HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand AcknowledgementPrepared by: Council Member Janice Weiner
Resolution number: 22-288
Resolution adopting a Land Acknowledgement recognizing Indigenous
Peoples and their traditional territories on which we live.
Whereas, a Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects
Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that
exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories; and
Whereas, to recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those
whose territory on which we reside, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have
been living and working on the land from time immemorial; and
Whereas, it is essential to understand the long-standing history that has brought us to
reside on the land, and to seek to understand our place within that history; and
Whereas, acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol; and
Whereas, the U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged that tribal governments are the
oldest sovereigns on the continent—Native American sovereignty predates the sovereignty
of the U.S.; and
Whereas, the United States, initially contemplating Native nations as preconstitutional and
extraconstitutional international sovereigns, ratified 370 treaties and entered into 45 more
with Native nations between 1778 and 1871; and
Whereas, treaties used to remove American Indians from Iowa include:
1. Treaty of St. Louis, November 03, 1804
2. Treaty with the Sauk and Fox and loway Indians, August 04, 1824
3. Treaty of Prairie du Chien, August 19, 1825
4. Treaty of Black Hawk Purchase, September 21, 1832
5. Treaty with the Sacs and Foxes, September 27, 1836
6. Treaty with the Winnebago, November 01, 1837
7. Treaty with the Sauk and Fox, October 11, 1842
8. Treaty with Potawatomi Nation, June 05 and 17, 1846
9. Treaty with the Sioux, August 05, 1851; and
Whereas, we recognize that as citizens of the land, this city, the state of Iowa, and the
United States of America, we are all enriched and informed by recognizing, learning from,
and applying our history; and
Whereas, we acknowledge that the City of Iowa City sits on land once occupied by
numerous different groups of Native American people; and
Whereas, through several treaties with the United States, tribal nations ceded land in Iowa
to make way for the state of Iowa and ultimately the City of Iowa City; and
Resolution 22-288
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Whereas, the dealings between the United States and American Indian tribal nations were
not always honorable, and some of the provisions of these treaties have been broken; and
Whereas, we owe a debt of gratitude to the tribal nations that occupied this land previously;
and
Whereas, these tribal nations are an important part of our national and regional heritage
and many of them persist today and continue to be recognized formally by the U.S.
government; and
Whereas, we hereby acknowledge those tribal nations and Native people and express our
appreciation and respect.
Now therefore, we, the city councilors of Iowa City, do hereby adopt the following land
acknowledgement:
The City of Iowa City is located on the homelands of the Ojibwe/Anishinaabe (Chippewa),
Baxoje (Iowa), Kikapu (Kickapoo), Omaegnomenewak (Menominee), Myaamiaki (Miami),
Nutachi (Missouri), Umonho^ (Omaha), Wahzhazhe (Osage), Jiwere (Otoe), Odawaa
(Ottawa), Pa^ka (Ponca), Bodewadmi/Neshnabe (Potawatomi),
Meskwaki/Nemahahaki/Sakiwaki (Sac and Fox), Dakota/Lakota/Nakoda (Sioux),
Sahnish/Nuxbaaga/Nuweta (Three Affiliated Tribes) and Ho -Chunk (Winnebago) Nations.
The following tribal nations, Umo^ho^ (Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa), Pa^ka (Ponca
Tribe of Nebraska), Meskwaki (Sac and Fox of the Mississippi in Iowa), and Ho -Chunk
(Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) Nations continue to thrive in the State of Iowa and we
continue to acknowledge them.
As a municipal government, it is our responsibility to acknowledge the sovereignty and the
traditional territories of these tribal nations, and the treaties that were used to remove these
tribal nations. Consistent with the City of Iowa City's commitment to Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion, understanding the historical and current experiences of Native peoples will help
inform our work, governance, and ongoing efforts to acknowledge and embed our history in
our present and future.
Passed and approved this 15t1iay of November, 2022.
Ma
Attest:_ `
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ACit Clerk f
Approved by
Z/�,�-
City Attorney' Office — 11 /10/2022
Resolution 22-288
Page 3
It was moved by Alter and seconded by Bergus the
Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were
Ayes: Nays: Absent:
x Alter
x Bergus
x Harmsen
x Taylor
x Teague
x Thomas
x Weiner