Land Acknowledgment

© Photo by Tommy Theis for Kansas State University

As the first land-grant institution established under the 1862 Morrill Act, Kansas State University begins and continues through Indigenous contexts. We acknowledge that the state is home to many Indigenous nations, including the Kaw, Osage and Pawnee, among others. The name "Kansas" itself originates from the Kaw word "Kaáⁿze," meaning people of the south wind. Kansas is currently home to four federally recognized nations, the Prairie Band Potawatomi, the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska. Through ongoing partnerships, education initiatives, and community collaboration, Kansas State University strives to build relationships with these sovereign nations grounded in reciprocity, responsibility, and respect.

• What is a Land Acknowledgment?

  A land acknowledgment is a powerful way of showing respect and gratitude to those whose territory we occupy. It moves us towards an accurate accounting of historical events. Land acknowledgments are not, however, substitutes for relationships and reciprocity with Indigenous people.

• Why the Land Acknowledgment is Important

  The land acknowledgment is more than a statement. It:

  • Fosters recognition of how colonization of Indigenous people and their lands has shaped our university's policies, practices, curricula, and activities.
  • Affirms and empowers Indigenous people at Kansas State University and prompts conversations about the presence and representation of Indigenous people in our personnel, curricula, goals, and activities.
  • Is the first step toward building authentic relationships with Indigenous people and communities.
  • Is an integral part of the process of preparing students to enter into ethically responsible relationships and partnerships with Indigenous people in their chosen fields and futute endeavors.
  • Encourages us to ask ethical questions about who we are as a university community and what we aspire to become in our relationship with Indigenous peoples and their knowledge systems.
  • Acknowledges the ongoing presence and contributions of Indigenous students, faculty, staff, and community members at Kansas State University.
  • Acknowledges the historical and ongoing injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples while committing to education, advocacy, and allyship.
• What are the Outcomes and Applications of the Land Acknowledgment

  The land acknowledgment should be used in print, online, and verbally at all major official Kansas State University events (such as Convocation, Commencement, and New Student Orientation), programs (such as diversity and inclusion activities, cultural events, and academic lectures), and other appropriate forums (syllabi, websites, job descriptions and searches, student and employee orientations, official publications, etc.).

  Using the full version of the acknowledgment is preferable when time and context allow, but the short version may be more appropriate for some instances such as brief introductions or space-limited publications.

  When reading the acknowledgment aloud, please do so with intention, respect, and appropriate pauses to allow for reflection on its meaning and significance.

Our Ongoing Commitment

This land acknowledgment represents the beginning of our work, not the end. Kansas State University is committed to:

• Supporting Indigenous students through scholarships, mentorship, and culturally responsive programming
• Incorporating Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into our curricula and research
• Building and maintaining relationships with tribal governments and Indigenous communities
• Providing education about Indigenous history, culture, and contemporary issues
• Examining and addressing institutional policies that may perpetuate harm to Indigenous communities
• Creating spaces for Indigenous voices and leadership within our university community
• Developing and communicating an accurate and detailed accounting of the Kansas State University Land Grant History