Land Acknowledgement and Since Time Immemorial

Starting last school year, the Issaquah School District is including land acknowledgments at District events, meetings, and other gatherings.

Land acknowledgments are one of many ways the District acknowledges that our community resides on indigenous land. It also recognizes the Native Peoples as the original caretakers of this land.

In addition to land acknowledgments, the District is partnering with the Snoqualmie tribe to create the "Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State" curriculum.

The District is also providing staff with training opportunities regarding the history, current needs, and life of the tribe.

Land acknowledgment is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native nations and communities. It is used by Native Peoples and non- Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are original stewards (caretakers) of the lands on which we now live, work, and play.

The greater part of the Issaquah School District is located on land of the Snoqualmie Tribe. Some District south-end schools are located on Duwamish land.

Part of the "Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty" curriculum encourages schools to teach the inquiry-based curriculum in the context of the tribe in their own communities.

To learn more about the Ancestral Lands movement, visit The Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Lands Movement (https://snoqualmietribe.us/ snoqualmie-tribe-ancestrallands-movement/).

The organization seeks to educate the public about the Snoqualmie people as they have lived in the southern Salish Sea region since time immemorial. They seek to share the significance of these lands and provide information to the general public on how they can help the tribe in respecting, restoring, and protecting these lands. Through education and awareness, individuals can integrate land acknowledgment and respect for the Snoqualmie Tribe into their recreational practices and experiences.

Land Acknowledgement for Snoqualmie and Duwamish:

I acknowledge that I am on the Indigenous Land of Coast Salish peoples who have reserved treaty rights to this land, specifically the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and Duwamish. We thank these caretakers of this land who have lived and continue to live here since time immemorial.