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Ó£»¨¶¯Âþ’s campuses are located on ancestral grounds originally cared for and inhabited by Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Across Turtle Island, known to settlers as North America, the racist violence of settler colonialism past and present has led to the traumatization and destruction of millions of Indigenous bodies, communities, cultures and resources. We must acknowledge that we live on and benefit from this land that was taken by force. As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, we are called by our values to engage in active discernment about the role that our institution and the Catholic Church have played in the oppression, exclusion, and erasure of Indigenous nations. 

While navigating the grounds of Ó£»¨¶¯Âþ, we must acknowledge the ancestors that cared for this land and recognize the Indigenous peoples who continue to live in this region. Through forced removal, involuntary migration, and imposed assimilation, current and past inhabitants include the Accohannock (Aw-cuh-haw-nuk), Assateague (Ah-suh-teeg), Kinwaw Paskestikweya (Kəˈnȯi Pist-ka-tanh-wah), Lumbee (Luhm-bee), Nantaquak (Nan-tuh-kowk), Nause-Waiwash (Nah-soo WAY-wash), Patuxent (Puh-tuks-int), Paskestikweya (Pist-ka-tanh-wah), Pocomoke (Pow-kuh-mowk), and Susquehannock Conestoga (Suh-skwuh-ha-naak) Nations.

This acknowledgment is a small and insufficient step toward correcting the racist narrative and actions of white supremacy and colonialism. As a community, it is imperative that we honor and celebrate the resilience and strength that all Indigenous people have shown worldwide. While the atrocities that have been endured will never be erased, this statement is a part of our ongoing relationship with Indigenous communities. Ó£»¨¶¯Âþ commits to calling out continued systemic injustice, repairing institutional harms and renewing our commitment to working in solidarity to heal this land.

Shortened Version:

Ó£»¨¶¯Âþ’s campuses are located on ancestral grounds originally cared for and inhabited by Indigenous communities for thousands of years. The racist violence of settler colonialism past and present led to the traumatization and destruction of millions of Indigenous bodies, communities, cultures, and resources. We must acknowledge that we live on and benefit from this land that was taken by force. As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, we are called by our values to engage in active discernment about the role that our institution and the Catholic Church have played in the oppression, exclusion, and erasure of Indigenous nations. Ó£»¨¶¯Âþ commits to calling out continued systemic injustice, repairing institutional harms, and renewing our commitment to working in solidarity to heal this land.

When and how should I use the Land and Life Acknowledgment Statements?

Land and life acknowledgments are often delivered in a welcome statement to an audience, in opening remarks, or in an event program. The following statements are approved university language that may be used at university events, in the classroom, and in documents such as course syllabi and academic publications. When reciting the statement, readers are encouraged to deliver the message with respect and sincerity by practicing proper pronunciation and paying close attention to tone and pacing.