Land Acknowledgement
"We are gathered on the unceded land of the Comanche, Hueco, Tawakoni, and Wichita peoples. I ask you to join me in acknowledging these Tribes, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. [Insert Department/Organization Name] also acknowledges that it was founded upon exclusions and erasures of many Indigenous peoples, including those on whose land this institution is located. This acknowledgment demonstrates a commitment to beginning the process of working to dismantle the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism and work towards God’s justice for all people."
What is the purpose of a Land Acknowledgement?
A land acknowledgment recognizes and respects the relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their ancestral and contemporary territories. Additionally, land acknowledgments provide us with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and systems of oppression on Indigenous Peoples. Land acknowledgments do not exist in a historical context or past tense. It is vital to understand the long-standing history that brought us to reside on the land and to seek to understand our place within that history.
How do I use the Land Acknowledgement?
A Land Acknowledgement Statement can be read aloud or distributed by anyone who wishes to use it -- at CAE Events or meetings -- on University property.
How do I pronounce these names
Comanche (kuh·man·chee)
Hueco (way-co)
Tawakoni (taa·wuh·kaa·nee)
Wichita (wi·chuh·taa)
Who created this Land Acknowledgment?
Our partners in the Department of Theatre Arts worked to create this land acknowledgment that rightfully recognizes the history of the Native peoples territories. They graciously agreed to let us use their statement while Baylor University develops its own Land Acknowledgment Statement. It is important to our office to work with our partners and the University to continue the efforts of educating our campus on the value of diversity and inclusion.