Land Acknowledgement Statement
for the Digital Commonwealth
As part of Digital Commonwealth’s mission to support the creation, management, and dissemination of cultural heritage materials, we must acknowledge Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of the land, and the enduring relationship that exists between them and their traditional territories. We acknowledge that the boundaries that created Massachusetts were arbitrary and a product of the settlers. We honor the land on which the Digital Commonwealth member institutions sit as the traditional territory of tribal nations. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from their territory, and other atrocities connected with colonization. We honor and respect the many diverse indigenous people connected to this land on which we gather, and our acknowledgement is one action we can take to correct the stories and practices that erase Indigenous People’s history and culture.
Identified tribes and/or nations of Massachusetts
Historical nations:
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Mahican
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Mashpee
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Massachuset
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Nauset
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Nipmuc
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Pennacook
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Pocomtuc
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Stockbridge
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Wampanoag
Present day nations and tribes:
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Nipmuc Nation (Bands include the Hassanamisco, Natick)
In the event that we have an incorrect link or are missing an existing band/nation, please let us know so that we may correct our error.
Suggested readings
Land Acknowledgement — Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness
A guide to Indigenous land acknowledgment
‘We are all on Native Land: A conversation about Land Acknowledgements’ YouTube video
Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land (mapping of native lands)
