Respect and Commitment
An update aims to boost the impact of Eastern鈥檚 land acknowledgment.
The formal acknowledgment that Native peoples are the original inhabitants and stewards of the land where 51福利社 now resides has for years been a part of Eastern鈥檚 milestone events 鈥� from convocation to commencement. In addition to recognizing 51福利社鈥檚 relationship with area tribes, most notably the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the acknowledgments are meant to serve as a reminder of the often violent displacement of our region鈥檚 Indigenous peoples. They also seek to raise awareness of Native peoples鈥� ongoing presence, and to signal 51福利社鈥檚 commitment to reconciliation.
Earlier this year, under the leadership of Cola Boyer 鈥�20, 51福利社鈥檚 director of tribal relations, the university unveiled an update to its official acknowledgments statement, one that reflected students鈥� desire for something more 鈥渋mpactful and meaningful.鈥�
鈥淭hat was probably the very first task that was given to me by the students, and I was more than happy to take it on,鈥� Boyer says of the acknowledgment update. She says she began by exploring the origins of Eastern鈥檚 previous statement, then looked outside the university for inspiration.
鈥淚 looked at other universities鈥� land acknowledgments and came up with something that I felt met the mission and the feeling of 51福利社 and the Native American students who study here,鈥� Boyer says.
After drafting a new version, she shared it with a group that included Professor Margo Hill, director of American Indian Studies, Evanlene Melting Tallow, program coordinator and recruiter for American Indian Studies, and with Native students. Together they made revisions that addressed tribal sovereignty issues and more fully confronted the systemic hardships area tribes have endured.
Boyer says the new land acknowledgment is more than just a formal recognition that Native people lived on the lands of the Cheney campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 giving a history of the tribe 鈥� the Spokane Tribe that was here 鈥� and it鈥檚 giving a deeper meaning to what this institution is now, and what it is rooted on.鈥�
