Every time I hear a land acknowledgment…
Leading a land acknowledgement doesn't fix the systemic issues that are holding back Indigenous People. Action must flow from acknowledgment. Let’s talk about how to create a meaningful land acknowledgement that centers Indigenous Peoples.
This post was written by Wizipan Little Elk, our former CEO, and was initially published in April 2021.
About a year and half ago, a Lakota friend texted me saying he was attending a gathering at a prestigious university, and it began with an Indigenous land acknowledgement. "What’s that about?” he asked. I told him it was a practice that was popping up in the “woke” crowd. We both agreed it was a good practice, but that words without action are meaningless.
(Note for those unfamiliar with the practice: A land acknowledgement is a statement, often at the outset of a meeting or other gathering, that recognizes the Indigenous people who stake claim to the land and are the original caretakers and inhabitants of the land upon which the event is taking place.)
For centuries, the colonial tools of erasure and subjugation have been used against Indigenous people. In the United States those tactics have, at times, been explicit but often have been done under the guise of doing what’s best for Indigenous people (without consultation, of course). Many of the people who carried out some of the most damaging campaigns, such as “kill the Indian, save the man” forced assimilation policies through boarding schools, actually believed in their hearts that they were helping.
While the concepts of social justice have been around for centuries in Indigenous communities, the trend has risen to the surface of Western consciousness in recent years. More people are learning the true history of atrocities and genocide committed against Native people and the lingering effects. There are many kind-hearted people genuinely committed to making the world a better place for future generations, and to those people I caution against “empty activism.”
Just a decade ago, the practice of land acknowledgments would have seemed to risk the mass alienation of potential allies. After all, reminding people that the vast majority of North American wealth stems from stealing Native land and then enslaving African people to work that land can be a hard pill to swallow.
Despite the discomfort of addressing those realities, it’s not difficult to understand why land acknowledgements have become so prevalent: they’re immediate, easy, inexpensive, and signal virtues to the public and consumers.
I worry this trending practice may become an example of performative, empty activism: symbolic gestures that do not contribute to change in a meaningful way. Just as saying one supports women’s rights without promoting equal pay, or joining the equity chorus without appointing a board of directors that authentically represents the mosaic of American society ring hollow, so too does a land acknowledgement without action.
In fact, these empty gestures can be counterproductive. The individual who took the symbolic action may feel that they have done their part and are “off the hook” for committing to more difficult and time-consuming work that actually contributes to progress.
An additional risk associated with land acknowledgements is furthering the legacy of erasure by relegating Indigenous people to the past or caricaturing us uniquely as environmentalists. It’s true that land stewardship and a connection to the ecosystems in which we live is important to many Native cultures, but we are also doctors, lawyers, farmers, teachers, and storytellers.
One way to ensure that land acknowledgements remain a productive tool for equity is by encouraging action.
That is why I have made the personal commitment to challenge everyone who hears a land acknowledgment to donate at least one dollar to a Native-led organization. On Zoom conferences, I’ve become “that guy” who raises their hand or puts a comment in the chat section to make a statement after a land acknowledgement.
Action is especially important in addressing the inequities facing Native people in the US. Although we make up over 2% of the population, Indigenous causes receive just 23 cents out of every $100 of of philanthropic giving in the United States. Moreover, the latest data that we have on the wealth of Native people in the United States shows that for every $1 of wealth a white American holds a Native American has eight cents.
Leading a land acknowledgement doesn’t solve those issues. Action must flow from acknowledgement.
With that said, I recognize the role that land acknowledgements can play in educating and activating the general public. When done right, these statements highlight the fact that Native People are still here, contributing to society in meaningful ways, and continuing to fight for our rights that are guaranteed by the US Constitution. I’m not suggesting that we end land acknowledgments altogether but that we ensure they are coupled with a call to action -- preferably a financial contribution.
In order to make it easy for you to follow through on your commitment to action, we have created a donation page where you’ll find a quick guide on how to conduct a land acknowledgement, as well as a few organizations we believe are worthy of your support.
Or if you’re ready to make the commitment now, simply use this form:
