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UW-Green Bay Land Acknowledgment

We at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay acknowledge the First Nations people who are the original inhabitants of the region. The Ho-Chunk Nation and the Menominee Nation are the original First People of Wisconsin and both Nations have ancient historical and spiritual connections to the land that our institution now resides upon.

Today, Wisconsin is home to 12 First Nations communities including the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Forest County Potawatomi, Ojibwe Nation communities, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians, and the Brothertown Indian Nation.

We acknowledge the First Nations Peoples of Wisconsin.

Intent and purpose of our Land Acknowledgement

The UW-Green Bay Land Acknowledgement was developed in 2018, following a well-established pattern nationwide, to acknowledge past, present, and future relationships with Indigenous communities across the state.

We occupy a storied place. Our Indigenous relatives left behind their stories infused in this land. Our place on the UWGB campus is a place of constant, intentional, and engaged learning. As we create new knowledge on this land, it is also our responsibility to tell the stories of those that came before us and celebrate contemporary Indigenous communities and individuals that exist on our campus today. The Land Acknowledgment is the first step.

Why are Indigenous Land Acknowledgements Important?

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement shows recognition and respect for the Indigenous peoples on whose land the institutions reside (CAUT, 2017). This acknowledgement statement can be done by anyone within the university setting, staff, faculty and students. Land Acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or within a historical context, colonialism is an ongoing process, with Indigenous lands still occupied due to broken treaties and deceptive practices by individuals, State and federal governments (USDAC, n.d.). Acknowledgements demonstrate respect for contemporary Indigenous Peoples by challenging narratives and policies of erasure and extinction. Whenever possible, the best practice of acknowledgement is through dialogue and relationships with Indigenous communities in the area (USDAC, n.d.)

Land Acknowledgement Resources

UW-Green Bay Land Acknowledgement Usage Guide
Usage in UW-Green Bay Syllabi

Ongoing learning Resources