one of my issues with land acknowledgements is that the focus seems to be "if you are committed to social justice, you will do them, because other groups in other places that are committed to social justice do them." whereas different regions and places have different histories. Going back to California politics, there wasn't just one "original sin" committed against the Indigenous people, and their descendants aren't still in power / in place. In many parts of the state, land has been contested and subsequent oppressed groups had to fight for the right to own, to occupy land and buildings. In other parts of North America, where this land acknowledgement practice originated, it is much simpler. ... plus, it kinda occludes the fact that many of us don't "own" the land we occupy to begin with. Like, I'm a tenant on a month to month lease, and I live in a multi-story building ... there are multiple ways in which the "land I'm on" doesn't belong to me.
― sarahell, Tuesday, 24 May 2022 17:49 (one year ago) link