As November 24th, “Thanksgiving Day”, looms closer, I am always reminded of how little I learned in our current education system about the land that I inhabit and how little connection I have to it.  Both are huge losses and further reminders of the many costs of white supremacy culture.

A Land Acknowledgement 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 (Northwestern Edu). In looking more deeply into the practice of Land Acknowledgements, I poignantly discovered that the sense of owning land was not part of Native American Culture .Can you imagine that? Rather than the land belonging to people, the people belonged to the land. I know that somewhere deep inside me, my spirit understands this to be true. The part of my spirit that yearns for deeper connection and meaning knows this. I deeply resonate with the quote that “Landscapes' elements make up the blood, bone, and flesh that animate our bodies. When we die, we return to the land and turn into the trees, rocks, and water that once gave us life.”  To learn more about this, as well as the potential for empty gestures in modern day land acknowledgments, click here. 

 If you, like me, want to do more to understand and connect to the land you inhabit and the peoples who came before you, I suggest spending some time this month doing your own homework. One way to begin this work is through The Catalyst Project, who created an important exercise for “non-native people to learn and reflect on the history and current struggles of Indigenous people, and to begin thinking about our role in colonization and decolonization. It is about changing the way we think about and relate to the land that we call home and to the people whose home this land is.” Let’s do it together and continue to support each other.  ~ Homework: Questions about “Home” ~

As my mentor,  Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy says, “Being born white isn’t a choice or changeable but the extent to which we adhere to white supremacy ideology is a choice and can be changed.”  Let’s work on the life-long dedication of this change together!

See you on the journey,

Robin

What people had to say about” The impact of racial difference in supervision” workshop co-facilitated by Tracey Rollins Spann, LMSW and Robin Schlenger, LCSW.

  • “Tracey and Robin held a space that gently challenged us to go deep and share vulnerably. It made so much learning and growth possible.”

  • “The facilitators are skilled, informed, compassionate but straightforward, and created a safe space to explore this topic in the context of being a supervisor.”

  • “Thank you Tracy and Robin for this wonderful workshop. It was one of the best I have ever participated in - the material was 100% relevant and I know I will use it moving forward in my work and in my life.”

Rise for Racial Justice: How to talk about race with schools and communities

  • BCWT training: *open to all participants / (organizational, school-based, corporate or community) leaders interested in applying a Restorative/Transformative Justice framework within their work setting: https://www.bcwtconsulting.com/trainings

Robin Schlenger