Peaceful Paths | Land Acknowledgement

potano sign gnv_edited_edited_edited.jpg

Land Acknowledgement

Photo by Aude Gagnon-Roberge

Peaceful Paths acknowledges that our organization resides on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Potano (Timucua) and Seminole Tribes. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the stewards of it that have existed since time immemorial.

With this acknowledgment, Peaceful Paths aims to raise awareness regarding the mass murder and forced removal of Native peoples that led to us inhabiting this stolen land now recognized as the state of Florida.

Colonization did not end when White settlers broke treaties and led their campaign of genocide, it is an ongoing process that affects Indigenous communities today. We hope to develop intentional, actionable strategies of harm reduction and building relationships with the original stewards of this land. Optical allyship is not sufficient - we must all continue to unlearn White-washed history and celebrate Indigenous communities.

To learn more about land acknowledgments, the Potano people, the Seminole Tribe, and Indigenous sovereignty, please visit the resources below or connect to the nations directly.

Not in Alachua County? Click the button below to find out what Native territories you are living on.

Native Land Digital

What You Can Do to Support Indigenous Rights:

1. Continue to learn the history of Native communities in your area

2. Provide financial support to tribal nations

3. Support Indigenous businesses and creators

4. Participate in Native American Heritage Month (November) or Indigenous Peoples' Day (Oct. 12)

5. Assist in taking care of the environment around you

6. Support Indigenous-led grassroots change movements and campaigns & encourage others to do so

7. Commit to returning land

8. Learn the real history of Native tribes in the U.S. (i.e. genocide, forced land removal, boarding schools) and their fight for survival

9. Read and learn from Native authors

10. Learn about the missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) and how you can support their families

Image of Indigneous Woman, says Honoring Our MMIW; Defend our sacred, protect our women. Seeding Sovereignty.

“When we talk about land, land is part of who we are. It’s a mixture of our blood, our past, our current, and our future. We carry our ancestors in us, and they’re around us. As you all do.”

Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe)

Click between the different tabs to explore resources by topic!

Teacher's Guide to Florida's Native People by the Florida Museum of Natural History (2002)

Republic of Timucua Website (2022)

American Indian and Indigenous Studies: Potano People/Alachua Tradition by George A. Smathers Libraries

Archaeology of Pre-Columbian Florida by Digital Library of the Caribbean

The Timucua: North Florida’s Early People by National Park Service

Teacher's Guide to Florida's Native People by the Florida Museum of Natural History (2002)

Seminole Tribe of Florida Website (2022)

American Indian and Indigenous Studies: Seminole People by George A. Smathers Libraries (2022)

Her ancestors fled to Mexico to escape slavery 170 years ago. She still sings in English to this day by Washington Post (2019)

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians in Florida Website (2022)

The Mascogo by Lest We Forget (2002)

Archaeology of Pre-Columbian Florida by Digital Library of the Caribbean

A guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgements by Native Governance Center (2019)

Beyond Land Acknowledgment by Native Governance Center (2022)

Action of the month: Know the History of the Land You Inhabit by UF Office of Sustainability (2021)

Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Acknowledgement by US Department of Arts & Culture (2022)

Smathers Library Land Acknowledgement (2022)

Gainesville residents, professors spotlight Alachua County’s Indigenous history by The Independent FL Alligator (2022)

Gainesville celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day by The Independent FL Alligator (2021)

The Law School Burial Mound Marker, Gainesville, FL by UNF Digital Commons (2012)

How Gainesville is recognizing its history on Indigenous Peoples Day by WUFT (2021)

Land Acknowledgement by Calgary Foundation (2019)

Histories of Indigenous Sovereignty in Action: What is it and Why Does it Matter? by Organization of American Historians (2022)

What is: Indigenous Sovereignty and Tribal Sovereignty by Indigenous Environmental Network (2022)

Indigenous Sovereignty: One Land Plot at a Time video by KQED (2018)

Indigenous Women Keep Going Missing in Montana video by Vice News (2021)

6 Ways You Can Take Action to Help & Support Native Americans by Global Citizen (2020)

Placemaker’s Blog: Mary Lyons - Water Protector by Verve

Donate to National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, MMIW USA, Native Hope, Native American Rights Fund, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW)

20 ESSENTIAL INDIGENOUS MOVIES FROM NORTH AMERICA by Rotten Tomatoes

100 Native American Children’s Books by Colours of Us (2016)

List of Books by First Nations Development Institute

11 Influential Native American Artists by Artsy

8 new Native American shows and movies you can stream now - and 3 coming soon by The Oklahoman (2022)

Statement, design, and resources curated by Alex Hernandez (they/she) - 2Spirit advocate/support group facilitator