Land acknowledgement statements that Utah State University announced this month have been well received. USU Uintah Basin is only one of 25 campuses in the state and each campus had their own individualized statement crafted. The Uintah Basin land acknowledgement statement reads: “We acknowledge Utah State University Uintah Basin resides on the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Ute Indian Tribe. We recognize the enduring relationship that exists between the three bands of Utes that comprise the Ute Indian Tribe: the Whiteriver, Uncompahgre, and Uintah. We respect the sovereign relationship with and confirm our commitment to a partnership with the Ute Indian Tribe and their community through research, education, and community outreach activities. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.” Darren Parry, a tribal elder and panel participant, says this statement and the others aim to be a starting point for dialogue in order for everyone to work together and make things better.
