Land Acknowledgments and Churches

In recent years, it has become increasingly popular to begin public events and worship services with a land acknowledgment that recognizes the original Indigenous inhabitants of an area. At the same time, there has been a critical assessment of how land acknowledgments are often done. For example, the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists requested that the American Anthropological Association pause the use of the practice while asserting that it can sometimes do more harm than good. To further conversation and reflection among UCC churches on whether and how to do land acknowledgments, watch the video discussion of land acknowledgements and make use of the resources below.

Article: Land Acknowledgments Meant to Honor Indigenous People Too Often Do the Opposite

Land Acknowledgment Guide from the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition