It is important to understand the history of a place and honor the people who lived in that place. Dr. Eric P. Anderson, Chair of Indigenous Studies, Haskell Indian Nations University, explained the concept of a Land Acknowledgement Statement. Many institutions have adopted statements that speak to the history and presence of native peoples who lived on the land in the past. These statements identify these tribes as a demonstration of respect for their history and culture. Dr. Anderson has assisted in the writing of Land Acknowledgement Statements for Watkins History Museum and the Symphony in the Flint Hills annual event. He cautions that these statements are in no measure a threat to the present system of land ownership.
Dr. Anderson grew up in Wichita and did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Kansas. His primary research interests include American Indian education and the system of federal boarding schools established in the 1900s. He is also interested in American West studies. Dr. Anderson is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
