Land Acknowledgement

We believe a meaningful land acknowledgment is more than a statement; it is a specific, place-based, and sincere recognition of the Indigenous Peoples whose land we occupy. It uses self-identified names of Indigenous communities and acknowledges their ongoing connection to the land, not just their historical presence.

Effective land acknowledgments also encourage reflection, learning, and personal responsibility. They invite individuals and organizations to consider their own relationship to the land and to move beyond words by supporting Indigenous stewardship, building respectful relationships, and taking action toward justice and care for the land.

At Keystone Science School, we approached the creation of our land acknowledgment with care, humility, and a commitment to best practices. Our goal was to create a statement that reflects both the place we occupy and our responsibility as educators and stewards of the land.  We followed these key principles:

• Place-Based and Specific: We named the Indigenous Peoples whose land we are on using their self-identified names, specifically recognizing the Nuunu’agaat (Ute People) and their ancestral ties to the central Rocky Mountains.
• Accurate and Ongoing: We acknowledged not only the historical presence of Indigenous Peoples but also their ongoing relationship to this land.
• Reflective and Educational: We aimed to encourage curiosity, learning, and reflection, especially among our students and staff, about their connection to the land and its history.
• Action-Oriented: We recognized that acknowledgment is just a starting point. Our goal is to connect this practice to our larger mission of stewardship and to inspire concrete steps—like curriculum integration, staff learning, and program design that honors Indigenous knowledge.
• Evolving and Collaborative: We understand this is a living statement. As we grow and deepen our understanding, we are committed to updating it and building relationships with Indigenous communities to guide that process.

KSS staff may share the full acknowledgment or adapted versions that maintain the core message. Listed below are a few examples of when and how a land acknowledgement may be shared at Keystone Science School:

• KSS will share our full length Land Acknowledgement at welcoming events such as camp orientation, staff training, ceremonies or special gatherings.
• When schools first arrive at our campus for their outdoor education field trip, we welcome them with an adapted version of our land acknowledgment based on age.
• While out on the trails our land acknowledgment will be shorter and relevant to the activity. It will sound something like this, “As we explore the trails today, let’s remember that we are on the ancestral lands of the Ute People, who have long been stewards of this environment.

Our goal is to honor and respect the Indigenous People who have stewarded the land we use for generations. We adapt the land acknowledgment for different age groups to ensure the message is understood, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate for each audience. In informal settings, a concise acknowledgment can maintain respect without being repetitive.  

Please read below for a detailed explanation of how an adapted land acknowledgment may look in KSS’s outdoor education programming based on student audience:

• Elementary School – Before we begin, let’s take a moment to thank the people who lived here long before us.  The Ute people, or Nuunu’agaat, cared for this land for a very long time. They moved through the mountains and deserts and helped take care of nature.  As we explore today, let’s be curious, kind, and respectful—just like the people who came before us.
• Middle School – We want to pause and honor the original stewards of this land. The Nuunu’agaat, or Ute people, lived in this area for generations and still care for it today.  As we explore, hike, and learn at Keystone Science School, we ask you to be thoughtful, respectful, and open to learning about the land’s deeper story.
• High School/Adult – Let’s begin by acknowledging that this land, now called Colorado, is the ancestral home of the Nuunu’agaat (Ute people) and many other Indigenous Peoples.  Keystone Science School operates on these traditional homelands, where Indigenous stewardship continues today.  As we move through these spaces, may we be mindful of this history, and commit to exploring with respect and care.

You can hear the Nuunu’agaat (Ute People) speaking their language in the Ute Mountain Ute Dictionary, which includes audio clips of common words and names as spoken by community members.

Our land acknowledgment is just the beginning. As an organization committed to inspiring curiosity and stewardship through outdoor science education, we believe in taking meaningful steps beyond words.

We are working to make our land acknowledgment a living practice, not a one-time statement. This means repeating it regularly during programs and gatherings to keep Indigenous presence and history at the forefront of our learning.  Evolving our acknowledgment, curriculum, and program design as our understanding deepens, ensuring our educational practices honor the past and present while shaping a more inclusive and informed future. Encouraging students and staff to reflect on their relationship with the land and how they can be active stewards in their own communities.  Through these efforts, we strive to model respectful, place-based education and to foster a deeper connection between people, land, and history.

View the resources here to keep learning.