The League of Women Voters of Marin County lives and meets on the ancestral, traditional lands of the Coast Miwok people.
We acknowledge and honor the Coast Miwok Nation and are grateful for the present-day community of the Federally Recognized Tribe, The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria, comprised of direct descendants of Coast Miwok. We also acknowledge other contemporary Indigenous groups who live and work in Marin.
We acknowledge the deep harm done by settler-colonialism through religious and governmental groups and individuals. They attempted to erase the Coast Miwok and other Indigenous nations by stealing their land, violating tribal sovereignty, and destroying their culture.
We also acknowledge our own loss of the wisdom of the land and water protectors as we now face the disruption of thousands of years of good stewardship of this land.
We commit to creating a culture of honor. We respect the enduring relationship that exists between Coast Miwok and Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories. We strive to be good guests of the Coast Miwok people as we live side by side in this paradise, we now call Marin County.
KEEP READING to learn about the development of this land acknowledgement—
its purpose, our process, next steps for our League, resources and further reading.
Native Land Acknowledgment Statement Development
In the fall of 2022, the board voted on a new protocol for adding a Native Land and Nation Acknowledgment to introductions made at our public meetings. While land and nation acknowledgments are rooted in ancient and current Native traditions and protocols, this new practice of non-native organizations acknowledging the land they live and work on is a gesture toward creating a more equitable and inclusive community.
PROCESS
The board took up the work of creating a Native Land Acknowledgment early in 2022. We researched other land acknowledgments among leagues across the United States and in organizations in Marin County. From that research, we looked to what was in our hearts and what we thought was important to acknowledge.
Our goal was to create an ongoing relationship with the Coast Miwok Nation, as represented by the present -day community of the Federally Recognized Tribe, The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria (“TFIGR”). TFIGR has a strong commitment to encouraging voting for all its members and the surrounding community.
After we drafted the language, it was approved by the Board for submission to the Tribal Council of TFIGR. After input from the Tribal Council of TFIGR, it was approved by the Board.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LAND AND NATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT?
To take a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture and toward inviting and honoring the truth.
To use this Simple way to show respect.
To counter the “Christian Doctrine of Discovery” with the true story of the people who were already living in North and South America.
To create a broader public awareness of the history of Indigenous Nations of California that has led to this moment.
To begin to repair relationships with Native communities and with the land.
DEEP DIVE ON PROCESS
First, we learned about our local Tribe, The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria, who were in Marin thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers and western expansion.
Next, we did a review of online resources for Land Acknowledgments. Here are some websites and presentations we read.
Understanding and Partnering With Native American Communities July 24, 2020 by the LWVUS Webinar
Land Acknowledgment Guidance Document by the LWV of Wisconsin
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement by the Native Governance Center
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, Explained by Teen Vogue
Territory Acknowledgement by Native Land
Honor Native Land by The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture
After that, we did a review of the Land Acknowledgments of Marin County Organizations. Some examples of what we looked at are:
§ Spirit Rock – Land Acknowledgment, Background, History, & Resources
§ Dominican University of San Rafael – Land Acknowledgment Statement & Process of developing Statement & Instructions for use
WHAT’S NEXT?
There is much to be learned about the history of genocide and brutality that the settlers in the US, and in California in particular, perpetrated against the Indians here. There is also much to be learned about the thriving Indigenous communities living in Marin, Sonoma and the San Francisco Bay Area. A land and Nation acknowledgment is a step, but it is only the beginning.
As part of the Voter Service Outreach, we seek to build a relationship with The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria and the California Native Vote Project to support the community on issues of importance to the tribe and the League.
ONLINE RESOURCES
The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria are a Federally Recognized Tribe comprised of direct descendants of Coast Miwok
The California Native Vote Project’s mission is to achieve equity and justice for Native American children, families and communities by increasing Native civic participation and power.
Native Vote is a non-partisan initiative of the National Congress of American Indians and partners with Native Vote coordinators throughout the country to revitalize civic engagement in Indian Country. Tribes are America's first governments and Native Vote works to ensure all Native citizens participate in shaping the future of their communities.
Illuminative is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of—and challenging the narrative about—Native peoples.
Native Governance Center is a Native-led nonprofit dedicated to assisting Native nations in strengthening their governance systems and capacity to exercise sovereignty.
LOCAL INFORMATION
The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria are a Federally Recognized Tribe comprised of direct descendants of Coast Miwok
The Museum of the American Indian, located in Novato, uplifts, supports, and makes visible the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas by offering authentic educational programs and cultural resources to Marin and the greater Bay Area.
The Alliance for Felix Cove advocates for the protection and restoration of the only remaining 19th century Tomalko (Coast Miwok Tomales Bay)-built home at Point Reyes National Seashore. The Alliance aims to re-indigenize the ancestral homelands of the Felix Family—the last Tomalko family to live on the western shores of Tomales Bay at Felix Cove known as Laird’s Landing.
The Cultural Conservatory’s mission is to protect and restore Indigenous cultures, empowering them in the direct application of traditional knowledge and practices on their ancestral lands.
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is an urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people.
The present-day Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is comprised of all of the known surviving American Indian lineages aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay region who trace their ancestry through the Missions Dolores, Santa Clara, and San Jose; and who were also members of the historic Federally Recognized Verona Band of Alameda County.
The Marin American Indian Alliance provides a venue for tribal cultural and spiritual gatherings where, using traditional intertribal prayers and drumming, American Indians within Marin County and in the Bay Area can connect with their heritage to maintain self-esteem and cultural pride. The main objective is to provide education, information resources, and a support network system for our Native American Indian Community.
FURTHER READING
Extensive book list from First Nations, an organization created to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. https://www.firstnations.org/knowledge-center/books/
Articles on Native History in California: California Library
Vision Maker Media’s mission is empowering and engaging Native people to share stories. Vision Maker Media works with Native producers to develop, produce, and distribute programs to educate audiences and to empower Native youth to grow up with stories that represent their backgrounds and with figures that embody their culture.