Land acknowledgements have become common practice as a way to honor past, present, and future contributions of Indigenous people. Too often, these acknowledgements lack a substantive call to action and end up being performative "activism." (There is a blog post on our website you can check out and share with your friends and colleagues.)

With that said, a sincere land acknowledgement that includes a call to action -- preferably one that includes a financial contribution to a Native-led organization -- is a great first step in demonstrating solidarity with Indigenous people and a commitment to social justice and racial equity.

Here are our guidelines, which come from the guide created by the Native Governance Center.

Start with self reflection. Ask yourself why you are doing a land acknowledgement is and what your end goal is. Does this help Indigenous people? Have you personally pledged financial support to Native-led organizations?
Do your research. Use Indigenous place names (and learn the correct pronunciation). Be specific with the Native Nation that you are recognizing. Use this tool to find whose Indigenous homelands you are on.
Speak the truth. Acknowledgements should include words like "genocide," "stolen land," and "forced removal."
Include present and future tenses. Native people are still here and contributing to making the world a better place
Emphasize hope and positivity. Despite the many atrocities committed, Native communities remain committed to leaving the world better than they found it.
Don't ask an Indigenous person to deliver a welcome statement or read the land acknowledgement. Indigenous people already bear enough of the burden of colonization.
Focus on action. Acknowledgment without action does not address the systemic issues facing Indigenous people. The best call to action is to ask everyone who hears the land acknowledgement to take out their phone, computer, or checkbook and donate at least $1 to a Native-led organization. You can even send them to this page to choose one of the organizations that we personally recommend.

In addition to financial contributions, directing folks to education resources that center a Native perspective is a productive way to promote action. This can range from articles or data on the issues facing Native people to Indigenous accounts on social media or local grassroots organizations leading the work on the ground.

As a result, there is no "one size fits all" template for delivering a land acknowledgement and it is important to adapt the your specific context, location, and audience. We are confident that if you follow the guidelines above you will deliver a land acknowledgement that truly support Indigenous people!

Are you ready to take the Ackowledgment to Action Pledge to donate at least $1 to a Native-led organization every time you hear a land ackowledgement?

In addition to welcoming your donation to our work to reimagine and uproot the colonized systems of education, health, and food that are not serving Native people (you can do so below), we also recommend these organizations who create nationwide and systemic change for Native people:

Sicangu Co is a community-based, grassroots nonprofit revitalizing the culture and economy of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate (or Rosebud Sioux), while creating a new narrative around Indigenous power. You can learn more about us on our website.

Acknowledgement to Action

Give Your Land Acknowledgement Meaning