Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy into making the history that led to this moment. 

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Truth and acknowledgement are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference.

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Thanks and appreciation are extended to all people who have come before, as teachers, learners and laborers, some of them enslaved, who allow us greater opportunity to be more present in our lives. Their efforts and contributions are honored here.

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The truth that is often buried is acknowledged here: At the university we are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who are the ancestral stewards of this sacred land. It is their historical responsibility to advocate for the four-legged, the winged, those that crawl and those that swim. They remind us that clean air and pristine waterways are essential to all life. The importance of supporting them, and assisting them in this advocacy is acknowledged here.

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This Land and Ancestral Acknowledgement is a reminder for each of us to ensure that our physical and educational environments are in better condition than what we inherited, for the health and prosperity of future generations.

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This land and ancestral acknowledgement is inspired by UMDs official land acknowledgement and Robin Wall Kimmerer's 'Allegiance to Gratitude' in her book Braiding Sweetgrass.