It is important that we recognize whose land we occupy here at Cal Poly Humboldt and whose labor was used so we can begin to understand the impact colonization has had on our communities. Ideally, we would go beyond just land/labor recognition and start returning land to the original caretakers.  But as a starting point for understanding the imapact of colonization, we wanted to provide some potential statements you could/should share at each of your events:

Sample Land Acknowledgement:

In Person:  Cal Poly Humboldt is located on the present and ancestral Homeland and unceded territory of the Wiyot Tribe. Please donate to the Wiyot Tribe honor tax. We encourage direct giving to Tribes and Native-led efforts. Tribes and Nations in Humboldt County include Hupa, Karuk, Mattole, Tolowa, Wailaki, Wiyot, Yurok. We make this land acknowledgement in recognition that our words must be matched by action and approach. Please learn from Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy's lecture "What Good Is a Land Acknowledgment?"

Virtual:  We acknowledge that the land that many of us are on as we gather virtually is likely unceded territory of the Wiyot People. Arcata, where Humboldt is located, is known in Wiyot language as Goudi'ni, meaning over in the woods. As well as being the aboriginal territory of the Wiyot, this region of Northern California is also the traditional, ancestral, and present homeland to several indigenous nations, including the : Hupa Karuk, Mattole, Tolowa, Wailaki, and Yurok peoples. Today, we come with respect to the tribes who have been here for millenia and model how to live in sustainable relationships with the land. We take this opportunity to consider what action steps we can take in addition to acknowledging the land. 

Sample Labor Acknowledgemnt:

Today we recognize and acknowledge the labor upon which our country, state, and institutions are built. Remember that our country is built on the labor of enslaved people who were kidnapped and brought to the US from the African Continent and recognize the continued contribution of their survivors. We acknowledge all immigrant labor, including voluntary, involuntary, and trafficked peoples who continue to serve within our labor force