Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

Full Land Acknowledgement

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine strive to be wise and gracious stewards of the spaces and land on which we stand and the resources we leverage to provide state of the art education, training, research and medical care to the communities we serve. It is important to recognize the longstanding history of escape, forced removal and resettlement that has brought all of us to reside on this land. We respectfully and collectively acknowledge and value the Indigenous people and nations, who have been stewards of this land throughout the generations past, and the generations to come.

The campuses of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine reside on the ancestral lands of the Tutelo, Occaneechi, and Keyauwee nations. Additional Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist locations are located on the ancestral lands of the Saponi, Catawba, Saura, and Sissipahaw nations. We recognize that North Carolina is currently home to the following Indigenous tribes: The Eastern Band Cherokee, Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi, Sappony, Tuscarora and the Waccamaw-Siouan, in addition to many other individuals belonging to Indigenous nations outside of North Carolina.

We celebrate and honor the original and present-day Indigenous people of this land, and commit to continued strategic action to respect Indigenous sovereignty and elevate Indigenous presence, healthcare needs, and contributions to our communities today.

This land acknowledgement was drafted in collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples and Allies Affinity group of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Best Practices for Use of Land Acknowledgement

A land acknowledgement is an optional statement, often given at the beginning of organized events, celebrations and activities, or published in printed materials. The purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land. Land acknowledgements also raise awareness about the Indigenous histories, perspectives and experiences that are often suppressed or forgotten.

Land acknowledgement statements can be used by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to honor the original inhabitants of this land and express ongoing support of Indigenous sovereignty and contributions to our communities today.