Land Acknowledgement

In the state of Washington, the singular mandated educational curriculum is Since Time Immemorial, integrating awareness of, respect for, and learning from the indigenous peoples of the land we occupy. As descendants of colonizers and those who harmed the stewards of this land, it is critical to become better ancestors to future generations, taking accountability for the harm our ancestors have done, and working towards repair, reparations, and amends in the areas in which we live.

As a resident of Shoreline, WA, I acknowledge that we occupy the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the Duwamish Tribe. I see you, respect your right to sovereignty and self-determination, and am committed to being a better listener, learner, and lifter of indigenous voices. The Suquamish used these lands with agreements by the Duwamish. Without the Duwamish and Suquamish Nations protecting and honoring all living and spiritual beings residing in these environments, the land would not be as bountiful as it is today. I believe myself and my students are called to continue that stewardship as we write the next chapter of our learning.

Moreover, I acknowledge the oppressive practices and policies in which their lands were stolen, occupied, and dispersed through broken treaties, specifically the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855. The Discovery Doctrine, Westward Expansion, Manifest Destiny and their influences on shaping economic, political, and educational principles have deeply harmed the Salish People and their way of life. It is necessary for all non-tribal members  in our communities and regions to strive to heal the wounds afflicted on the Coast Salish People by honoring cultural memories and traumas, and by practicing repair and reconciliation for past grievous harm caused to those communities, speaking the truth and honoring the authentic witness of these communities in places and/or spaces where collaboration and sovereignty reside together.

We must support and acknowledge the importance of the Centennial Accord, Millennium Agreement, and RCW 43.376, as documents and rulings that bind us together. I challenge myself and those in my influence to lifelong learning practices that create equitable and inclusive spaces promoting reverence, social justice, and respect for all those occupying such spaces, as taught to us through our relations with the Coast Salish People.