Sisu Coastal Wellness acknowledges and expresses gratitude for the land within the state of Oregon, recognizing the contributions of those who have cared for it over generations. We value the opportunity to develop, learn, work, and establish a community on this land. With utmost respect, we honor the enduring presence of Indigenous communities across time and into the future. Our acknowledgment extends to the ancestral lands of several Indigenous Peoples where our office resides, to include the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Chinook, Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Kathlamet. We acknowledge the vibrant and varied Native communities and healers presently thriving in our local area. We express deep respect and appreciation for their ongoing care and guardianship of these lands throughout the continuum of time—past, present, and future.

What is a Land Acknowledgment? A Land Acknowledgment serves as a statement affirming Indigenous Peoples as the traditional inhabitants of colonized land. Moreover, it recognizes their ongoing stewardship across diverse landscapes, encompassing public, private, urban, and rural areas. This acknowledgment underscores the profound relationship since time immemorial between Indigenous Peoples and their ancestral lands.

Why are Land Acknowledgments Important? Land Acknowledgments play a crucial role in demonstrating a commitment to continual learning, healing, empathy, and growth. Acknowledging the land follows Indigenous protocol and represents an essential step for non-Native individuals to recognize historical wrongdoings, such as forced removal, genocide, and enduring colonial legacies. The implementation of a Land Acknowledgment establishes a foundation for understanding and advocating for equity for all Indigenous Peoples, while also creating space to address the histories of past, present, and future Indigenous communities.

We further want to extend our respect to the nine federally recognized Indigenous Nations of Oregon, including The Klamath, Burns Paiute, Coquille, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Additionally, we acknowledge all other tribes with traditional connections to these lands, and displaced Indigenous Peoples currently residing in Oregon.

These Indigenous Peoples maintain enduring and contemporary relationships with the land, encompassing public lands, as well as areas where settlers have built and managed cities, towns, farms, ranches, and timberlands. We acknowledge the historical displacement of Native communities from the land where we currently reside, contributing to the perpetuation of harmful colonial legacies. It is recognized that a Land Acknowledgment is an evolving and persistent process with a focus on facilitating ongoing learning and growth. May we learn how to heal, teach how to heal and all heal together. - SISU COASTAL WELLNESS