Making Land Acknowledgements in the University Setting Meaningful and Appropriate

Abstract

Land acknowledgments are one step that educators and institutions can take to begin realigning their relationship with Indigenous peoples. However, many fear doing more harm than good when taking the first step of doing a land acknowledgment. In this paper an instructor who overcame such hesitation and an Indigenous faculty member share a six item framework for land acknowledgments developed in collaboration with Indigenous students, colleagues, and community members that greatly increases the likelihood of doing good rather than harm when delivering a land acknowledgement. This article’s unique contribution is its specific framework and step-by-step instructions for creating an appropriate and meaningful land acknowledgement, using an example crafted for the authors’ institution to illustrate the process. It also suggests resources for learning about land acknowledgment that will be useful to people living on Indigenous lands around the world.