American Booksellers Association acknowledges that this Institute takes place on land that is the traditional land of the Adena, Hopewell, Myaamia (Miami), Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee), Wyandot, Delaware, Haudenosaunee, and Wazhazhe Manzhan (Osage) Peoples, and many other tribes due to its central location.
We recognize them as past, present, and future caretakers of this land and acknowledge that the rights to use the land were appropriated through broken treaties. We recognize the physical and cultural genocide of Indigenous people in the Ohio region, their forced migration to and from this territory, and the harm caused them when their histories have been whitewashed or erased.
We ask that you take the time while in Cincinnati to pause, reflect on the history of this land and its peoples, and consider the actions you can take to support them.
We ask attendees to work together to learn about this history, remember the importance of language, and call one another in when our words include anti-indigenous tropes or offensive, outdated terminology.
One way to offer support is by donating to Land Back NAICCO, the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio’s land back movement. Land Back NAICCO is raising funds to purchase Ohio land for community use and cultural restoration. As part of our practice of land acknowledgment and local action, ABA is making a donation to Land Back NAICCO.
Through initiatives like free trial memberships and the Advance Access for Underrepresented Voices, ABA remains committed to growing and supporting our Indigenous membership, and through our Land Acknowledgement and action practice we continue to honor those whose lands we host events on.