As Indigenous Peoples’ Day approaches, the Church faces a faithful reminder: we worship on land once cared for by Indigenous peoples. A land acknowledgment names those who first tended this ground; the Akimel O’odham and Piipaash peoples in our region, and invites us to respond with gratitude, respect, and responsibility.

A land acknowledgment does more than open a service. It tells the truth about where we stand and challenges us to live as better caretakers of God’s creation. When we speak these words, we recognize that the earth is God’s gift, not our possession, and that God calls us to protect it with care.

Words alone can sound empty. A land acknowledgment loses meaning when we treat it as a formality. It gains power when we act on it and when we build relationships, learn stories, and seek justice.