Whose Land Are You On?

USA Is Native Land.

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Background Knowledge

Map Credit: https://native-land.ca/

This bubble map shows the territorial homelands of hundreds of Indigenous communities across the United States.

1.) What do you notice about this map? 2.) How is this map different from other maps of the United States?

The United States of America is on Indigenous land that continues to be used by hundreds of Native American tribal communities. Indigenous Peoples make up culturally distinct communities that are native to an area that has since been settled by outside groups.

A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards (caretakers) of the land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Such a statement should be developed with input from the communities that are being acknowledged. Furthermore, a meaningful land acknowledgment should be just the first step in an ongoing relationship between organizations and Indigenous communities. Organizations seeking to develop a land acknowledgement should be prepared to continue conversations with Indigenous communities and support these communities in meaningful ways. 

1.) What are ways your school can support Native American communities? 2.) What makes a land acknowledgement meaningful?

Video: https://youtu.be/eZQldd3L0qw (Watch: 4:43 - 9:53 minutes) Video caption: “Watch "We Are All on Native Land: A Conversation about Land Acknowledgments" to learn what a land acknowledgment is, according to Field Museum staff and community collaborators that are helping develop the new Native North American exhibition at the Field Museum.”
"The land we stand on" Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL, also created a video to go along with their written land acknowledgment, which you can read in the next activity. Video Credit: Northwestern University, Multicultural Student Affairs.

Additional Resources

Explore a live version of this map! Look for the original communities of your school!