Native Land Acknowledgment
PROTEC17 would like to acknowledge what has been buried, by honoring the truth that we are all on the ancestral and unceded lands of many Indigenous, Tribal communities, and First Nations people — a people that are still here, continuing to honor and bring light to their heritage.
The map above is from a resource called Native Land Digital. It is constantly changing and regularly updated. Please visit their website at https://native-land.ca to learn more about the indigenous communities in your region. You can also email for additions, corrections, and for more information about this important reference.
Resources
PROTEC17 has begun a practice of Native Land and Tribal acknowledgement in order to do our part in honoring and promoting greater public consciousness of Native sovereignty and cultural rights. The resources and links on this page are by no means comprehensive. We acknowledge that we are in a constant state of learning and are continually growing in our knowledge of Native history, rights, and issues. We invite you to collectively join us as we learn and pay reparations to Indigenous tribes together. If you have additions, edits or comments about this page, please let us know at .
- This website and mobile app developed by First Nations is a great resource with an interactive map to learn more: www.native-land.ca
- With the Land Acknowledgement Hotline, you can text 1-907-312-5085 with your City and State to learn about the Native land on which you reside.
- To learn more about the Indigenous Tribes of Seattle and Washington State, visit: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/indigenous-tribes-seattle-and-washington.
- To learn more about the Duwamish Tribe, on whose lands residents of the City of Seattle and the PROTEC17 office resides, visit: www.realrentduwamish.org
- The United Indians/Daybreak Star Cultural Center provides services and programming to Seattle and King County’s urban Native community.
- The Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve protects and enhances the history, traditional cultural values and spiritual beliefs of the Tulalip Tribes who are the successors in interest to the Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish tribes and other tribes and bands signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott.
- To learn more about Oregon’s Indigenous communities, visit: https://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/land-acknowledgments/oregon
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a land acknowledgement?
A: A Land Acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Acknowledging the land is also Indigenous protocol.
Q: Why do we recognize the land?
A: Publicly acknowledging the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation for the original stewards of the land where you reside, and a way of acknowledging and honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. A land acknowledgment can help us understand our history, encourage learning about Indigenous history and culture, and help begin the process of building accountable relationships that support Indigenous communities.
Q: Which tribes are in Washington State?
A: There are 29 federally recognized tribes throughout Washington and they are: Chehalis, Colville, Cowlitz, Hoh, Jamestown S’Klallam, Kalispel, Lower Elwha Klallam, Lummi, Makah, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Nooksack, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Puyallup, Quileute, Quinault, Samish, Sauk-Suiattle, Shoalwater Bay, Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Spokane, Squaxin Island, Stillaguamish, Suquamish, Swinomish, Tulalip, Upper Skagit, and Yakama. The Duwamish, Wanapum, and Chinook are not currently recognized by the U.S. federal government but have had a long history in present-day Washington.
Q: Which tribes are in Oregon State?
A: There are nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon: Burns Paiute, Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Klamath Tribes.