Recognizing the Importance of Indigenous Land Acknowledgments in Teaching and Learning Spaces

Key Words and Definitions

Indigenous: of or referring to the earliest known occupants of an area, especially of a place that has been colonized by a presently dominant group (Indigenous, n.d.).

Land acknowledgment: a formal declaration acknowledging and honoring Indigenous Peoples’ status as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship they have with their ancestral territories (Acknowledgement of Land and Sovereignty, n.d.).

Settler colonialism: an ongoing system of power and oppression largely based on colonialism and genocide, that intends to oust a population of a civilization or nation and restore it with a new settler population (Settler Colonialism, n.d.).

Tokenize: to use, employ, or treat someone as a sign of inclusion, compliance with regulations, or to avoid the impression of being prejudiced or discriminatory (Tokenize, n.d.).