{"id":86458,"date":"2026-01-15T18:37:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T18:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/magazine\/?post_type=stories&p=86458"},"modified":"2026-01-15T20:04:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:04:35","slug":"respect-and-commitment","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/magazine\/news\/respect-and-commitment\/","title":{"rendered":"Respect and Commitment"},"content":{"rendered":"
An update aims to boost the impact of Eastern\u2019s land acknowledgment.<\/h6>\n

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The formal acknowledgment<\/strong> that Native peoples are the original inhabitants and stewards of the land where EWU now resides has for years been a part of Eastern\u2019s milestone events \u2014 from convocation to commencement. In addition to recognizing EWU\u2019s relationship with area tribes, most notably the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the acknowledgments are meant to serve as a reminder of the often violent displacement of our region\u2019s Indigenous peoples. They also seek to raise awareness of Native peoples\u2019 ongoing presence, and to signal EWU\u2019s commitment to reconciliation.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, under the leadership of Cola Boyer \u201920, EWU\u2019s director of tribal relations, the university unveiled an update to its official acknowledgments statement, one that reflected students\u2019 desire for something more \u201cimpactful and meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A young dancer at a recent EWU Spirit of the Eagle Powwow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThat was probably the very first task that was given to me by the students, and I was more than happy to take it on,\u201d Boyer says of the acknowledgment update. She says she began by exploring the origins of Eastern\u2019s previous statement, then looked outside the university for inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked at other universities\u2019 land acknowledgments and came up with something that I felt met the mission and the feeling of Eastern Washington University and the Native American students who study here,\u201d Boyer says.<\/p>\n

After drafting a new version, she shared it with a group that included Professor Margo Hill, director of American Indian Studies, Evanlene Melting Tallow, program coordinator and recruiter for American Indian Studies, and with Native students. Together they made revisions that addressed tribal sovereignty issues and more fully confronted the systemic hardships area tribes have endured.<\/p>\n

Boyer says the new land acknowledgment is more than just a formal recognition that Native people lived on the lands of the Cheney campus. \u201cIt\u2019s giving a history of the tribe \u2014 the Spokane Tribe that was here \u2014 and it\u2019s giving a deeper meaning to what this institution is now, and what it is rooted on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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