Lawrence-Edwards Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge our commitment to Native and Indigenous populations to honor their historical and continued kinship with the land, water, and living and non-living relatives within the place we now call Kansas. Their presence in Kansas has been complex and includes the stewardship of their ancestral and traditional homelands, being displaced here due to resettlement, or traveling through this region due to forced removal.  At this time, we have intentionally chosen not to name tribes; instead, we support University-wide efforts that prioritize relationship building and honoring tribes’ agency as part of an institutional land acknowledgment.

We conceptualize this commitment as a living draft and look forward to refining it as we continue to learn and grow in our understanding. As we operate within our dedication to action, we renew our understanding that Native and Indigenous People exist here in the present. We acknowledge and honor our Native students, staff, and faculty through our commitment to and support of the Office of Sovereign Partnership & Indigenous Initiatives as well as associated organizations on campus. We are deeply committed to building and strengthening our relationships with community members who have chosen to be here for various reasons, including the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence Public schools, family, and community.  

We call upon members of our community to reflect upon their relationship to Native and Indigenous people on our campus and beyond. We encourage one another to begin the work of self-education and engagement.