How to Make a Land Acknowledgement
Learning the importance of honoring and acknowledging the land on which you live,
work and play.
If you are looking to make your own land acknowledgement, please use this example to construct your own:
”I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.”
It is important to note that this kind of acknowledgement is not a new practice developed by colonial institutions. Land acknowledgement is a traditional custom dating back centuries for many Native communities and nations. For non-Indigenous communities, land acknowledgement is a powerful way of showing respect and honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the land on which we work and live. Acknowledgement is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth.
You do not need to follow our example acknowledgement word-for-word. Here is an additional example of a Duwamish land acknowledgement painted on the side of Seattle Mennonite Church in North Seattle: “We at Seattle Mennonite church acknowledge that we are on the unceded ancestral lands of the Duwamish people. A people that are still here, continuing to honor and bring to light their ancient heritage.” This was a project of a senior high school student who worked closely with a Duwamish elder. Acknowledgement can be a thank you or an honoring.
It is up to you how you feel your acknowledgement should be carried out. If you are struggling to find the words to acknowledge the Duwamish Tribe, please visit the Real Rent Duwamish page by CLICKING HERE for resources and more information on the importance of land acknowledgement.
We receive countless inquiries on acknowledgements daily and request that those looking to make land acknowledgements first try to construct their own before contacting Duwamish Tribal Services for comments or help. We greatly appreciate the increased interest in this traditional practice, but the large volume of inquiries received does not always allow us to respond in a timely manner. Your acknowledgement should come from the heart, and we cannot provide you with the exact words to use.
Thank You Real Renters!