 2023-03-19 23:21:36 UTC

When I went to the sites related to the Battle of Little Bighorn, we passed Heart Mountain. This is one of the many places American citizens were imprisoned by Executive Order 1066 issued by President Franklin Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. Over 100,000 American men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry were moved to "assembly centers" known as Internment Camps, but really Concentration Camps (Germany had Death Camps). Heart Mountain was open for 1,187 days, and 10,767 people were confined there. It is on Crow Nation and Northern Cheyenne land. Our oppressions are intersectional. - Claudia https://www.heartmountain.org/history/life-in-the-camp/#:~:text=On%20January%201%2C%201943%E2%80%93at,than%2014%2C000%20prisoners%20passed%20through.

Cole's Hill, Plymouth, MA

2023-03-19 23:40:49 UTC

Sue Flis
I spent my childhood between 2 households. One was on Massachusett/Wampanoag/Pokanoket/Patuxet land that I knew as East Bridgewater, Massachusetts and the other was on Massachusett/Wampanoag/Pokanoket/Patuxet land that I knew as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Growing up in this area, I was surrounded by monuments to the history we were taught in school. However, each year on Thanksgiving my father would bring me to the National Day of Mourning protest at Cole's Hill.

Mattapoisett, MA

2023-03-21 00:18:42 UTC

Swampscott, MA, USA

2023-03-21 02:34:12 UTC

Natalya Rakevich
Since I immigrated from Ukraine in 1999 I have lived in the North Shore area of Boston. Last 20 years I have lived in Swampscott MA.
Before colonizers settled in this area and called it Swampscott, it was called by Native people Naumkeags which means “at the red rock” in Algonquin Indian.
This area was inhabited by the Pawtucket group which was locally known as Naumkeags. The population in Naumkeag's area estimates between 50 to 100 individuals. Epidemics of 1617 - 1634 years, that were brought by Europeans depopulated the area. The Massachusetts Historical Commission analysis of the land in 1985 did not find the exact places where any Native American lived in Swampscott. The Massachusetts Historical Commission concluded that the area was populated since it had a lot of food. Native people hunted, fished, and raised plants, and collected shellfish and wild plants.
References:
https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/swampscott-reporter/2021/12/28/about-swampscott-were-there-native-american-villages-here/9034158002/
https://www.swampscottma.gov/about-swampscott/pages/history-swampscott

85C4VG99+8J

2023-06-13 23:41:05 UTC

I am Sarah Caligiuri (Western Shoshone) and I am an enrolled Tribal member of the Yomba Shoshone Tribe (YST). This pin is on the Yomba Shoshone Indian Reservation and is the precise location of my Zoho Bingadah great-grandfather's ranch. This is my traditional homeland. This is a photo of 2 Western Shoshone children learning how to play Iron Man during a School of Rock session that took place at the YST over winter break. The condition of this one-room school is beyond inadequate. There is no central heating, the floors and ceiling are water damaged, and many of the windows are cracked. Our space heaters were powerless against the high desert winter. This is the only place for children to learn indoors on the Yomba Shoshone Indian Reservation. The building is not suitable for children and overall, there is no capacity for the Tribe to offer educational services to their children. The Tribal community relies on a one-star rated school in Gabbs Nevada to provide their children with education. This is one of many events that inspired me to join this program. My goal is to provide Western Shoshone children with a safe and habitable K-12 boarding optional schoolhouse that includes Western Shoshone traditional teachings within its curriculum.

Nutter Fort, WV

2023-07-03 17:38:47 UTC

Steven Nutter

I grew up here. The history was always thin, but local history booklets give the account of: "Coming to America at an early date, Thomas Nutter first settled in Sussex County, Delaware, where his oldest son, Christopher, was born. They moved to Augusta County, Virginia, where the family remained until 1769, when they moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and in March 1772 the Nutter brothers, Thomas, Matthew and Christopher, came to Harrison County, where they built and defended the now-famous Nutter’s Fort."

"Forts" in this area of country, to my knowledge, were not military forts against another country, but settlements in native land, as a way of pushing westward the line of colonial movement.

There is an historical marker, and other text that says "A cross-cut saw carried over the mountains by Col. William Lowther from Winchester was used to build the fort. It was known as a “haven of security” for families during Indian raids and said to have been one of the strongest forts south of Fort Pitt [now Pittsburgh]. Settlers from as far away as Hacker’s Creek would come to seek refuge. The fort was used by the Virginia State Militia during Indian Conflicts from 1776-1780."

New York, USA

2023-07-03 21:05:36 UTC

The Canarsee (Canarse and Canarsie) were a group of people that occupied much of modern day Eastern Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens. Some accounts credit the Canarsee with the sale of Manhattan in 1609. Today, the neighborhood of Canarsie, Brooklyn continues to reflect some of the values and traditions that the Canarsee embodied.

North Providence, RI

2023-07-21 18:21:14 UTC

Narragansett Tribe was the primary Native American Tribe in my hometown. It can be seen in the names of the streets as well as the overall beauty of the walking paths and green spaces. Many days I have gotten lost in these woods in North Providence and surrounding communities. What I have learned from my friend who belongs to the Narragansett Tribe and helps support the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter is the importance of nature as a grounding and restorative practice. She would often say, "it is time to talk to the trees." An activity I heard 20 years ago that I still do to this day. It is her strong belief in nature that has been an important part of my life and my identity.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA

caitlinsullivan3 — 2023-07-21 19:21:10 UTC

I grew up in New York City but my father's family is from Massachusetts. One of my favorite places to visit when we came to see family was Plimoth Plantation. To see history living was such a powerful experience. The Wampanoag were the native people of the land before the settlers arrived from England. Their territory ran from Massachusetts to Rhode Island. As a child, I found the story of the Thanksgiving incredible and inspiring. It felt something of a loss when I learned that this image of happy communion between the English and 'Indian' was more fable than fact.

Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation, ME

2023-07-24 02:39:18 UTC

The Passamaquoddy Tribe has two reservations in Maine with separate tribal administrations, but some shared governance and services.
The Indian Township Reservation is the largest reservation in the state of Maine.
The Treaty of 1794 between the tribe and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts established the Indian Township Reservation. I visited the gorgeous Lewey Lake at Motahkomikuk and I could relate to my personal experience of how settler colonialism fails to recognize the cognitive and emotional complexities of people around us.

Easthampton, MA, USA

kvogel217 — 2023-09-10 18:53:19 UTC

I chose the land historically inhabited by the Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, and the Nonotuck tribes, in the area currently known as Easthampton, Massachusetts, where I live and walk frequently in the woods. These tribes engaged in semi-sedentary agriculture of maize, beans, and squash. They also hunted game and fished in the Connecticut River, which served as a major inland transportation route. The Oxbow is a large U-shaped bend in the Connecticut River that Native Americans likely used for transportation routes and fishing. The "Pascommuck Massacre" is the name of a 1704 battle in which Native Americans attacked the European settlement that was growing in this area, after thousands of years of occupation by indigenous tribes. As one historical account states: "A little before daylight the Indians attacked. The people surrendered, and all of the families were killed or taken prisoners." Many prominent buildings and street names commemorate the early European settlers of the area; there are very few (any?) markers of Native American tribes in this area where I live. -Kelly Vogel

Nashua, NH

2023-09-11 14:47:20 UTC

The Nashua, or sometimes referred as Nashaway, are an indigenous group of Western Abenaki peoples (Piotrowski 2003, 10). Nashaway means “river with a pebbled bottom” (Native American Heritage 2014). I am an avid kayaker and paddle on the Nashua River almost daily, imagining life when the water was clear and people fished and set up homes along the river.

Newtown, CT

2023-09-12 14:39:35 UTC

Bloomfield, CT

2023-09-14 22:09:23 UTC

The town where I grew up was originally the hunting grounds of three groups of the Algonquin tribe--the Massaco, Tunxis and Poquonock tribes. The appropriation and theft of lands by European settlers in this area occurred in the 1660s. I was interested to find an archive of agreements between European settlers and members of the Tunxis tribe at nativenortheastportal.com. Those documents, however tell a very one-sided story which has inspired me to keep researching to learn more.
Bex Wilusz

Coeur d'Alene, ID

2023-09-17 16:58:06 UTC

Spokane, WA area has many tribes in the surrounding area. Spokane is Salish for "children of the sun". The Couer d'Alene tribe is one that I have known about since I was little due to Couer d'Alene Lake being 30 minutes away, a place we went to almost every weekend. I included the link to their website which includes the story of how they proved tribal rights to the lake.

(64.33765125526271, -96.00193407113869)

2024-01-30 00:45:53 UTC

Inuit Peoples of Kivalliq Region in Canada's North. Population of this hamlet community is over 2000 residents. There are two schools that serve this community: The RAES School (elementary grades k-5) and JASS (high school grades 6-12). Each school teaches their Inuktituk language to students k-12. I chose this region as this the place that I not only work but also consider my second home. I love both the people and their culture too. It is a region rich in history and oral traditions with many Elders are our gatekeepers of this knowledge. My name is Kurt Donald and I teach high school Finance and Fine Arts to grades 10-12 students.

Black Mesa, Arizona

2024-03-06 19:54:23 UTC

I recently watched Broken Rainbow, a documentary about the forced relocation of Navajo after the 1974 Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act. I learned about this tragic relocation (and film) after reading Teaching for Tenderness, a book on embodied pedagogy and trauma-informed pedagogy in higher ed. The author, Becky Thompson, weaves together stories of tragedy, resilience, art, trauma, and activism. I found this film incredibly moving and important, and highly recommend it. (It's available to stream on Youtube.)

Nashua, NH

2024-03-19 01:40:04 UTC

The Nashaway (or Nashua or Weshacum) were an Algonquin tribe living in the Nashua Valley in what is now southern New Hampshire, where I live. The meaning of Nashaway is “river with a pebbled bottom,” which I learned when I was teaching my first-grade students about the river several years ago. Now I live close enough to kayak on the Nashua river most summer days. The river is very special to me, a place I go to find peace.

Fair Oaks, CA

2024-06-08 15:12:00 UTC

Nisenan People's Land

Chicopee, MA

2024-06-08 23:55:53 UTC

Where my great grandparent's families settle after arriving from Poland through Ellis Island. Where my grandparents built a house that I live in today on land that was once a series of trails that were traveled upon by the Nipmuc, Agawam, and Pocumtuc Indigenous people on their way to hunt, fish, visit, or battle.

I learned early in my life that Chicopee was an Indigenous name meaning violent waters in the Algonquian language, spoken by the Nipmuc. The chapter name of my high school's National Honor Society was Skipmuck; another tribute to the Nipmuc name of the area along the Chicopee River.

Washington D.C., DC

2024-06-10 00:11:10 UTC

I work and teach in the public school system of Washington, DC. This land originally was the land of the Nacotchtank tribe. Other nearby tribes in MD and VA included: Piscataway, Pamunkey, and the Rappahannock tribes. Specifically, there was a Nacotchtank village in what is now known as Capitol Hill--where the US Capitol sits. The tribe originally chose this area as it sits near a branch of the river which was vital in trading and communication. Now, it's a place in which trading in a "dialogue form"-- trading of ideas and law-making now happens. I wonder how many of our representatives and politicians know of this history and acknowledge the original habitants of this land.

-Kimberly Gower

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

2024-06-20 01:42:05 UTC

I am from a town now known as Easton, MA, but I grew up around all the neighboring towns of Southern Massachusetts and Eastern Rhode Island - all lands historically inhabited by the Wampanoag Tribe.

The Wampanoag tribe is not new to me as some of their history, culture, and language were embedded in my elementary education. For instance, it was interesting to learn that modern-day American English uses some Native American words, such as “Powwow”. We use the word to describe a discussion amongst friends. However, “Powwow” is much more meaningful; it is the Algonquin word for the celebration of Native American culture through dancing, drumming, games, food, and art. The Powwow is celebrated all across the nation by many tribes. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (a sub-tribe of the Wampanoag Tribe, located near my hometown), has inhabited these lands for over 12,000 years. Currently, The Mashpee Tribe has approximately 3,200 enrolled citizens and has had 320 acres of land restored to full tribal sovereignty rights. This July they are celebrating The 103rd Annual Powwow!

Their website (linked above) provides more information about their history, culture, current news and events.

-Evgeniya (Jenny) Stakeva

South Yarmouth, Yarmouth, MA

poirot88 — 2024-06-23 17:54:19 UTC

History of the local Wampanoag tribes in South Yarmouth, MA.

I spend time with relatives there who are descendants of a Quaker family called Kelly and who are currently members of Quaker meeting. I am especially interested in Elizabeth Pollard, who is an ancestor, and in her establishment of a hospital for the local tribes during a smallpox outbreak.

Hilary Kissel

Narragansett, RI

lwillia2_4 — 2024-06-25 13:32:14 UTC

I have worked with a couple that are a part of the Narragansett tribe. They are some of the best story tellers and preservers of their history I know. I love it!

Siliguri, West Bengal, India

priyankasaha01 — 2024-06-26 06:39:24 UTC

I grew up in this small town of the Indian subcontinent, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. Currently, a part of the State of West Bengal, this town is referred as the ‘Gateway to the Northeast India’ and jostling with business activities, primarily because of its proximity to four different countries (China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh). However, this land belongs to indigenous people from multi-cultural tribes. We can trace back its origin to a small agricultural village in the Kingdom of Sikkim (circa 1700), until it was captured by the Kingdom of Nepal in 1788, following which the Kiratis and Lepchas started inhabiting the land. The town went through drastic changes over the course of the next few centuries as the British East India Company exploited the lands for various trade purposes, particularly for establishing tea production and distribution network. After the country gained independence in 1947, a new wave of immigrants started migrating to this land from adjoining regions in search of livelihood and resources. My maternal and paternal great-grandparents were among the first-generation immigrants of this town as they migrated from Nepal and Bangladesh, respectively. In this exercise, I would like to acknowledge my ancestors, who managed to preserve our cultural heritage even when the land was occupied by several aggressors over the years. At the same time, they embraced and assimilated newer cultures as they welcomed in newer tribes.

Aranya, Hebei Province,China

tianatian1001 — 2024-07-01 22:53:33 UTC

China is an ancient country with a history spanning over 5,000 years. It has 56 ethnic groups and the population over 1.4 billion. Each ethnic group has its own unique cultural customs.

I was grown up in a county in northern China, which was the capital of the Guzhu Kingdom during the Shang Dynasty from 1600 BC to 600 BC. There is city wall ruins around the old town centre. There are many battles happened there, An Old Horse Knows the Way, this proverbs originate from here.

This region experiences four distinct seasons, like MA. The main crops include corn, sweet potatoes, and wheat.

An hour away from my hometown, community called Aranya, a dream community and seaside resort town, which is particularly favored by the middle class from Beijing city. During the summer vacation and special holiday, more than 10,000 people from Beijing will visit this place daily for leisure and relaxation, not only for the beautiful sea, tasty canteen, but the architectures with a sense of design, a wealth of creative activities.

Tiana Tian

Lincoln, MA

2024-07-12 00:51:49 UTC

Lincoln, MA sits on the unceded land of the Nipmuc people.

Chinle, AZ

tmanke2 — 2024-07-12 19:31:44 UTC

The following information was provided via a Google search about this area. I think it is useful for those who don't know about the area.

"Chinle is the third largest community on the Navajo Nation. Chinle is a very rural and secluded community within the Navajo Nation. The town is known mostly for the Canyon De Chelly National Park which brings a lot of tourists.

In the Spanish colonial period, Chinle was a base for both trade and war. After the acquisition of this area by the United States following the Mexican–American War, relations between the peoples deteriorated in the 1860s."

This area is important to me as I lived here for a year when I was 10 years old and in the 6th grade. I attended the public school, being one of two caucasian students in the whole school. I learned a lot during this time about myself and my peers. I saw what life was like living on a reservation, though I was just a guest. I was lucky to make good friends during this time and see the beauty of the people and their traditions. I also saw the economic hardship many of them faced and felt the isolation of the area. This was over 30 years ago, and things may have changed since this time.

2024-07-12 20:31:35 UTC

Land Acknowledgement & Beyond This is a space for you to share what you recently learned about Indigenous (Native American Indian) people, their community, cultures, and events that took place in a specific place. I encourage you to choose a topic that is related to your personal life (e.g., where you lived or visited) or your research topic. Pin the information on the map. Include the name of the tribal nation, a description of the event, and your name on the note. 2 2 2 2

Springfield, MO

2024-07-16 19:35:19 UTC

I completed my college education in the Ozarks, which is the land of the Osage, Kickapoo, and Delaware tribes. I hope to go back some day and take time to learn more about the tribe's way of life and appreciate their land from a different perspective.

Nelvi

Cherokee, NC

katjaard — 2024-07-18 23:56:33 UTC

My former college friend is from the Eastern band of Cherokee, from Cherokee North Carolina. We attended Eastern Washington University together years ago. Her mother, also a college peer and a friend, was from Yakima, but her father was Cherokee. We spent a lot of time together, hanging out and attending Pow Wows. She eventually resettled on her father's land in Cherokee. I remember once in my undergraduate class when I asked why the tribes had not been given credit for the system of democracy in the US, but got no answer. I had always had an interest in history and had read how the 6 Nations Confederacy, particularly the Iroquois Great Law of Peace had helped shaped our democracy, but that was never taught in school. I was fortunate to be able to spend time on her mother's reservation in Yakima, WA and also in some events in Spokane, WA.

Katja

Elko, NV

2024-10-29 23:49:03 UTC

Sarah Caligiuri

I am privileged to serve on the Noowuh (Western Shoshone) Knowledge Center Board of Directors. One of my responsibilities is facilitating the Ruby Valley Conference committee.

Last month, in September 2024, I organized, with other Western Shoshone leaders, the 4th Annual Ruby Valley Treaty Conference for the Noowuh Knowledge Center. Noowuh Knowledge Center is an educational and cultural Tribal non-profit organization founded and organized by Western Shoshones. The Ruby Valley Treaty conference is a three-day conference. This year's theme was "Calling Our People Home, Healing the Land, Healing Ourselves." The conference included speakers, workshops, and healing sessions. While the conference is located in Elko Nevada, Noowuh Segobia, the traditional homelands of the Western Shoshone, the conference included all of the Western Shoshone community.

Table Bluff Reservation, Loleta, CA

2024-10-30 00:01:40 UTC

Sarah Caligiuri

I just learned about this "outlaw country" song written about Humboldt County California and it gives a great acknowledgment of land. It includes collaboration and participation with Wiyot Table Bluff Tribal members. I wanted to share because this song is new to me and it demonstrates how a land acknowledgment and recognition of Indigenous Peoples can be in the form of a song while Brett McFarland retains his own voice and method. This is related to my personal life because I lived in Humboldt County for six years and I worked with the Wiyot Peoples at Table Bluff. I know several people in the video including the songwriter and videographer Brett McFarland.

Mashpee, MA

miyazawa2 — 2025-03-18 14:08:11 UTC

Mukayuhsak Weekuw (The Children’s House) is a private langaueg immersion school in Cape Cod MA established in 2016. The school use the Wôpanâak language to teach subject content knowledge their schools. The school operates according to core practiced based in Tribal values and knowledge elicited by elders, medicine people, clan mothers, and community leaders.

Wampanoag Language is one of the more than three dozen languages belonging to the Algonquian languaeg family. Through the colonization and displaement, the Wampanoag language was ceased in the middle of the 1800s and had not been spoken over 150 years. In 1993 Jessie ilttle doe baird, who earned a degree in Algonquian LInguistics from MIT started Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project to restore the wampanoag Language. The Mukayuhsak Weekuw's was an extension of this project.

Through this program, the tribe restoring its langauge in Mashpee Wampanoag welcomed its first cohort of students in 2016.

New York, NY

2025-03-18 21:43:35 UTC

Las Vegas, NV

2025-03-18 21:47:03 UTC

I am in the process of launching a non-profit organization that will work in tandem with my dissertation research. The Tribal-led organization is called Healing Education and Land Restoration Project (HEALR Project). It focuses on healing education for Tribal students, prioritizing a decolonized approach to education. Our location is based in Las Vegas Nevada.

Chicago, IL

2025-06-10 13:55:54 UTC

I grew up in the Chicago area and can remember very vaguely a mention of the Potawatomi, despite the street names in my neighborhood all bearing indigenous names (Cree, Hopi, Shabonee, Wa Pella...) Today as I do my initial research on my ancestral home, I recognize that what we call Chicago sits at the intersection of three different tribes, the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. The three nations are a part of the Ashinaabe, also known as the Council of Three Fires.

-Elena Snow

Nantucket, MA & the Wampanoag People

2025-06-25 18:13:29 UTC

I grew up on Cape Cod and as a child, was no stranger to learning about the Indigenous people, their communities, and cultures. However, I found that very soon out of elementary school, we stopped these conversations completely.

Spending my summers on Nantucket, I noticed the language used to describe my location on the island is entirely derived from the Indigenous people, and was quite pleased to see that on all corners of the island, these names remain relevant. I decided to look a bit deeper into the preservation and appreciation of the Wampanoag people specifically as it relates to Nantucket Island.

I have attached a link to the NHA (Nantucket Historical Association) with additional information. https://nha.org/research/nantucket-history/history-topic/native-peoples/

Waltham, MA

ryanhablitz01 — 2025-07-10 14:41:20 UTC

I currently live in Waltham, Ma and live close to Brandeis University. I am familiar of universities recognizing Indigenous people with Land acknowledgements and my school that I work at also does as well. The school that I worked at would bring in Indigenous speakers and advocates to share their experiences with faculty and students. One of my family members goes to Brandeis University and I remember him telling speaking about what he learned, such as the land at the university was shared among the Massachusett people, which includes four tribes: the Mattakeeset, Natick, Ponkapoag and Namasket. My family member shared with me an old article from Brandeis sharing that Brandeis was on sacred land for Indigenous people. I believe that remembering and acknowledging the land that we are on is important to recognize what happened with colonialism and the people that were impacted.

Here is the link to the university news article in Waltham,MA.

https://brandeishoot.com/2018/11/09/brandeis-land-had-significance-to-indigenous-peoples/

-Ryan Hablitz