Honoring Indigenous Inhabitants - Land Acknowledgement Education from Gender & Sexuality Studies at NMSU

We seek to express respect to the Indigenous peoples and Nations on whose lands we learn, work, and live. Respect for our shared lands and acknowledgment of their original custodians is an ongoing commitment.

We, Gender & Sexuality Studies at New Mexico State University, begin by respectfully acknowledging that our institution stands on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Pueblo, Navajo, Apache, and other Indigenous tribes. As the state's Land-Grant University, we recognize that we are situated on unceded territories that have been cared for and inhabited since time immemorial by these Tribal Nations.

New Mexico is home to over 20 federally recognized Native Nations, comprised of nineteen Pueblos, three Apache nations, and the Navajo Nation.Our specific geographic area, Las Cruces, has a particular connection to the Manso and Piro tribes. Additionally, we honor the Tortugas Pueblo, a unique community that has flourished around the Tortugas Mountain. Indeed, these communiites continue to demonstrate an enduring relationship with their ancestral lands. Their deep connection to these lands, passed down through countless generations, is a testament to their strength, their commitment to preserving their heritage, and the continuity of their traditions. In our academic and community work, we aim to honor this enduring relationship and commit ourselves to further understanding, respect, and solidarity with these Indigenous communities.

We understand that the acknowledgment of this complex history and our place within it becomes more significant when it leads to informed actions. We invite all within our Gender & Sexuality Studies community to join us in this commitment, moving forward with intention, cultivating understanding, respect, and solidarity with the Indigenous peoples and Nations on whose lands we learn, work, and live.

Our land acknowledgment is a pledge to ongoing responsibility, education, and action. It is a step towards honoring the traditional custodians of this land, understanding the power of knowledge in addressing disparities, and contributing to a more equitable and inclusive future.