Land Acknowledgement

Shoreline Community College acknowledges that we occupy the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the Duwamish Tribe. We see you, respect your right to sovereignty and self-determination, and are committed to being better listeners, learners, and in lifting indigenous voices. The College grounds served as a special place for gathering traditional foods in ways that increased the bounty of the land by both the Duwamish and Suquamish Tribes. The Suquamish used these lands with agreements by the Duwamish. Without the Duwamish and Suquamish Nations protecting and honoring all living and spiritual beings residing in these environments, the land would not be as bountiful as it is today. We are called to continue that stewardship as we write the next chapter of our College.

Moreover, we acknowledge the oppressive practices and policies in which their lands were stolen, occupied, and dispersed through broken treaties, specifically the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855. The Discovery Doctrine and its influence on shaping economic, political, and educational principles have deeply harmed the Salish People and their way of life. It is necessary for all non-tribal members to strive to heal the wounds afflicted on the Coast Salish People by promoting “truth-telling” and “reconciliation efforts” in places and/or spaces where collaboration and sovereignty reside together.

We must support and acknowledge the importance of the Centennial Accord, Millennium Agreement, and RCW 43.376, documents and rulings that bound us together. We challenge ourselves to lifelong learning practices that create equitable and inclusive spaces promoting reverence, social justice, and respect for all those occupying such spaces, as taught to us through our relations with the Coast Salish People.

As an academic community, we acknowledge our responsibility to establish and maintain relationships with these Nations, to include their voices in teaching and with campus and community events. We also pledge that these relationships will consist of mutual trust, respect, and reciprocity. That is why we reached out to each of these Nations to help build, guide, and create this Land Acknowledgment.

For more history, resources, and guidance about writing and using Indigenous land acknowledgements, please visit our Land Acknowledgement Learning Guide.