Land Acknowledgement Statement

I/We would like to begin today by recognizing and acknowledging that Oswego 308 carries out its vision and mission in its namesake state, Illinois, which includes ancestral lands of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Piankashaw, Wea, Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Chickasaw Nations. ​We have a responsibility to acknowledge these Native Nations and to work with them as we create a community that honors and celebrates diversity and inclusion. These lands were the traditional territory of these Native Nations prior to their forced removal; these lands continue to carry the stories of these Nations and their struggles for survival and identity.

Pronunciations:
Peoria (Pea-Or-E-ah)
Kaskaskia (Kahs-KAHS-kee-ah)
Piankashaw (Pea-AN-kah-shah)
Wea (Way-ah)
Miami (My-Am-E)
Mascoutin (Mah-SCOH-tin)
Odawa (Oh-DAH-wah)
Sauk (SAH-uk)
Mesquaki (Meh-skw-AH-kee)
Kickapoo (KICK-a-poo)
Potawatomi (Pot-tah-WAH-tah-mee)
Ojibwe (Oh-JIB-way)
Chickasha (Chi-KAH-shah)

WHY IS INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT IMPORTANT?

“It is important to understand the longstanding history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation.”
– Northwestern University

https://nativegov.org/news/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/

What are Indian Land Cessions? 

Land cessions are the act of ceding, particulary relinquishing rights, property, or territory. 

August 29th, 2021, marked Chicago's 200th year anniversary of the cessation of 4 million acres of native land. Click here to learn more.

Native American have unique beliefs about death and have ceremonies for planting or harvesting. They view the sun as a great power, thus engage in a Sun Dance ceremony. To fight back against European settlers, Wovoka, a Paiute prophet, created the Ghost Dance movement as a way to renew positive things. Sweat Lodges or purification lodges are about cleansing ourselves to renew. They did not have a sauna as we do today, so they used small wooden frames, blankets, and hides. Pipe Ceremonies were about smoke and steam and since it rises to the air, it symbolizes teh connection between the earth below and the sky above. You may have noticed in a Catholic or Episcopal church the use of cesners with smoking incense or the burning of sage to cleanse the atmosphere. This Smudging originated within the Native American culture. With the burning of certain herbs, it can cleanse a person, object, or place. This is done in many religions to release negativity or bad spirits from a location. Vision Quests are an important part of the native culture. These quests exist to bond or encourage a deeper connection to a spirit or guide in order to learn truths and/or find an understanding about oneself or a particular person. (All of this information was summarized from powwows.com. 

Famous Natives Today!