What is Land Acknowledgment?
A land acknowledgment (or territorial acknowledgment) is a formal statement that acknowledges the indigenous peoples of the land. Today, land acknowledgments are used by Native Peoples and non-Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live. It may be in written form, or be spoken at the beginning of public events. Land acknowledgments can be spoken at the beginning of public and private gatherings, from school programs and sporting events to town halls.
These statements typically name the specific tribes or nations who have lived on and cared for the land, often for millennia. Acknowledgment is a simple, powerful way of showing respect and a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation.
Origins & Lineage
Land acknowledgment is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native nations and communities. In Coast Salish communities along the Pacific Coast, another tribe or nation would ask permission to come ashore, thus acknowledging they were visitors to the lands. For Indigenous peoples, acknowledging relationships to land is an ancient spiritual practice tied to reciprocity and respect.
The modern practice of land acknowledgements began in Australia in the late 1970s, taking the form of the Welcome to Country ceremony, and was at first primarily associated with Indigenous Australian political movements and the arts. The practice of land acknowledgements originated in Canada. They became common in Canada subsequent to the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report in 2015. In 2008, Canada launched a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that included 94 recommended calls to action created by First Nation people to address the historical harm done to their communities.
Land acknowledgements started in the United States from within the arts community due to the direct call to action from the North Dakota Pipeline protests starting in 2016. The US Department of Arts and Culture launched a social media campaign called #HonorNativeLand and provided a resource on Indigenous People’s Day 2017 (October 11): ‘Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Acknowledgment.’ In 2018, a movement began in the United States for colleges and universities to establish land acknowledgements.
How It’s Practiced
A land acknowledgment is not the same as an honoring of the spirits of the land. It is an acknowledgment of the past, present, and future of living Indigenous peoples. These are statements of solidarity to be spoken before all else, including before a formal welcome.
In practice, land acknowledgments appear in multiple forms: spoken aloud at the opening of conferences, workshops, retreats, weddings, ceremonies, and community gatherings; printed in event programs, email signatures, and institutional websites; or displayed on signage at physical locations. Acknowledgment should be approached not as a set of obligatory words to rush through. These words should be offered with respect, grounded in authentic reflection, presence, and awareness.
A meaningful land acknowledgment typically includes: the specific names of Indigenous nations or tribes connected to the territory; recognition that these communities continue to exist in the present; acknowledgment of displacement and ongoing colonial impacts; and, ideally, a statement of commitment to concrete action in support of Indigenous communities.
Land Acknowledgment Today
Seekers encounter land acknowledgments across conscious and spiritual spaces: at yoga studios, meditation retreats, plant medicine ceremonies, pagan rituals, wellness conferences, and social justice gatherings. Various Neo-Pagan communities in the U.S. are among the groups that are increasingly including land acknowledgment as part of the opening of rituals and other important events. Land acknowledgements are most commonly practiced in settler communities in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and among Tribal Nations in the United States.
Many spiritual teachers and event organizers view land acknowledgment as an ethical baseline—a recognition that spiritual work happens in relationship to place and to the peoples who hold ancestral ties to that place. Acknowledging relationships to places they inhabit is an ancient spiritual practice that Indigenous people continue to observe. Land acknowledgments have become increasingly common nationwide over the past few years. Many mainstream public events — from soccer games and performing arts productions to city council meetings and corporate conferences — begin with these formal statements recognizing Indigenous communities’ rights to territories seized by colonial powers.
Common Misconceptions
Land acknowledgment is not a gesture that erases colonial harm or absolves non-Indigenous people of responsibility. “If it becomes routine, or worse yet, is strictly performative, then it has no meaning at all,” said Kevin Gover, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and undersecretary for museums and culture at the Smithsonian Institution. Some Indigenous scholars and leaders say that the ways they are sometimes executed by non-Natives can seem hollow, performative and ultimately, problematic.
Indigenous Peoples have been vocal with their critique about the superficiality and performativity of land acknowledgments. Critics point out that statements often place Indigenous People in the past, suggest that Indigenous Peoples no longer live with us and among us, and obfuscate historical injustices. “You can have the nicest, most beautiful and most respectful land acknowledgment of all time but if you have no actions to back up your words, then why are you bothering?”
Land acknowledgment is not: a token to check before moving on to “real” content; a statement that Indigenous peoples are gone; permission to occupy stolen land; or a substitute for material reparations, land return, or ongoing relationship with Indigenous communities.
How to Begin
Start with self-reflection. Before starting work on your land acknowledgment statement, reflect on the process: Why am I doing this land acknowledgment? (If you’re hoping to inspire others to take action to support Indigenous communities, you’re on the right track. If you’re delivering a land acknowledgment out of guilt or because everyone else is doing it, more self-reflection is in order.)
Do your homework. Put in the time necessary to research the following topics: The Indigenous people to whom the land belongs. The history of the land and any related treaties. Names of living Indigenous people from these communities. Use resources like Native-Land.ca to identify whose territories you occupy. When people ask for guidance in making land acknowledgments, we suggest reaching out directly to local Indigenous communities and to Native Nations forcibly removed from the area in the past to ask how they want to be recognized.
Land acknowledgment alone is not enough. It’s merely a starting point. Ask yourself: how do I plan to take action to support Indigenous communities? Land acknowledgements become more meaningful when they are accompanied by action. Consider: financial contributions to Indigenous-led organizations, support for land return initiatives, amplifying Indigenous voices and teachers in your community, and ongoing education about Indigenous histories and contemporary realities.