As a land-grant institution, Utah State University campuses and centers reside and operate on the territories of the eight tribes of Utah, who have been living, working, and residing on this land from time immemorial. These tribes are the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Indians, Navajo Nation, Ute Indian Tribe, Northwestern Band of Shoshone, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute, Skull Valley Band of Goshute, and White Mesa Band of the Ute Mountain Ute. We acknowledge these lands carry the stories of these Nations and their struggles for survival and identity. We recognize Elders past and present as peoples who have cared for, and continue to care for, the land. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous self-governance history, experiences, and resiliency of the Native people who are still here today.
USU General Use Statement
This Land Acknowledgement Statement (above) could be given by any individual, preferably non-Native, at any presentation that includes USU faculty, staff, or students from any or several campuses.
What is the land acknowledgment statement?
A land acknowledgment is a statement that shows respect to Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants of the lands our campuses reside on, recognizes the long history and enduring connections they have to their traditional homelands, and honors their resiliency and continued vitality.
Land acknowledgments are formal statements that recognize that the land an institution is on originally belonged to Indigenous peoples and acknowledges there remains an existing relationship between these people and their land.
AND also:
Statements for USU Campuses
Logan
“We recognize that Utah State University in Logan resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands in the Sihivigoi (Willow Valley) of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. The university resides on land ceded in the 1863 Treaty at Fort Bridger and other lands within our state. Today we recognize Utah’s eight federally recognized Native nations, historic Indigenous communities in Utah, Indigenous individuals and communities past and present. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”-This statement is provided with permission for use by Darren Parry, Northwestern Band of the Shoshone.
Bicknell
“We recognize Utah State University Bicknell resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Southern Paiute and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Brigham City
“We recognize Utah State University Brigham City resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Cedar City
“We recognize Utah State University Cedar City resides on the traditional lands of the five bands of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Delta
“We recognize Utah State University Delta resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, Southern Paiute, and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Eastern
“We acknowledge Utah State University Eastern 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 the Ute Tribe and affirm the 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.”
Junction
“We recognize Utah State University Junction resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the five bands of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Kaysville
“We recognize Utah State University Kaysville resides on the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute, the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, and Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history and experiences.”
Montezuma Creek
“We recognize Utah State University Blanding at Montezuma Creek resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Monument Valley
“We recognize Utah State University Monument Valley resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Hopi, Navajo, Southern Paiute, Pueblos, and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Orem
“We recognize Utah State University Orem resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Park City
“We recognize Utah State University Park City resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone and the Ute Indian Tribe. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Tooele
“We recognize Utah State University Tooele resides on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Aipimbaa Newe, the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, and the People of Deep Creek Valley, who today are the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Uintah Basin
“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.
Beaver
“We recognize Utah State University Beaver resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes and Southern Paiute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Blanding
“We recognize Utah State University Blanding resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal Sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Castle Dale
“We acknowledge Utah State University Castle Dale resides on the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Ute Indian Tribe. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Cortez, CO
“We recognize that the Utah State University Durango, Colorado Center occupies the traditional lands of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Weeminuche Band of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Ephraim
“We recognize Utah State University Ephraim resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Southern Paiute and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Heber City
“We recognize Utah State University Heber City resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute Indian Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Kanab
“We recognize Utah State University Kanab resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the Pueblo of Zuni (A:shiwi), the Hopi Tribe, and Ute Tribe. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Moab
“We acknowledge that the Utah State University Moab resides on the American Indian Crossing of the Colorado River, the traditional homeland of the descendants of the Pueblo of Zuni (A:shiwi); the Hopi Tribe; the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; the Ute Indian Tribe; the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah; and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians who have been stewards of the rivers and mountains, cliffs and towers, arches, and canyons from time immemorial. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Monticello
“We recognize Utah State University Monticello resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mesa Ute peoples. USU commits to creating and instilling a continuous relationship with tribal nations and fostering a partnership through community, family (clan/bands), research, education, and programming. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Tribal sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Nephi
“We recognize Utah State University Nephi resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Panguitch
“We recognize Utah State University Panguitch resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the five bands of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Salt Lake City
“We recognize Utah State University Salt Lake City resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Bannock, the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute Tribes. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Tremonton
“We recognize Utah State University Tremonton resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”
Wendover
“We recognize Utah State University Wendover resides on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Aipimbaa Newe, the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, and the People of Deep Creek Valley, who today are the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”