ArtReach recognizes and respects the Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land. Specifically, we recognize the Kumeyaay people who maintain a connection to this ancestral homeland. We extend our respect and gratitude to the Indigenous People who live on, steward, and care for the land on which ArtReach resides and works.

A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects the Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land on which ArtReach resides and works. We acknowledge the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional lands. This statement honors the Indigenous Peoples who have called, and continue to call, this land home, both before and after the arrival of settlers.

A Land Acknowledgement recognizes the displacement of Indigenous Peoples and the devastating effect that forced relocation has had on these communities. They are a way to express gratitude, respect, and appreciation to Indigenous Peoples and are a simple, powerful step towards correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous People’s history and culture. Additionally, a Land Acknowledgement encourages individuals to think about what it means to live on Indigenous lands and is an educational opportunity for those individuals who may have never heard the names of the tribes that have and continue to live on the land they are standing on.