​Native American Heritage Month - Land Acknowledgment: What is it? Why do it?

by Miriam Casey, Becoming Beloved Community Team and Diocesan Intercultural Ministries Commission

What is a land acknowledgment?

“Land acknowledgments are used by Native Peoples and non-Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live. Making a land acknowledgment should be motivated by genuine respect and support for Native Peoples. Speaking and hearing words of recognition is an important step in creating collaborative, accountable, continuous, and respectful relationships with Indigenous nations and communities.”(Source: National Museum of the American Indian)

The Episcopal Church and Indigenous Land Acknowledgements (Source: Episcopal Church Indigenous Ministries website)

At the 80th General Convention (2022), two resolutions were passed regarding the inclusion of Indigenous land acknowledgements in our corporate life and worship. Resolution C072 reads as follows:

Resolved, that The Episcopal Church commits to ensuring that all public gatherings and worship of The Episcopal Church, its boards, commissions, committees of the same, will, before the 81st General Convention, implement land acknowledgement liturgies and prayers to begin any public meetings or worship held in North America.

Resolution D019 reads as follows:

Resolved, that the 80th General Convention shall promote the acknowledgement of Indigenous Lands at all gatherings within the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (TEC) and its affiliate organizations.

In response to these resolutions, many congregations, dioceses, and other church groups and organizations have begun the practice of making land acknowledgements regarding the Indigenous tribal people who used to live on the land they currently occupy, and in some cases still do.

When implementing a land acknowledgement, it is important to be aware of their purpose.

A land acknowledgement is:

• Truth-telling about what happened in our homeland years ago and how it affects the way we live today.
• A recognition of the Indigenous tribal people whose home was the land we now occupy. By doing so we remember them and begin to ask questions about what happened to them and why.
• A confession of how our church contributed to, or was complicit in, the process of colonization of the Indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere. An admission that while we are not responsible for what our ancestors did in the past, we are responsible for what we do today, knowing that the colonization process is still in place, and the effects of it are still felt by Indigenous people.
• An invitation to right relationship with Indigenous tribal people, particularly if the people still reside in the region. A recognition that Indigenous people currently live in all areas of this country, even if we do not see them. They are still here.
• A call to stand with Indigenous people in their myriad struggles to recover from the effects of genocide and enforced assimilation into the dominant society.
• An honoring of Indigenous people for their resilience, faithfulness, wisdom, and respect for the Earth and all of creation. A call to us to learn from their example.

A land acknowledgement is NOT:

• A statement intended to make everyone feel guilty and ashamed.
• A one-and-done task that gets everyone “off the hook.”
• A solution, in and of itself, to the injustices of our world.
• An attempt to rationalize, justify, or dismiss what happened in the past.
• A call to vacate our homes and return overseas to the land of our ancestors.

In short, a land acknowledgement is the start of a process that is intended to lead to something more. This could result in any number of possibilities, with the overall objectives being a deepening of the awareness of Indigenous peoples and living in right relationship with humanity and all of creation.

When composing an acknowledgement, it is important to include:

• A general acknowledgement of the Indigenous peoples of the world who were victims of
  genocide and colonization.
• A specific acknowledgement of the local tribe(s) – say the names. An acknowledgement that the land we now occupy was once their home and it was taken away from them.
• An expression of remorse and a confession of our historic, collective responsibility for what happened to them, and our current responsibilities to systems of injustice and oppression.
• A statement of thanksgiving for the wisdom of Indigenous people and the good example they have given to all of us.
• An acknowledgement that we are all related.
• A pledge to live differently, in right relationship with all people and all of creation, asking for
  God’s help in the process.

Why would the Church of the Incarnation want to develop and adopt a land acknowledgment?

Very simply, a land acknowledgment is one important way that the Church of the Incarnation can express our Baptismal promises.

“Will you seek and serve Christ in all person, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”

Land acknowledgments express love for our Indigenous neighbors, an interest in supporting justice and peace with our Indigenous neighbors, and to respect their dignity. It is foundational to developing a meaningful, and a right relationship with them.

Our Baptismal promises call us to this.