Land Acknowledgement
TRANSCRIPT:
Good Day.
Hello, my name is Nancy Rourke. N3.
I was originally from San Diego, born and raised.
Now, I currently live in Colorado.
I have an opportunity to give a land acknowledgement.
Good Day.
Where we sit, stand, work, having meetings, making discussions,
At San Diego Deaf Community Services,
That belonged to Native Americans Ancestors.
(Building founded above and below land)
Native peoples
Acorn
Oak Trees
Good Day.
There are meanings behind the Native signs.
Land Acknowledgement as in ASL stands for recognition.
Land Acknowledgement as in Native signs, goes by mind and heart.
Building founded above and below land means where the building stands at.
Native Peoples sign.
Acorns.
Oak Trees.
Kumeyaay means Indians of the Oaks.
My father was from Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians and
I am an enrolled member of the tribe there.
One of the thirteen tribes and one of the oldest tribes in the Kumeyaay Nation.
My family on my father’s side, including my mother, are buried at Mesa Grande Cemetery.
My sister currently lives on the reservation.
I come to San Diego, I go to tribal meetings.
Thank you, San Diego Deaf Community Services.
Enjoy and celebrate the 50th anniversary.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Good Day.
Land Acknowledgement
Deaf Community Services of San Diego humbly recognizes that our organization operates on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay people, who were known as Diegueños during the era of Spanish colonization and whose territory was subsequently occupied by Mexico. We acknowledge and honor the fact that the Kumeyaay Nation extends across the two counties, San Diego and Imperial, that currently comprise our border cities, and we respect and recognize the Kumeyaay as the historical, present, and future custodians of this land. In addition, the lands of Imperial and San Diego County include the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups composed of Quechan, Cahuilla, CoCoPah,and Pai Pai,.
Learn More
To learn more about the Kumeyaay Nation and other tribes, please visit the official website of the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association. This website provides information about the various indigenous tribes, their history, culture, current initiatives, and community resources. It is a valuable resource for gaining a deeper understanding of the Tribal Nations and their contributions to the region.
Each of these groups are still present and active today.
Other resources:
- Kumeyaay (https://www.kumeyaay.com/)
- National Museum of the American Indian (https://americanindian.si.edu/environment/kumeyaay/People.cshtml)
- Kumeyaay Heritage and Conservation Project (https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/663/files/LearningLandscapes_Edited_20201120v1c%20REMEDIATED.pdf)