More Than an Acknowledgement

Land acknowledgments are extremely important reminders that the land we live and work on was not ours to take. Our ancestors stole land all over the world from Indigenous peoples and we reap the benefits of that thievery. Acknowledgments themselves are not a new practice—as stated on the Duwamish Tribe website:

“Land acknowledgment is a traditional custom dating back centuries for many Native communities and nations. For non-Indigenous communities, land acknowledgment is a powerful way of showing respect and honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the land on which we work and live. Acknowledgment is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth.”

Why is it important to know whose land we live and work on? Indigenous history is American history, and by learning the cultures and histories of Indigenous Peoples and sharing those origin stories, we honor them and we continually counter the untrue narratives of discovery and colonialism. But acknowledgment on its own is only the start. We believe it has the capacity to become even more meaningful when we combine that acknowledging with informed action and, if possible, genuine connection. At Toad Hall Editions, our first step is to have a land acknowledgment here on our website (we also printed it in the first issue of our literary magazine kerning).

Our second step is to begin making annual donations to a local Indigenous organization. After researching many possibilities, we all agreed that the work of the Wabanaki Women’s Coalition best matches our mission to elevate the stories of women. We hope you will join us in finding out more about the Indigenous roots of the land where you live and work, and by making a donation if you have the means.