It is an important acknowledgement — but it didn’t go far enough, however. On Monday, June 10, the San Diego City Council formally recognized that the city sits on unceded Kumeyaay land and it passed a resolution honoring the tribe — but without ceding them any land.
The land acknowledgement statement reads:
“We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumeyaay Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumeyaay spirit remains unbroken. We honor the resilience of their ancestors who fought to protect their culture and land. Today, they carry their legacy forward, ensuring that their traditions continue to thrive in gratitude and strength. We stand with the Kumeyaay Nation, connected to our past and committed to a thriving future.”
Everyone knows the resolution is symbolic, and the City Council will read a land acknowledgement before their meetings.
Introduced by Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, the resolution passed unanimously. At the time, Elo-Rivera declared:
“We must understand our history, acknowledge injustices of the past, and respect the Native people who live on and have been stewards of this land. By including this acknowledgment in our City Council meetings, we honor the dignity of Native people, recognize the horrors and injustices that transpired here and teach our history to future generations.”
It is an important acknowledgement for an Anglo-dominated culture to make. Yet, it’s just words and it was easy for the full council to pass it.
Elo-Rivera’s office had worked with the Kanap Kuahan Coalition — made up of members of the Kumeyaay Nation as well as non-Kumeyaay community leaders and activists — to develop the resolution. Grace Sesma, chair of the Kanap Kuahan Coalition, said:
“As guests on Kumeyaay land, we must recognize the original stewards of the land we live in. For far too long, government agencies and other institutions have, in policy and practice, erased the presence and history of our Kumeyaay relatives — telling the truth is an important part of Kanap Kuahan.”
It is about time that the leaders of the city recognized this history. It is hopefully a small step in the direction of educating all San Diegans about the land and its native inhabitants. More steps are needed to recognize the Kumeyaay history, their major villages that have been covered over by asphalt and concrete and ignorance and acknowledge the checkered relationship between the tribes and the dominant culture.
Several speakers at Monday’s City Council applauded the move, while others claimed it was pointless without ceded land back to the Kumeyaay.
News source: NBC7
