While I find Land Acknowledgements to be a useful tool to recognize the historical and present presence of Native nations and tribes, I also find them to be performative. Land Acknowledgments are not the last step, nor the first step. They are simply the process of taking the shoes out of the box, and putting them near our feet. Real progress will come when Academic (and other settler institutions) recognize, respect, honor, and empower Native sovereignty over our territories, history, materials, sources, and future. This act also draws attention to, and demystifies, the Land Back Movement, here is a link to an iteration of the movement.
For this reason, when I present or have the floor in a space where it is appropriate, I read a “Land Back Acknowledgement” which asks those in attendance to think about the ways in which they can empower Native communities and scholars to regain sovereignty over their intellectual trajectory.
In the context of Virginia Tech, I ask people in attendance to reflect on how they will empower the Monacan nation and recognize their sovereignty. We must ensure that Monacan students can receive free education at Virginia Tech and other public Virginia institutions. We must turn to the Monacan nation for guidance on the ways in which the University will use the land, air, and waterways that remain under Monacan care.
Click here for more information on the Monacan nation. Click here for more information on the American Indian and Indigenous Community Center at Virginia Tech.