Land Acknowledgement
Adams 12 Five Star Schools Land Acknowledgement
Adams 12 Five Star Schools honors and acknowledges that the land we are on today is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute Nations and peoples. Many different Native tribes have used this land for trade, hunting, gathering, and healing. We extend our respects to Elders past, present, and future, and all those who have stewarded the land and water for time immemorial. We invite others to join us in this acknowledgment to renew and reaffirm the first nations’ history in Colorado and pay tribute to these traditional homelands and its people.
Why have a land acknowledgment?
A land acknowledgment is a way of offering respect to Indigenous citizens, both those who have come before and those currently living here; representing and honoring Indigenous people’s history; and recognizing that Indigenous peoples continue to be a vital part of our country’s lands now and in the future.
Development process
Who helped develop the land acknowledgement?
Our Native high school students of Naat'áanii, which translates to "leaders” in the Diné Bizaad (Navajo) language, met weekly to develop the land acknowledgement during the Native Education Cultural Enrichment program.
How was the land acknowledgement developed?
Our students engaged in the following process when developing it:
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Evaluation of the purpose of a land acknowledgement
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Researched native tribes recognized in Colorado
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Gathered feedback from the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee
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Drafted an acknowledgement focusing on the past, the present and the future
How it can be used
When will it be read?
The land acknowledgment may be read aloud at the beginning of any school or district hosted event, in person or virtually.
Who can read the land acknowledgment?
A school or district staff member as part of the event. Reading of the land acknowledgment represents the understanding of its importance and significance to our community.