Acknowledging Native Peoples at UCLA Events

Campus Update

Chancellor Block and Special Advisor Mishuana Goeman sent the following message to UCLA Deans, Directors, Department Chairs and Administrative Officers.

As indicated in the announcement regarding the appointment of Mishuana Goeman as Special Advisor to the Chancellor on Native American and Indigenous Affairs, it is important that UCLA prioritize respect for both the historic culture and the contemporary presence of American Indians throughout California, and especially in the Los Angeles area.

To that end, and particularly as a public and land-grant institution, it is important for UCLA to acknowledge that our campus resides on what was historically the homeland of indigenous peoples who were dispossessed of their land. You may have noticed acknowledgements of the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples at several UCLA events near the end of the last academic year, including our Centennial Celebration launch and Bruin Day.

We encourage all UCLA schools, departments, institutes, units and other campus entities to include a similar acknowledgement at any significant public events that you host on campus property. This can be communicated in a variety of ways that work best for your particular event. You may include the language in a printed event program or, if you prefer, you can ask your emcees to make a brief verbal acknowledgement during their welcome remarks.

This request should only apply to events physically located on UCLA campus property and hosted by an official campus unit. Events that are hosted on campus by an entity other than UCLA are not expected to include the acknowledgement.

UCLA has worked with Tongva cultural leaders to establish the following options for these acknowledgements, any of which can be used:

• As a land grant institution, the _____ at UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands).

• The ____ at UCLA acknowledges our presence on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples.

• The ____ at UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). As a land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

Audio files that can aid in proper pronunciation for the Tongva-language words are available at the top of the UCLA American Indian Studies Center website.

If you have any questions, please email chancellor@ucla.edu. Thank you for helping us ensure UCLA shows respect and appreciation for indigenous communities.