A land acknowledgment is a statement formally recognizing the historical and continuing connection between Indigenous peoples and the land.
Our acknowledgement aims to honor the ancestors of the Indigenous peoples who were the original stewards of these lands, waters, flora, and fauna.
Strathmore’s 16-acre campus is located on the unceded ancestral land of the Piscataway Conoy People. Piscataway Conoy means "People of Where the Waters Blend Below the Rapids.”
Strathmore recognizes people of many sovereign Indigenous Nations have resided in this region. We respectfully acknowledge the rich culture and contributions of all Indigenous communities— past, present, and future.
OUR JOURNEY
In 2021, Strathmore joined a land acknowledgement working group of over 15 Maryland arts organizations. Together, we collaborated on research and resources to create authentic and individualized land acknowledgements for each organization.
We recognize that the full history of the land we inhabit may not be captured in history books, making it vital to hear the perspectives of those who lived here before us. Select members of the working group led interviews with tribal elders and spokespersons, who were compensated for their participation. The entire working group had access to the videos and transcripts of these conversations.
We understand that land acknowledgements may be viewed as performative, but we are committed to honoring these communities through the arts, building lasting relationships, and engaging in meaningful collaboration.
Furthermore, we recognize there may be others who have resided on or cared for the land, and we will continue to learn and acknowledge them over time.