Governors State University recently held a ceremony to acknowledge and honor the Indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the land where the university now stands.
The ceremony emphasized the importance of recognizing the historical and ongoing presence of Indigenous communities. GovState student and member of the Navajo Nation, Rojean Kope, read the land acknowledgment statement to an audience gathered near the bell tower.
“Governors State University in University Park occupies land that was originally the ancestral homelands of various Native Nations, including the Bodwéwadmi (Potawatomi), Kaskaskia, Peoria, Myaamia (Miami), Očhéthi Šakówin (Sioux), Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and many others. As an institution dedicated to education and truth, we acknowledge that this land was unjustly taken from Native inhabitants. The original Native peoples held these lands sacred for thousands of years, and they remain important to Native communities today. We recognize and respect the many thriving native communities in the Chicago land area, home to the largest urban Native populations, representing over 175 tribal nations.”
The above statement will be read at all GovState events.
“We gather on these grounds with a deep sense of pride and respect and the deep sense of gratitude,” said GovState President Dr. Cheryl Green. “As we dedicate this land acknowledgment during Native American Heritage Month, we recognize that Governors State University stands on the traditional homelands of various Indian councils, tribes and Indigenous nations who have served as its stewards across generations.”
The land acknowledgment event included Native Americans from many different tribes connected to GovState and the broader Indigenous community of the Chicago area. Members of the Eastern Delaware Nation, Erick Ramsey and Chief Wade Ramsey, shared traditional songs and drumming. Native American foods, crafts, and a live painting also were featured.
GovState professor Jessica Scott, a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, highlighted the significance of the ceremony. “It’s imperative that GSU recognize the Native American Tribes here in Illinois because it’s their land that we occupy, and it was time that we paid homage to those Tribes,” she said. “I’m happy that GSU has a Land Acknowledgement Statement that will now be read at all public campus events because the Illinois Native American Tribes deserve that respect and recognition.” Scott’s sister, Michele Scott, a tribal councilwoman for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, presented blankets to Green and Dr.Joi Patterson, GovState’s chief diversity officer.
“As a Native American Tribe from the East Coast, we are pleased to know that GSU is recognizing Illinois Tribes; so, it was our pleasure to dedicate our blanket to Governors State University,” Scott said. “More so, it was a privilege and an honor working alongside the planning committee members. I’m thrilled that I was a part of the ceremony as a faculty member and as a Native American.”
Jay Young, an award-winning photojournalist, a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and co-executive director of the American Indian Center of Chicago, closed the ceremony by sharing his family’s history of forced displacement and resilience. His story served as a reminder of the historical and present-day challenges faced by Indigenous peoples.
GovState’s Land Acknowledgement ceremony represents a significant step towards honoring Indigenous heritage. The university plans to continue its commitment to recognizing and respecting Indigenous communities through ongoing initiatives and education.