FLASHPOINTS Vignette - Land Acknowledgements 1

A professor (White, male), overhears two students during a class break discussing the land acknowledgment they heard at the previous evening’s basketball game. The students are dismissive of what they heard and make derogatory remarks about the land acknowledgment. In version one, the professor addresses the students directly (privately) and asks them to see him after class. In version two, the professor asks the students what they know about land acknowledgements and engages them in a discussion. In version three, the professor begins class after the break by addressing the entire class and begins a discussion about land acknowledgments and their importance. Discussion: What is a land acknowledgment and why are they made? How should students’ misinformation or inappropriate comments be addressed – punitively, privately, or as a teachable moment for the whole class? What kinds of curriculum and pedagogical strategies go beyond simply acknowledging indigenous history?