This week, never missing an opportunity to make a virtue signal, the Pima County Board of Supervisors will consider whether to adopt “Land Acknowledgement” statement at the beginning of each meeting. District 5 Supervisor Adelita Grijalva proposed the addition to the start of the public meetings.
Grijalva, who also serves on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, forced implementation of the same practice before each school board meeting.
According to the Board documents, “A Land Acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.”
Grijalva proposed the following statement:
“We respectfully acknowledge that Pima County is the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, Pima County strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.” “We would like to acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, unceded ancestral territory of the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui people, on which we are learning and working today.” (District 5)
Among the Board materials are two messages from residents objecting to the addition. One wrote, “Adellita Grijalva’s proposed language for an acknowledgment to the Indigenous Peoples may not be enough of an acknowledge meant to our 1,068,730 residents in Pima County. The American Indians comprise 3.89% or 39,914 total population based on 2021 data from worldpopulationreview.com. Pima County offers numerous opportunities for all of our residents including education, community service, employment, housing, medical, the opportunities here are numerous for all of our residents. As a resident all we have to do is take action to step out, work, and participate. If the Board of Supervisors wish to make an acknowledgment to Pima County population, let’s NOT start by dividing into classes and races. First acknowledge your oath to protect and promote our Pima County – all of us – then start by doing it! While you’re thinking about this acknowledgment, be careful what precedent you establish by repeatedly making a public statement by our elected officials such as “unceded ancestral territory.” Vote NO to this request.”
Another resident wrote, “Instead of dividing Americans on the separate (and unequal) groups, if you have to have a “statement,” how about a statement that we need to quit chipping away at the moral foundation of society and come together, live peacefully, learn self-restraint, and be respectful of others. And the Board should be leading the way in this regard. Vote NO on further dividing Pima County residents and Americans.
The Board materials did not included any letters in support of the proposal.