We say the following with the understanding that land does not require you to confirm it exists but that you reciprocate the care it has given you and fight for its return to the indigenous people.

Let this decolonial healing space be an offering to the land and our ancestors that represents our respect and commitment to our collective liberation.

We humbly and actively fight for the rights of the indigenous people of this land: the Lenni Lenape, Shawnee, and Hodinöhšönih (hoe-den-ah-show-nee)—the six Nations, that is, the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, Cayuga and Tuscarora (tus-ka-roar-ah).

We are gathered today on Jö:deogë’ (joan-day-o-gan’t), an Onödowa'ga (ono-do-wah-gah) or Seneca word for Pittsburgh or “between two rivers”: the welhik hane (well-ick hah-neh) and Mënaonkihëla (men-aw-n-gee-ah-luh). These are the Lenape words for the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, which translate to the “best-flowing river of the hills” and “where the banks cave in and erode.”

We are reminded that we are voluntary or involuntary uninvited settlers and colonizers on indigenous land. Let this land statement be an opening for all of us to contemplate a way to join in decolonial and indigenous movements for sovereignty and self-determination.

If you would like to be more involved just talk to your TC therapist for local community connections and action. Find out whose land you occupy here.

Let’s Get Free