APA-IL Land Acknowledgement Statement

A land acknowledgement is a statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous peoples as traditional guardians of lands and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories. We would like to acknowledge and recognize that the members of the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter (APA-IL) live and work on the land of multiple native nations, which includes the ancestral lands of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Piankashaw, Wea, Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Chickasaw Nations.

Planners work on land use issues every day, and these lands were the traditional birthright of Indigenous peoples who were forcibly removed and who have faced centuries of struggle for survival and identity in the wake of dispossession. We acknowledge this land and honor the legacy, experience, and existence of these Indigenous peoples.

While it is important to craft a land acknowledgement statement, our actions will speak louder than our words. We have a responsibility to reach out to these Indigenous peoples and work together as we move forward as a diverse and inclusive planning organization. The state of Illinois is currently home to more than 75,000 tribal members, including many urban Indigenous peoples, who are often left out of the planning process. We encourage planners to find concrete ways to use their time to support the needs and processes of Indigenous communities now and in the future. We must find ways to right historical wrongs and support Indigenous communities' struggles for self-determination.

Pronunciation Guide:

Peoria (Pea-Or-E-ah)

Kaskaskia (Kahs-KAHS-kee-ah)

Piankashaw (Pea-AN-kah-shah)

Wea (Way-ah)

Miami (My-Am-E)

Mascoutin (Mah-SCOH-tin)

Odawa (Oh-DAH-wah)

Sauk (SAH-uk)

Mesquaki (Meh-skw-AH-kee)

Kickapoo (KICK-a-poo)

Potawatomi (Pot-tah-WAH-tah-mee)

Ojibwe (Oh-JIB-way)

Chickasaw (CHIK-a-saw)

Click here for audio recordings of these pronunciations, provided by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.