USU releases first “Land Acknowledgment” scripts

Utah State University has finalized its first land acknowledgment statements, recognizing that USU’s facilities across the state reside on the lands of Indigenous peoples.
Community leaders and the faculty who worked on the statements say they are a great first step in furthering USU’s goals of educating and empowering the state.
“It’s important to share our Utah Tribal nations area live and maintain very resilient communities within the state of Utah,” said committee chair Marilyn Cuch, of the Hunkpapa Lakota. “And it’s even more essential for people to understand that we are not relics, but that we are self-governing tribal entities and nations within the United States.”
The land acknowledgment statements can be shared at any internal or external presentation, course or ceremony that includes USU faculty, staff or students.
Cuch said land acknowledgment statements need to be more than just a statement.
“It is an opening for individuals to learn more about Indigenous tribes in Utah and elsewhere in the United States.
“Whether it’s doing a presentation or literally teaching students about the tribal people, it’s inviting our own tribes and the constituents that would be impacted in our tribal nations to be brought forth and allowing for their voices and perspectives to be heard.”
This is especially important for USU since it is a land-grant institution, according to President Cockett.
In 2021, Darren Parry, a tribal elder of the Northwestern Band of Shoshone, was part of a panel discussion on land acknowledgment statements and their role in society.
“I always look at land acknowledgments as a great starting point, that we can start here and then work on making things better, not only for Native Americans but other marginalized groups,” Parry said.
Because of USU’s more than 25 campuses and centers throughout Utah, a statement was tailored for each site.
The statements for local centers include:
Montezuma Creek
“We recognize Utah State University Blanding at Montezuma Creek resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Monument Valley
“We recognize Utah State University Monument Valley resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Hopi, Navajo, Southern Paiute, Pueblos, and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Blanding
“We recognize Utah State University Blanding resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal Sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Monticello
“We recognize Utah State University Monticello resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal sovereignty, history, and experiences.”