Land Acknowledgment

Our Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) has been collaborating with the Oneida Indian Nation over the past year. This effort has culminated in the creation of a meaningful land acknowledgment, which was recently approved by the Oneida Indian Nation leadership. It reflects both our appreciation for and commitment to honoring Indigenous heritage and fostering a deeper understanding of the land on which we live and learn.

We are proud to share this acknowledgment with our school community:

“We recognize that Hamilton Central School is situated on the unceded Indigenous homelands of the Oneida Indian Nation people. We are grateful for the opportunity to be here, and thank the generations of Oneida people who have taken care of this land since time immemorial. The Oneidas became America’s First Allies during the Revolutionary War when they fought alongside the colonists in their battle against British tyranny. We pay respect to the Oneida people—past, present, and future—and recognize their contributions to the founding of our country and the strengthening of this region. We are committed to building a sustainable partnership with the Oneida Indian Nation and the Haudenosaunee peoples, both in our school and in our community.”

This land acknowledgment is a testament to the thoughtfulness of our students in the SSAC and the guidance and wisdom shared by the Oneida Indian Nation. It is a first step in our ongoing efforts to build a sustainable partnership with the Oneida Nation and the Haudenosaunee peoples, ensuring their history and culture are honored within our school and community. 

We hope that this acknowledgment encourages all of us to reflect on the rich history of the land we occupy and inspires further learning and dialogue.