Land Acknowledgement

“When we talk about land, land is part of who we are. It’s a mixture of our blood, our past, our current, and our future. We carry our ancestors in us, and they’re around us. As you all do.”  —Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe)

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Berklee acknowledges that our Boston campus resides on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Pawtucket, Massachusett, Nipmuc, and Wampanoag tribal nations. We honor these communities and their elders—past, present, and future—whose traditions, spiritualities, and stewardship remain deeply connected to this land.

We recognize the enduring relationships that Indigenous peoples maintain with the territories our Berklee campuses and global sites occupy. These connections are ongoing and sacred—not confined to the past.

As a cultural and educational institution, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the histories of the lands we inhabit with accuracy and care. We affirm that Indigenous peoples—including American Indian, Native American, First Peoples, First Nations, and Aboriginal communities—are not relics of history, but vibrant, living communities who continue to shape the present and future.

We are committed to using our institutional position to amplify Indigenous histories, cultures, and voices—and to actively engage in the work of dismantling the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism.

What are land acknowledgements?

A land acknowledgments are meaningful ways to recognize the Indigenous past, present, and future of a specific place—and to reflect on our own relationship to that land.

Typically shared as a written or spoken statement, land acknowledgments are becoming more common at conferences, community events, places of worship, concerts, festivals, and other public gatherings.

At their core, land acknowledgments invite us to pause, honor Indigenous communities, and consider how we can move forward with respect, accountability, and intention.

Whose land do you currently live on and occupy?

We encourage everyone to honor Indigenous communities by learning whose land they are on. Take time to educate yourself through thoughtful reading, research, and engagement with local histories.

As you begin your learning, consider the following questions:

  • Who are the past and present Indigenous people connected to the land you reside on?

  • What are the correct pronunciations of local tribal names and places?

  • What is the history of the land you occupy?

  • How do you make meaning of your place within this history?

  • How can you honor Indigenous communities through your actions moving forward?

This process is ongoing. Approach it with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to respect.

How to go beyond land acknowledgements

It is important to note that land acknowledgements are the beginning of how to honor the past, present, and future of Indigenous communities. Here are others ways to go beyond land acknowledgements:

To learn more, please the following websites: