The Society of Women Engineers encourages all WE25 facilitators to open sessions with the following land acknowledgment:
We acknowledge, with respect, that we gather at WE25 on the ancestral homelands of the Choctaw and Chitimacha Peoples.
As we convene near the Mississippi River, which has served as a vital source of life, trade, travel, and connection for Native peoples, we recognize its deep cultural and ecological significance. We honor with gratitude the land, its waterways, and the people who have served as its stewards throughout the generations.
We recognize their elders, past and present, as well as future generations. We continue to recognize Indigenous organizations such as Advancing Indigenous People In STEM (AISES), whose work continues to amplify Indigenous voices. This calls us to commit to continuing to learn how to be better stewards of the land we inhabit as well.
Source: https://native-land.ca/
What Is a Land Acknowledgment?
A land acknowledgment recognizes and respects Indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of the land and honors the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories.
SWE is committed to a practice of land acknowledgments as a small step toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. SWE hopes the use of land acknowledgment statements encourages individuals to think about what it means to occupy space on Indigenous lands.
Importance of a Land Acknowledgment
SWE acknowledges the vast and diverse community joining WE25. We encourage our speakers to include the land acknowledgment provided above at the beginning of their sessions.
Suggested Resources:
- A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment from the Native Governance Center
- Resources from the Native Governance Center and resources from IllumiNative
- Please visit https://native-land.ca to further learn about how to acknowledge the original nations on whose land we live, learn, and work.
How Do I Pronounce the Names of the Tribal Communities Mentioned in This Land Acknowledgment?
- Choctaw (chaak-taa)
- Chitimacha (chi-tee-maa-chuh)
Moving Beyond a Land Acknowledgment
SWE prides itself on demonstrating the value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we realize that we are still learning. We recognize that a land acknowledgment by itself is a small gesture. As an organization, we are committed to supporting Indigenous people and continually examining our relationship between land and people. SWE is grateful for our authentic partnership with the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES), which was monumental in the development of this land acknowledgment.
