Land Acknowledgment
The Center for Social Solutions acknowledges that the University of Michigan was built on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg (including the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Boodewadomi) and Wyandot, past, present, and future. The indigenous peoples granted their land in exchange for a guarantee that education at U-M would be equitable and accessible to indigenous peoples and other Michigan residents.
We assert the sovereignty of tribal lands and acknowledge the painful historical and ongoing genocide, forced assimilation, and displacement of Native communities in the establishment of U-M. We affirm the profound contributions of Native American peoples to this institution and the University's commitment to educate children of Native ancestors.
Enslaved Peoples' Labor Acknowledgment
We recognize, acknowledge, and affirm the historic and contemporary solidarities and intersections between Black and Indigenous peoples.
We acknowledge the extraction of brilliance, energy, and life for labor forced upon people of African descent for more than 400 years. As an organization, we are dedicated to advancing solutions that promote equality, dismantle oppressive systems, and uplift the voices and experiences of marginalized communities. We understand that acknowledging the labor of enslaved peoples is an essential step in addressing the historical and present-day injustices that continue to shape our society.
We carry our ancestors within us, and we are continually called to be better. We commit to dismantling racism in spaces of our work. We invite you to work beside us to create change.
