It is important to realize the longstanding history that has led to our residing on this land in Upstate New York. Trybe offers this acknowledgement in recognition of our place within that history. Being mindful of our presence amongst Indigenous peoples and territories in this area - Trybe would like to acknowledge the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (Hodínöhšö:ni:h, or People of the Longhouse) and honor the sovereignty of the Six Nations–the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondowaga (Seneca), and Tuscarora – this is the same land where we are situated and where the majority of our work takes place. In this way, we hope to demonstrate respect for the Indigenous peoples who continue to live, work and recreate here.

In addition to the land we reside on, Trybe also gratefully acknowledges the volumes of Indigenous wisdom passed on by ancestors, elders and knowledge keepers, past, present and emerging. Much of this wisdom constitutes the heart of our teachings at Trybe. We are aware of the complexity of determining how much of the verbal and published accounts of traditional ecological wisdom are faithful to the enduring traditional themes of Native worldviews. We express gratitude for this knowledge. A special thanks to Dr. Robin Kimmerer (Potawatomi), author, Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, and my former professor. To Neil Patterson Jr. (Tuscarora), Assistant Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, author, friend, and mentor. Additionally, we would like to thank our advisory member, Ronalyn (Ronnie) Pollack of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, in Ontario, Canada, and Trish Corcoran of Onandowaga (or Seneca) from the Tonawanda Reserve for thier assistance in helping to contribute historical knowledge to this written piece. Finally, our substantial thanks to the incredible team of staff at Ganondagan State Historic Site here in Victor, NY for establishing such an invaluable educational resource of rich culture, history, and living traditions of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Nations.

For all the benefits that our society currently enjoys as a result of Indigenous wisdom and land, we also would like to offer our remorse, for the substantial Indigenous losses (loved ones, land, culture, rights and more) as a result of the harms and mistakes perpetrated by those decision-makers in the far and recent past; We are aware that acknowledgement is not reparation, and land acknowledgement without active steps towards education, support of the Onondowaga nation and sincere efforts to undo colonial legacies means very little. For this we pledge to honor the work of the Peacemaker and offer our partnership with a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration through subsequent action.

Nya:wëh

- Lindsay Cray, CPO at Trybe Ecotherapy