November is Native American Heritage Month. Earlier this fall, the NY Upstate ASLA Chapter developed an Indigenous Land Acknowledgement with input from the Seneca Nation to recognize the indigenous peoples who have been dispossessed from the homelands and territories within Upstate NY. We encourage our membership to reflect on this statement and learn more about the Native American community near you!
The NY Upstate Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional land of the Haudenosaunee (ho-dee-no-SHOW-nee) past and present, the Shinnecock Nation, the Unkechaug Nation, the Stockbridge-Munsee, the Lenni Lenape, and others no longer living in the region. Indigenous peoples do not believe that the land and waters belong to them, but that they belong to the land and waters. With this Land Acknowledgement, we honor, with gratitude, these communities and, through their example, we commit ourselves to honoring the earth and all of her gifts.
Note: This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement was developed with input from the Seneca Nation THPO Director.
See videos below from Project 562 to learn more about local Oneida and Onondaga members.