ECE Land Acknowledgement

The ECE program shares a commitment that is essential to the process of working to be in good relationship with the Indigenous land on which our lives and institutions exist and the peoples of the land.

The ECE program, like the University of Washington, acknowledges that we exist on the unceded lands and waters of the first people of Seattle, Lushootseed speaking Peoples, the Duwamish and Coast Salish people, “stewards of the land since time immemorial.” We honor with gratitude the land itself and the many Indigenous peoples who still thrive in this place—alive and strong.

The University of Washington is committing support the land acknowledgment above through various actions:

  • At the University of Washington, wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House is one act of giving back land and an act of commitment to recruit, support, and retain American Indian and Alaska Native students.
  • The Office of Tribal Relations is located in Seattle and coordinates the government-to-government relationship between the University of Washington and American Indian tribes across Washington state and northwest region.
  • First Nations at UW is an undergraduate intertribal registered student organization at the University of Washington in Seattle. They host events both on and off campus with the intention of educating the community about Native cultures, spreading awareness of issues affecting the Native community, and upholding our respective customs and traditions.

We recognize this acknowledgment is one step in a life-long practice of moving to be in solidarity with Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island and globally. With this in mind, we want to amplify these calls to action:

  • Learn about the people whose land you live on: https://native-land.ca/ is a good starting point and/or text your zip code to 907-312-5085 for more information.
  • Challenge and reject all stereotypes about Indigenous people.
  • Insist that you, your community and relatives, and your early learning centers learn accurate information about the histories, cultures, and contemporary lives of Indigenous peoples both inside and outside of your University and early learning systems.