Politics of Land Acknowledgements

  • Saturday, October 8, 2022

Presenter(s): 

Adrienne Lalli Hills, Director, Learning & Community Engagement, First Americans Museum
Meranda Roberts, Native American Museum Consultant, Formerly the co-curator of the Native American Hall, Field Museum of Natural History
Mike Murawski, Museum Consultant, self-employed Museum Educator

Moderator: 

James Pepper Henry, Executive Director/CEO & Vice-Chairman, First Americans Museum & Kaw Nation

Track: 

  • Community Engagement, Indigenous

More and more museums, higher learning institutions, government entities, and organizations are adopting “land acknowledgements” to recognize indigenous populations associated with specific geographic areas. While the intent is noble, land acknowledgments can be problematic in unintended ways. This session will explore the benefits and pitfalls in creating land acknowledgments. Panelists will discuss the process and challenges of developing land acknowledgments for their respective institutions.