Navigating Land Use Acknowledgement

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Tanya Settles
December 20, 2024

Land use acknowledgement proclamations or statements can be meaningful tools for local governments to build and strengthen relationships with indigenous people. They also run the risk of becoming more damaging than beneficial to indigenous communities. A common challenge with land use acknowledgements is that when created without the collaboration and consent of the governments of indigenous peoples, they often do not include elements of partnership or reconciliation. This means land use acknowledgements can be perceived as performative, even when they are created with the best of intentions. 

Recognizing the original inhabitants and stewards of an area is a complex process and a land use acknowledgment statement is a formal recognition of the historical and ongoing connection of indigenous peoples to the land. It is important to view a land use acknowledgement as a starting point, and not a singular result, in building a long-term government-to-government relationship. In other words, avoid guessing about how a land use acknowledgement may be perceived, and always gain the consent the people the acknowledgement honors. 

Research the Land and Its Original Stewards

Start by identifying the indigenous peoples or nations historically and presently connected to the land. In the Americas, many places have been home to different Native Nations over time. There are currently 574 federally recognized American Indian nations, tribes and Alaska Native Villages in the United States. History is often connected to misguided, coercive and failed treaties, so before proceeding with a land use acknowledgement, take the time to learn the history of the original stewards of the area. A reliable resource to get started is Native Land Digital.   

Build a Trust Based Relationship with Indigenous Communities

A land use acknowledgement is based on a government-to-government relationship and the importance of relationship building with indigenous communities cannot be understated. Outreach to the appropriate indigenous entity should initiate through local government elected or executive leadership. Collaboration with local indigenous groups helps ensure accuracy and appropriateness in messaging that needs to be focused on the indigenous experience. The government-to-government relationship promotes collaboration and trust between the parties that elevates the land use acknowledgement from performative to meaningful. 

Moving forward with a land use proclamation without the consent of the of the people to whom the proclamation is directed may be viewed as disrespectful and potentially creates a situation where local governments engage in cultural appropriation. Federally recognized tribes and nations have sovereign status; imposing a land acknowledgement without consent is like creating public policy for a neighboring city without a collaborative agreement. Should a nation, tribe, village or indigenous community decide to not collaborate, local governments must accept that decision and continue the work to earn trust and their partnership.

Understand Your Why. Be thoughtful and introspective about why local government seeks a land use acknowledgement.  Is it being contemplated because neighboring cities have one, or is there an important purpose to the acknowledgement that local government is willing to commit to through a long-term relationship? Assess commitment to the process and local government capacity for keeping the promises through the land use acknowledgement process. 

Acknowledge Historical Context. Recognize historical events, such as displacement, treaties, or colonization, that shaped the relationship between indigenous peoples and the land. Use appropriate language and be specific, accurate and respectful. Use terms such as “Traditional Territory,” “Ancestral Land” or “Home of the Atfalati Band of the Kalapuya”. Avoid phrases like “formerly occupied” as this language emphasizes colonialization and displacement, which can derail ongoing connections.

Construction of a Land Use Acknowledgement: Acknowledging the past while recognizing the present and future relationship is essential to success. With consent and collaboration work together to construct the language. Focus on action to include partnerships to support indigenous communities and consider addressing reconciliation, if appropriate. Simply stating acknowledgement that the land where it sits is the traditional territory of a particular Indigenous people is insufficient and does not pass the test of a meaningful relationship with the indigenous community that goes beyond performative inclusion. Seek action and commitment to build a future together that acknowledges the current and past indigenous peoples of the area. 

Some Final Thoughts on Land Use Acknowledgement

A land use acknowledgement is a promise to build and sustain a government-to-government relationship. Recognize that land use acknowledgements often come from a place of good intent, but they are often written by people who do not have the lived experience of being an indigenous person nor are the descendants of Native Americans. In a lot of ways, the development of a land use acknowledgement is an intergovernmental agreement resulting in a long-term commitment between governments and are often based on months of work between local governments and indigenous communities. 

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Author:  Tanya Settles is the CEO of Paradigm Public Affairs, LLC.  Tanya’s areas of work includes relationship building between local governments and communities, restorative justice, and the impacts of natural and human-caused disasters on at-risk populations.  Tanya can be reached at [email protected].  The opinions in this column and any mistakes are hers alone. 

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