Land Acknowledgement.
I acknowledge my residence on Očhéthi Šakówiŋ lands, where territories of the Yanktoni (Nakota) and Mdewakanton (Dakota) bands overlap.
This land was cleared for settler use through Cession 445 (indicated in map, right). As the adult child of at least five generations of settler-farmers to occupy this land, I recognize that my success and security have come as a direct result of the indigenous peoples’ expulsion from this same land we farm for profit.
We have a responsibility to the land and to the people to do better when we know better.
Acknowledgement and recognition are first steps.
Further steps (for me) include:
Supporting Indigenous and First Nations’ small businesses and artists
Seeking further education on current issues in Indigenous and First Nations’ communities
Paying forward a portion of each art sale to Lakota/Dakota/Nakota programs and projects
Ex: Medicine for our Elders, Language Immersion programs, water protector bail funds
Further steps (for you) may include:
Learning about the territory where you reside
Seeking further education on current issues in Indigenous and First Nations’ communities
Working to eliminate indigenous mascots in your schools/communities
Reading one of these Best Books by or about Native people
This land acknowledgement was written with guidance and information from native-land.ca and the blog post “Are you planning to do a Land Acknowledgement?” from American Indians in Children’s Literature. The treaty map was accessed from the Library of Congress. This information was accessed and updated in March 2022.