Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Land Acknowledgements (LAs) have become common in recent years across cities, sports organizations, universities, and other institutions. However, many were created to avoid criticism rather than to pay genuine respect. Tribal members and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars emphasize that LAs have specific criteria they must meet to be considered meaningful. These criteria include recognition of the past, promoting tribal sovereignty, emphasizing that Natives are still here, and a relationship is established with the tribes being acknowledged. LAs should promote tribal sovereignty and establish strong relationships with the communities they acknowledge. The research in this paper draws on academic articles, examples shared on official websites, and conversations with tribal v members to assess how genuine certain LAs are. The LAs analyzed include those of the National Hockey League team the Chicago Blackhawks, The University of Texas at Arlington, and the City of Flagstaff, Arizona. The findings show that most LAs are done for good reasons, but others are for the sake of appearance. A strong LA actively supports the nation it acknowledges, as seen in the Chicago Blackhawks’ approach. The University of Texas at Arlington’s LA meets most standards but could improve, while the City of Flagstaff, Arizona’s statement falls short. True respect requires moving beyond statements to genuine, continuous engagement with Indigenous nations.
Publication Date
Fall 11-14-2025
Language
English
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Sam Haynes
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Trevino, Kendall A., "Beyond Words: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Land Acknowledgements" (2025). 2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects. 28.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2025/28