Land Acknowledgment

SUNY Canton would like to acknowledge with respect the Mohawk Nation (Kanienʼkehá꞉ka), Protectors of the Eastern Door of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the indigenous peoples on whose ancestral lands and unceded territory SUNY Canton now stands. We honor the traditional caretakers of this land and acknowledge the forced removal and multigenerational injustices towards past and present Indigenous peoples. We respect those whose ancestors are connected to this land we gather on and acknowledge the enduring relationship of Indigenous peoples with their traditional territories. SUNY Canton as an institution commits to holding itself accountable as an Indigenous partner.

Campus aerial with Kennedy Hall in the foreground

When to Use the Land Acknowledgement

The Acknowledgement may be shared at events such as official College ceremonies, critical conversations, performances, and/or conferences. College faculty, staff, and student organizations are welcome to use the Land Acknowledgement when deemed appropriate.

Why We Have a Land Acknowledgement

It is important to understand the history that brought people to the land on which they reside. A Land Acknowledgement Statement seeks to show respect, recognition, and gratitude to Indigenous Peoples who call the land home.