Land Acknowledgment

As we gather in the Madras Community Garden, we stand on the ceded ancestral lands of the Wana Łama (Warm Springs), Wasq’ú (Wasco), and Northern Paiute Tribes, today known as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. We acknowledge with deep respect the enduring relationship that these tribes have with this land, a bond forged through millenia of stewardship, culture, and tradition.

This garden is a place of learning, growth, and community. It is a space where we can connect with the land and each other, cultivating not only plants but also respect, understanding, appreciation for the natural world and each other. In recognizing the original stewards of this land, we also acknowledge the wisdom and practices they have developed in living sustainably with the earth. These teachings remind us of the importance of caring for the land that sustains us, promoting ecological balance and biodiversity.

We dedicate ourselves to continuing this legacy of stewardship in the Madras Community Garden. By engaging in sustainable gardening practices, we honor the land and the generations who have cultivated it before us. We commit to fostering a community space that is inclusive, educative, and respectful of all its members and the natural environment.

Let this acknowledgment serve as a reminder of our shared responsibility to the land and to each other. As we tend to the garden, we also nurture a community rooted in respect, collaboration, and a commitment to environmental stewardship. Through our collective efforts, we strive to honor the past, enrich the present, and sow the seeds of a sustainable and inclusive future.