Brown has developed its land acknowledgment statement to recognize and honor the fact that the University is located within the ancestral homelands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Acknowledging this fact, and taking action to help support the Narragansett Indian Tribe (and other Indigenous peoples of the region), educate our community and the broader public, and further support Native American and Indigenous studies and students, are critical steps to understanding our shared history and developing strong relationships into the future.
Land Acknowledgment
Land Acknowledgment Statement
Land Acknowledgment Statement
"Brown University is located in Providence, Rhode Island, on lands that are within the ancestral homelands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. We acknowledge that beginning with colonization and continuing for centuries the Narragansett Indian Tribe have been dispossessed of most of their ancestral lands in Rhode Island by the actions of individuals and institutions. We acknowledge our responsibility to understand and respond to those actions. The Narragansett Indian Tribe, whose ancestors stewarded these lands with great care, continues as a sovereign nation today. We commit to working together to honor our past and build our future with truth."
Brief Version of Statement
While the land acknowledgment statement is relatively brief and should generally be used in its entirety, the University recognizes that in some circumstances an even briefer statement might be preferable. In such circumstances the recommendation is to use the following portion of the statement:
“Brown University is located in Providence, Rhode Island, on lands that are within the ancestral homelands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The Narragansett Indian Tribe, whose ancestors stewarded these lands with great care, continues as a sovereign nation today. We commit to working together to honor our past and build our future with truth.”
How to Use Brown’s Land Acknowledgment
The land acknowledgment statement relates to the Brown University campus in Providence and therefore would be used most often at the beginning of events and gatherings held in Providence. So long as the statement is used and read in a manner that is respectful and in honor of the Narragansett Indian Tribe who have called Providence home for centuries and continue to do so today, there is no specific protocol for when it should be used.
Departments, student organizations, and other groups holding events and gatherings on the Brown campus are encouraged to engage with the statement and use it in a manner that is reflective of the intentions with which it is offered — acknowledging the history of this region and committing to understanding and responding to the legacy of the actions that led to the Narragansett Indian Tribe being dispossessed of most of their ancestral lands in Rhode Island.
There are no requirements for the use of the land acknowledgment statement at events and gatherings, in materials, on course syllabi, or other University documents. When the option to use the land acknowledgment statement is exercised, it should be in a manner that is respectful of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.
Maintaining the Accuracy of the Acknowledgment
Members of the Brown community are strongly encouraged to use the University’s land acknowledgment statement if they choose to make a land acknowledgment, and should be aware that editing and/or creating their own carries with it the risk of inaccurate information and unintentionally offending the people the statement is intended to honor and respect.
A great deal of care, effort and research went into drafting the University’s formal land acknowledgment statement to ensure its accuracy, including consultation with the Narragansett Indian Tribe, faculty scholars and other members of the Brown community.
Learn More About Brown’s Land Acknowledgment
A set of frequently asked questions provides more information about Brown’s land acknowledgment, the process for developing it and resources to build further understanding of the University’s past.