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Our Native Community

UAII is dedicated to preserving our Native languages, cultures, and traditions. We provide classes, workshops, and events that embrace and preserve our cultural heritage by passing it on to the next generations.

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Land Acknowledgement

We invite any organization in the greater Los Angeles area to use this land acknowledgment during meetings and events to provide a culturally appropriate recognition of our Native American and Alaskan Native people, heritage, culture and traditions.

We acknowledge that United American Indian Involvement (UAII) is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Tongva peoples. We honor and respect the enduring relationship that Indigenous peoples have maintained with this land for thousands of years. We would like to pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and choose to honor and acknowledge the original stewards of this land in hopes of building mutual respect and understanding across all cultures – those that reside here and those that pass through here today and in the future.

What is The Purpose of Land Acknowledgment?

A land acknowledgment is a formal statement and public recognition of the Indigenous Peoples who have been dispossessed and displaced from their ancestral homelands and territories due to a variety of colonial and historical reasons. This statement acknowledges that an organization, a city, a park, or any other structure was built, and operates, on Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral homelands.

Why a Land Acknowledgement?

Change can only occur in the context of truthfulness, transparency, and reconciliation around systems that have oppressed and excluded Indigenous people. We believe that education can shift historically oppressive practices to build a more inclusive and socially conscious community and society.

One of the steps in this process includes asking our partners, supporters and allies to include an Indigenous Peoples land acknowledgment at every opportunity.

Land acknowledgments are not about placing blame. These statements are the first step in building a more inclusive future where we eliminate the ongoing erasure of Indigenous Peoples’ voices, lives, and history. It’s an entry point and pathway for education.

Our land acknowledgment statement may be your first experience hearing about the Indigenous Peoples in the area, which provides an opportunity to seed the path for respect to blossom and grow.

Passing Along Our Language and Culture

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of indigenous languages and cultures with United American Indian Involvement’s Language and Cultural Classes. Our program offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Native American heritage through a diverse array of educational experiences.

For questions about our Language and Culture programs, contact us.

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Have Questions?

Please direct additional questions to our Language and Culture team. Email us at languageandculture@uaii.org or by calling (213) 202-3920.