As part of Catskill Mountainkeeper’s inquiry into our relationship with the lands we currently inhabit and in appreciation for the care of these lands by native peoples in prior generations, we offer these words of acknowledgment as a guide to further inquiry. We encourage each person who gives a land acknowledgement to begin with the question “What does this land mean to me and how have I come to be here?” A land acknowledgement that comes from the heart speaks to the heart and can open up healing for injuries that are old or that are continuing. At Mountainkeeper, we are committed to continuing this work.

 

CMK Land Acknowledgment

"As members of the Catskills community and Catskill Mountainkeeper, we are grateful for the opportunity to be here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land before us. We acknowledge we are meeting on the shared traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Munsee Lenape, and their ancestors. These lands and waterways connect to the vast traditional areas of the Haudenosaunee, Esopus Lenape, Munsee Lenape/Monsiyok, and Mohican/Muhhekunneuw Peoples. We recognize and deeply appreciate their connection to and care of this place. These traditional territories were never wholly surrendered and were only claimed by competing French, Dutch and British Crowns, and later by New York State. As we move towards healing past injustices, we must acknowledge the wrongs that have been done and work towards a unified and harmonious path of co-existence and prosperity. This region in particular, as well as other territories in the country as a whole, were shaped and strengthened by the Lenape/Lnapeyok, Haudenosaunee, and other Indigenous Peoples. We deeply appreciate their leadership and work to embrace their teachings on stewardship."