In May 2022, after a year-long exploration of what “land acknowledgment” means for Brown University in the context of its relationship to Native and Indigenous peoples and lands, the University adopted a set of commitments to establish a foundation for advancing education and broader meaningful engagement about actions and programming that Brown can pursue.

These commitments included a formal land acknowledgment statement to recognize, honor and create a meaningful acknowledgment of the Narragansett Indian Tribe and their connection to the land on College Hill. Land acknowledgment often is considered a first step in a process of truth-telling and a commitment to building understanding of — and accountability to — a history of dispossession.

Other commitments focused on strengthening investment and collaboration in scholarship, education and research, and strengthening support for building and honoring community among Native and Indigenous peoples on campus and locally. This website reflects how Brown’s work to fulfill the commitments has evolved over years. The commitments have yielded an action-oriented framework that animates Brown’s current and continuing efforts.