The Virginia G. Piper
Center for Creative Writing

Shawanobinesiik, Elizabeth, Southern Thunderbird. Adik, Michael, Caribou. Kwingwa'aage, Joseph, Wilverine. Mashiki, Mary, The Medicine. Ombaashi, Albert, Lifted By Wind. Makoons, The Bearling, and Bird Shaking Ice Off Its Wings. They lived and died too quickly in those years that surrounded the making of the reservation, died before they could be recorded and in such painful numbers that it was hard to remember them all without uttering, as my father did sometimes as he read local history, and the white man appeared and drove them down into the earth, which sounded like an Old Testament prophecy but was just an observation of the truth. And so to be afraid of entering the cemetery by night was to fear not the loving ancestors who lay buried, but the gut kick of our history, which I was bracing to absorb.

From The Round House by Louise Erdrich (p. 100)

All land is Indigenous land. Over the last several years, more and more universities, museums, and other institutions from all over the world have issued statements of land acknowledgment honoring an area's deep histories, original stewards, and current Indigenous residents and communities. 

While these acknowledgments are important, they're only a first step. In this panel, join Dr. Felicia Mitchell, Dr. David Martinez, and ASU Librarian Alexander Soto for a conversation on the ethics and impacts of Indigenous land acknowledgments on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Phoenix MST / Pacific on Zoom.

Drawing on their experiences creating statements for larger institutions, panelists will share why these acknowledgements are necessary, what they mean, and how they can be used to open larger conversations about colonial power and history within the community. Panelists will also share concrete tips and suggestions for creating a land acknowledgment and how they can create change within organizations.

Please note: as Phoenix does not observe daylight savings time, determining the correct time outside of Arizona can be somewhat confusing. Right now, Phoenix MST is currently equivalent to Pacific (not Mountain). To view the current time in Phoenix, Arizona, you can check the world time clock.

Looking for more events? Talk about decolonization with Dr. Amanda R. Tachine on March 4, remember the Phoenix Indian School with Rosalie and Patty Talahongva on March 6, or view the full schedule for the NEA Big Read today at http://piper.asu.edu/nea-big-read/events.