Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgment is a formal statement presented at the beginning of public events and gatherings that recognizes and honors Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land.
We recognize the land because it “is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. It is important to understand the long-standing history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history. Land acknowledgments do not exist in a past tense or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol.” lspirg.org/knowtheland
The following statement was created with input from the Chief and Vice Chief of the Waccamaw Indian People, as well as faculty and staff colleagues. It can be read aloud or distributed by anyone who wishes to use it -- at public or private events -- on University property.
Land Acknowledgement | As an institution that expresses the responsibility to be the role model in assuring fair and honest treatment with whom it interacts and sustainable stewardship of resources entrusted to it, we recognize the importance of acknowledging the original habitants of the land on which we reside. Coastal Carolina University is located on the ancestral land of the Waccamaw Indian People and other American Indian Nations. Through the operations of CCU, we honor and express our gratitude to the ancestors, current peoples, and future generations to come.