We acknowledge the land we are on, Ogha Po’geh (White Shell Water Place), which has been the home of the Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, and Keresan peoples, as well as the Diné (Navajo), Jicarilla Apache, Cochiti, Taos, Hopi, and other Indigenous nations. These communities have long held a deep, vital connection to this land, shaping its significance and sustaining it through their practices. Despite centuries of colonial violence and efforts to erase their presence, their cultures and traditions remain intrinsic to this place.
We recognize the ongoing history of violence, forced displacement, and suppression—systems designed to dismantle Indigenous ways of life. Through settler colonial policies, these communities were subjected to attempts to strip them of sovereignty, forcibly displace them, and erase their cultures. Despite this, they continue to fight for their rights, protect their traditions, and restore what was taken. This acknowledgment is a commitment to amplify their voices and support their continued struggles for justice, recognition, and sovereignty.