Creating and Writing Land Acknowledgements

This lesson asks students to critically analyze and engage with Land Acknowledgements by understanding their connection to ongoing movements for land return and challenging terminologies of western expansion like manifest destiny and “Firsting and Lasting.” Students will explore best practices for writing a land acknowledgement and critical understanding of how word choice and engagement with tribal voices can clarify the role of land acknowledgments personally/ at work/ and with government or other institutions (like school). Students will be asked to interpret words and phrases used in a text including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings and analyze the specific word choice, style, tone, and format used. They will also be asked to compose their own land acknowledgement.