city council

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

The Moorhead City Council began discussing and then tabled discussion Monday of adopting what’s called a “land acknowledgment” – a statement recognizing indigenous peoples’ roles as traditional stewards of the land on which the city was built.

If adopted as requested, the statement crafted by the city’s Human Rights Commission would be read as part of the introductory comments at each city council meeting. It states: “We, the Moorhead City Council, collectively and with gratitude acknowledge the sacred land the City of Moorhead is build upon. We acknowledge the people who have resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Dakota, Ojibwe, Metis and all indigenous communities permeates this land. The contribution of the indigenous people shall not be forgotten, nor will the success that is achieved by the people of the land. We will continue to educate, advocate, honor and unite for indigenous peoples of this land.”

Human Rights Commission member Siham Amedy brought the commission’s request to the council. It explained a land acknowledgment is “a formal statement that recognizes and respects indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of the land and the enduring relationships that exist between indigenous people and tribes who have been living and working the land for tens of thousands of years.”

Similar land acknowledgments have been adopted by a variety of institutions and municipalities in recent years. The practice has been become prominent in Australia, New Zealand and Canada since 2000. Here in the U.S., it has become common among museums, universities and organizations, starting on the East Coast and spreading across much of the nation. In 2020, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, became one of the first cities to adopt the practice, along with Denver, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and Flagstaff. It has also been implemented by the National Park Service and NASA, and has been included at venues ranging from Canadian Hockey League games and sessions of the Canadian Parliament to the Academy Awards and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Council member Deb White, the group’s liaison with the Human Rights Commission, said making the acknowledgment part of their meetings is a “small act, but one that’s very meaningful.” She added, “It’s a first step … a way to remind ourselves that we are continually striving to make Moorhead a welcoming place for everyone.”

While expressing their support for the measure, several council members said its adoption with little preparation seems premature. “It just seems rushed,” Matt Gilbertson said. “Are there things we might do other than reading before every meeting, like a plaque or something?”

Chuck Hendrickson concurred. “I don’t have a problem with this. But are we going to keep adding other things before our meetings?” Fellow member Larry Seljevold questioned whether the readings “at every single meeting” would cause the practice to lose its significance.

Laura Caroon, who had originally moved to adopt the draft resolution, substituted a motion to table the request and examine it more at a coming meeting.