Southern Tier Library System Land Acknowledgement
The Southern Tier Library System headquarters reside on the traditional homelands of the Onöndowa’ga (Seneca) people, one of the 6 nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois Confederacy) - one of the longest-lived democracies in the world. The five counties which STLS serve are located primarily on the homelands of the Seneca and the Susquehannock peoples. The offices of STLS are located adjacent to a former Seneca village once located in what is now known as Cooper's Plains. This Seneca village was destroyed and the land was seized by the federal government during the Clinton-Sullivan Campaign of genocide, destruction, and land theft in 1779.
People from these and other Native nations reside in our communities today and have made and continue to make innumerable contributions to our region.
We invite you to consider the history of your land. This map may help you identify the indigenous people whose land you occupy, and the languages they speak.
Knowing our past is a starting point. We must be mindful that colonialism and oppression continue to create trauma for indigenous people to this day. We can center, stand with, and support indigenous organizations, nations, and grassroots change movements through our time, energy, or financial contributions. Our libraries can include books and other materials authored by indigenous people. We can ensure our library collections and programs provide the perspective of indigenous peoples. Resources including those provided by the American Indian Library Association (AILA) can help us learn how to do this.