Land Acknowledgment
A Land Acknowledgment is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native Nations and communities. Today, land acknowledgments are used by Native Peoples and non-Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live. At the beginning of ceremonies, lectures, or public events at Baylor University, an organization or speaker may offer this acknowledgment on behalf of everyone present. Baylor University’s Land Acknowledgment provides a framework for today’s work with Native Nations and Indigenous Communities. ~Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian
Acknowledgment
We respectfully acknowledge that Baylor University in Waco and its original campus in Independence are on the land and territories originally occupied by Indigenous peoples including the Waco and Tawakoni of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, the Tonkawa, the Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comanche), Karankawa, and Lipan Apache. These Indigenous peoples were dispossessed of and removed from their lands over centuries by European colonization and American expansionism. In recognition that these Native Nations are the original stewards of Baylor's campus locations, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
Learn More
To learn more about the named Native Nations and Indigenous Communities, visit their official websites:
- Wichita and Affiliated Tribes: https://wichitatribe.com/
- Tonkawa Tribe: http://www.tonkawatribe.com/
- Comanche Nation: https://comanchenation.com/
- Karankawa: https://karankawas.com/
- Lipan Apache Tribe: https://www.lipanapache.org/