In the United States, Thanksgiving is a holiday in celebration of the supposed feast between English colonists and the Wampanoag in 1621, and many families gather over a rather large meal. However, this story is a blatant misrepresentation of the true history and realities of Indigenous erasure in the United States. For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a time to mourn the atrocities committed by colonizers, honor Indigenous cultures, and protest against ongoing racism and oppression. As an Indigenous-owned company working to restore land rights to the Maasai of East Africa, Adumu Safaris stands in solidarity with Native Americans fighting for self-determination of land, decolonization, and sovereignty. This Thanksgiving, we are reflecting on the space that our U.S. office sits upon and acknowledging the Nisenan as the original occupants of the land.
A Land Acknowledgement is a statement that recognizes Indigenous peoples as the traditional caretakers and stewards of the land. These statements acknowledge the ongoing relationship between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands, as well as serve as an opportunity for non-Indigenous peoples to understand their position as occupants of stolen land. Land Acknowledgements create broader public awareness of the continuous process of colonialism and the institutional power structures that are responsible for Indigenous displacement. Researching the Indigenous community on whose land you occupy to determine their preferred name, history, culture, and beliefs on Land Acknowledgements is an important first step in creating a nuanced and respectful statement.
Adumu Safaris recognizes the Nisenan as the traditional caretakers of the land that our Sacramento office sits on, and they have been the stewards of this land for time immemorial. Nisenan land is expansive, encompassing areas surrounding the Consumnes River, Kyburz, Gold Lake, the Feather River, the Sacred Mountain, and the Sacramento River. The Nisenan have lived in towns consisting of extended family groups, and they have unique cultural identities, 13 linguistic dialects, and an immeasurable knowledge of ecological diversity. The Nisenan continue to be vibrant and resilient on their ancestral lands despite the centuries of genocide, colonization, and forced removal. For the past decade, many Nisenan have celebrated Nisenan Heritage Day, which features academic presentations, Nisenan speakers, Native artisans and dancers, and more. We recognize that our ability to work at this Sacramento office for the self-determination of the Maasai is dependent on Nisenan displacement and forced removal. We honor their continued nourishment and protection of the land.
Today, there are Nisenan who identify with the Nevada City Rancheria, which used to be a federally recognized reservation. After being illegally terminated in the 1950s, the Nevada City Rancheria has yet to receive a restoration of their federal status. To support Nisenan efforts for recognition and self-determination, donations can be made to the California Heritage Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP). In addition, the Nevada City Rancheria has a website where you can learn more about their projects, upcoming events, and Nisenan history. As a company dedicated to land restoration for Indigenous peoples, we have infinite respect for CHIRP, the Nisenan, the Nevada City Rancheria, and other organizations who are continuing to advocate for the preservation of Indigenous cultures and against the decolonial practices of erasure.
