Land Acknowledgement

Land/Territorial Acknowledgements are a way to understand the history of Native Peoples and to bring attention to indigenous peoples both in the past and today. Have your students research the Native Peoples to whom your city/town’s land belongs and its history (native names, treaties/events, etc.). Then invite members of this Native Peoples community to meet with your students and discuss these issues. Have students prepare a Land Acknowledgement presentation based on what they’ve learned.
A few important considerations: Some Native groups no longer exist due to the colonial process. Teachers should prepare to gain a broader understanding of Native history of the area in order to teach this appropriately. Teachers should not justify colonial actions that hurt or diminish Native Peoples and cultures. Teachers should be aware that much of Massachusetts’ Native history has thus far been omitted from textbooks, which means they will need to rely on other sources to understand this history.