SB-2020-21-011: Senate Meeting Native Land Acknowledgement

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Senate Bill No.: 2020-21-011

Date: April 14, 2021

Authored by: Adriana Coronado, Senator to the College of Humanities

Rose Merida, AS President

Referred to: External Affairs Committee

Committee Rec: Committee of the Whole

Senate Action: April 26, 2021 (Approved by General Consent)

Amended: May 3, 2021 (17-0-0)


Title: Senate Meeting Native Land Acknowledgement


1. WHEREAS: The Associated Students, Inc. (AS) is the official voice of over 38,000 students at California State University Northridge; AND

2. WHEREAS: AS is the primary advocate for students at CSUN and provides excellent, meaningful programs and services designed to create and enhance a spirited, learning focused campus environment; AND

3. WHEREAS: Associated Students and CSUN advocate for the inclusion of all as well addressing present and historical injustices  ; AND

4. WHEREAS: The land California State University, Northridge occupies the unneeded territory of the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians; AND

5. WHEREAS: California State University, Northridge also acknowledges the neighboring indigenous groups of the surrounding lands on which CSUN students reside, including the Gabrielino-Tongva Indian Tribe and Santa Ynez Band of Chumash peoples

6. WHEREAS: It is pertinent to acknowledge and understand the longstanding ancestral history of the land and the lineage of those original communities who are still present. Land acknowledgments are to recognize the original peoples of the land in the present tense and being mindful of their presence and space.; THEREFORE, LET IT BE

1. RESOLVED: The Associated Student President shall cite a land acknowledgement prior to the Pledge of Allegiance EVERY Monday senate meeting beginning April 26th, 2021 and so forth indefinitely using the approved wordage, “Associated Students recognizes and acknowledges the first people of this ancestral and unceded territory of Fernandeno Tataviam (Fern-an-den-knee-o Tah-tah-vee-um) Band of Mission Indians that is now occupied by our campus of California State University, Northridge; honors their elders, past and present, and the descendants who are citizens of the Fernandeño Tataviam (Fern-an-den-knee-o Tah-tah-vee-um) Band of Mission Indians. We recognize that the Tribe is still here and we are committed to lifting up their stories, culture, and community.”; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

2. RESOLVED: It is crucial for Associated Students as the representative of the California State University, Northridge students past, present, and future to acknowledge the land it occupies at every senate meeting as a longstanding tradition; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

3. RESOLVED: That the Associated Students hereby designates unlimited time for a special presentation on the history of the ancestral peoples of this unceded territory this institution occupies by the American Indian Student Association (AISA) and/or American Indian Studies Department on every California Native American Day starting in Fall 2021 and so forth indefinitely; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

4. RESOLVED: That copies of this resolution be distributed widely, including but not limited to the following:

  • Dr. Erika D. Beck, CSUN President
  • Dr. William Watkins, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
  • Dr. Michael Neubauer, President, Faculty Senate
  • Dr. Mary Beth Walker, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Patrick Bailey, Executive Director of Associated Students
  • Natalie Mason-Kinsey, Chief Diversity Officer
  • CSUN Today
  • The Daily Sundial
  • Dr. Scott Andrews, Director of the American Indian Studies Program
  • Rudy Ortega Jr., Tribal President of the Fenandeño Tatavian Band of Mission Indians