Austin, TX

I live and work on the Indigenous lands of Turtle Island, the ancestral name for what is now called North America.

Although other peoples have connections to this land and this land is not necessarily claimed as ancestral or traditional land by all, these are some of the Indigenous Peoples connected to this land: the Tonkawa, the Apache, the Ysleta del sur Pueblo, the Lipan Apache Tribe, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians, the Coahuitlecan, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Tribe of Texas, Carrizo & Comecrudo, Tigua Pueblo, Caddo, Comanche, Kiowa, Wichita, Chickasaw, and Waco peoples.

I want to acknowledge all Indigenous peoples who have stewarded the lands we call Texas, which are occupied and unceded. I acknowledge the Black and Tejanx people whose lives and labor have also been exploited in the colonization of this place.

In honoring and celebrating the land here, I hope to also honor and celebrate the Indigenous Peoples that have resided, thrived, and taken care of the land here, now and before me.

Virtual Work

As I also work virtually, I recognize and reflect upon the broader impacts our modern conveniences have on indigenous communities globally. The technologies that make our virtual connection possible—from the devices we use to the servers that host our digital interactions—rely heavily on materials extracted often at a great human and environmental cost. I acknowledge the communities, particularly in regions like the Congo, who have been disproportionately affected by the global demand for these resources. These communities suffer from exploitative labor practices, including child labor, and the unsustainable extraction of local resources which are essential for our digital connectivity. I commit to greater awareness and actions that support fair and ethical practices that honor and respect the rights and well-being of all indigenous peoples impacted by these global supply chains.

Land Acknowledgements are Not Enough

I acknowledge the ongoing legacy of killing, displacing, cultural and literal genocide and stealing the land of Indigenous People and unaddressed injustices. I acknowledge the need to continue learning about, celebrating, and being mindful of the Land and the Indigenous Peoples connected to it. Both individually and collectively, I deeply value the preservation and protection of both people and land. I acknowledge the need to continue the work of decolonization and learn from and honor, with gratitude and appreciation, the Indigenous Peoples of this land. I, and we, can do this by learning and by actively and intentionally including and inviting Indigenous voices, narratives, representation, and people into our work.