Guidance for Institutional Use
Land Acknowledgement Overview and Guidelines
The attached Land Acknowledgement is the result of an intentional year-long process grounded in Indigenous sovereignty, relational accountability, and respect for the Gabrielino people as the original stewards of the land on which Mt. SAC stands. This Land Acknowledgement has been formally approved by our local Gabrielino Tribe, ensuring cultural accuracy, consent, and accountability to the community whose land the campus occupies.
This collaborative process intentionally centered Indigenous leadership, faculty partnership, and student perspectives to reflect a model of shared responsibility. Intentional action was implemented through relational accountability for how Indigenous presence and ongoing stewardship are named and honored.
The creation of this Land Acknowledgement was developed in relationship with the following contributors and representatives:
- Jamie Rocha, Gabrielino Secretary of Press, representing the Gabrielino Tribe
- Frances Borella, Ph.D. representing Mt. SAC faculty
- Primavera Reza-Nakonechny, Ed.D. representing the First Peoples Native Center at Mt. SAC
- NAISA (Native American and Inter-tribal Student Alliance), representing the student voice
Guidance for Institutional Use
Two approved versions of the Land Acknowledgement are attached with guidelines listed below for respectful implementation of a Formal Version and an Abbreviated Version. These guidelines were intentionally created to support consistency and respect while avoiding overuse or dilution of the Land Acknowledgement.
Official Formal Version
- Recited at the beginning of formal events and major institutional gatherings (i.e. Commencement, Board Meetings, Flex Day, Conferences, major campus events …)
- Used at the start of a series of meetings or sessions to establish tone and accountability
- Utilized for important events and professional development sessions (i.e. End of the Year Celebrations, New Employee Orientation, Employee Professional Development, …)
- Included on department webpages and online presence
- Used in formal communications to the wider campus and external community
Abbreviated Version
- Recited during subsequent meetings within a series after the longer version has been stated
- Used for informal or routine meetings and gatherings (i.e. committee meetings, departmental meetings, ….)
- Included in emails, pamphlets, and brief written communications
Instructional Use
- Either version may be included in course syllabi
- Faculty are encouraged, when appropriate, to contextualize the Land Acknowledgement within course content
Mt. San Antonio College Abbreviated Land Acknowledgement
Mt. San Antonio College acknowledges and recognizes that the land in which we occupy is the unceded ancestral territory of the Gabrielino-Shoshone, Gabrielino-Tongva, and Gabrielino-Kizh nations, the Indigenous peoples of this region since time immemorial.
We recognize this land acknowledgement as an opportunity for Mt. SAC to advocate for Indigenous students through support of the First Peoples Native Center and continued learning and shared knowledge for Native American and Indigenous peoples.
- Mt. San Antonio College First Peoples Native Center, https://www.mtsac.edu/fpnc/ | fpnc@mtsac.edu
