Beyond words: York School Committee explores 'meaningful' land acknowledgment

YORK, Maine — School Committee members are considering adopting a land acknowledgment to be read at its meetings to pay respect to the native people of southern Maine who predated European settlers.

Land acknowledgment statements honoring the Pennacook-Abenaki people’s roots have been adopted by officials in other towns, including neighboring Kittery’s municipal government and Traip Academy. York School Committee Chair Tom Martine told fellow committee members March 20 he thought one could be recited at the beginning of their meetings to demonstrate similar respect.

Martine read an example of a land acknowledgment that has been adopted in Kennebunk. It stated, “We gratefully acknowledge the native people on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant native communities who make their homes here today.”

“Maybe even before the Pledge of Allegiance?” Martine asked fellow board members.

A majority said they were interested, but committee member Robert Hover said he preferred any land acknowledgment should be coupled with an effort to improve relations with native groups. The board was scheduled to meet Tuesday and planned on discussing the adoption of a land acknowledgment.

Leaders of indigenous groups in the region say that extra step of action is welcome. Paul Pouliot, one of the head speakers of the Alton, New Hampshire-based Cowasuck Band of Pennacook-Abenaki people, helped Kittery establish their recent townland acknowledgment. He said dedication to stewardship goes much further with native people than simply opening a meeting with a recited statement.

“It’s stewarding the land,” Pouliot said. “Not just acknowledging where you are but what you’re doing as a community to protect the land.”

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Land acknowledgments can be meaningful

Pouliot works alongside Denise Pouliot, also a head speaker of the Cowasuck Band. Together, they advocate for indigenous people around New Hampshire, as well as parts of Maine and Massachusetts.

Paul Pouliot said land acknowledgments became a trend after 2020 when many became focused on issues like racism. Some felt “performative,” he said.

“Just checking off a box,” Paul Pouliot said.

He said land acknowledgments are more meaningful if they indicate the group composing the statement and take responsibility for stewardship as well. That can be in several forms, he said, including planting a community garden to preserve the land.

In the case of schools, Paul Pouliot said the Cowasuck Band encourages student engagement. At Traip Academy, Paul Pouliot said students used an art project to bolster the school’s land acknowledgment.

“Have them engaged and make this into like a civics project,” Pouliot said. “They’re trying to change the image of the town.”

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York School Committee to consider adopting land acknowledgment

In the March board meeting, board members Julie Kelbert and Dawn Belliveau said they thought adding a land acknowledgment was a good idea. Belliveau said she had never heard of land acknowledgments until she recently saw one at the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts.

Martine said Hover’s response asking for more than just a statement led the board to table the item for future discussion.

“I’m cautious of sort of performative acknowledgments,” Hover said. “I’d like to pair this with an increased partnership.”

Martine, who is not seeking reelection this May, said he hopes to help facilitate a land acknowledgment that goes beyond words. He said he was not aware of the Pouliots until this week but was eager to reach out and start a conversation about how York’s School Committee can try to honor the Penacook-Abenaki people with meaning.

“We want it to be more than just acknowledging the land of the people that were here originally,” Martine said.

York already has a history of making proclamations that promote diversity. The town added its own proclamation against racism, discrimination and bigotry in 2020.

Superintendent Tim Doak, previously a superintendent in Aroostook County, said he only heard about land acknowledgments this year. He agreed that acknowledgment alone is not enough without action to work with native groups.

“It’s a cooperation,” Doak said. “It’s more than just that acknowledgment at the meeting. I think it’s bringing it into our schools.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York School Committee weighs 'meaningful' indigenous land tribute