KCPS Board Adopts Land Acknowledgment

 

“Kansas City Public Schools acknowledges that our schools are built on the ancestral homelands of the Kaw (Kanza or Kansa), Jiwere (Otoe), Nutachi (Missouria), and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations and Peoples. We honor and respect the Indigenous Peoples whose land is now part of our district boundaries. We acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples in Kansas City, the state of Missouri, and throughout the United States were forced to cede their territory and endure generations of genocide. Kansas City Public Schools is committed to creating a culture of equity and affirming all communities, especially those who are marginalized. The stories and heritage of Indigenous Peoples will be shared, valued and celebrated within our schools.”

The Kansas City Public Schools Board of Directors approved this land acknowledgment on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in recognition of the Indigenous people who originally inhabited our school district. To write this acknowledgement, the Department of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation worked in partnership with the Kansas City Indian Center. KCPS is committed to teaching our students about the history of Kansas City's Indigenous people and looks forward to continued partnership with organizations preserving Native history and culture in our region.