Land Acknowledgment

What is a Land Acknowledgement

A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Native peoples as traditional stewards of this place. The statement highlights the enduring relationship between Native peoples and their traditional territories.

Why do we Recognize the Land

All land in the State of Connecticut is Indigenous homelands, which is why it is our duty to acknowledge that CREC is existing on Native land. It is important to understand the long-standing history that has brought you to reside here and to seek to understand our place within that history. Land acknowledgments do not exist in the past tense or historical context: settler colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol .

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CREC worked with the Akomawt Educational Initiative to adapt a land acknowledgment that rightfully recognizes the history of the Native peoples territories.

It is important to our office to work with members of the greater Connecticut community to continue our efforts of educating our agency on the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This initiative continues to fulfill the mission to continue to build a more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable community.

How to use the Land Acknowledgement

At CREC, the Land Acknowledgement Statement can be read aloud or distributed by anyone who wishes to use it – at public or private events – on any CREC property.

Pronunciations

Golden Hill Paugussett: puh-GUH-set
Hammonasset: HAMM-uhn-ass-eht
Mashantucket: MASH-uhn-tuck-it
Massacoe: MASS-uh-koe
Mohegan: moe-HEE-gihn
Pequot: pee-KWOT
Pocumtuc: POE-cuhm-tuhk
Podunk: POE-dunk
Poquonook: POE-kwah-nuhk
Quinnipiac: KWIH-nee-pee-ack
Schaghticoke: SKA-tih-kohk
Sicoag: SIH-kog
Tunxis: TUNKS-iss
Wangunk: WAYN-gunk

Additional Resources