Society of Women Engineers encourages all WE23 facilitators to open sessions with the following land acknowledgment:
We acknowledge, with respect, that we gather at WE23 on the ancestral homelands of the Chumash (choo-mosh) and Gabrielino (gab-ree-uh-lee-noh) Tongva (tong-vah) Peoples.
- We honor with gratitude the land, waterways, and the people who have been its stewards throughout the generations. We also honor their elders, past and present, as well as future generations.
- We recognize Indigenous organizations such as the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) who are doing this work. 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 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 diverse community joining WE23. We encourage our speakers to include the land acknowledgment provided above at the beginning of their sessions.
Suggested Resources:
- A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement 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.
Moving beyond a land acknowledgment:
SWE prides itself on demonstrating the value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and realizes 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.
