Our Full Commitment – Land Acknowledgment & Action
At Winnebago County Community Gardens, we believe that land acknowledgment is more than just words—it is a commitment to action, education, and ongoing support for Indigenous communities and other historically marginalized groups.
Winnebago County Community Gardens acknowledges that we are on the ancestral homelands of the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox (Meskwaki), Kickapoo, Miami, and Sioux (Očhéthi Šakówiŋ) Nations. We recognize that this land was unjustly taken from Indigenous peoples through forced removal and treaties that were not honored.
We honor their enduring relationship with this land, their agricultural traditions, and their resilience in the face of displacement. As we cultivate this community garden, we commit to learning from and supporting Indigenous communities, integrating Indigenous stewardship practices into our work, and fostering genuine relationships built on respect, education, and action.
We call on our volunteers, supporters, and community members to recognize that advocacy for Indigenous peoples is an ongoing responsibility and a crucial part of creating a just and equitable society. We encourage all who engage with this garden to support Indigenous-led movements, learn from Indigenous agricultural traditions, and contribute to food sovereignty and environmental justice.
Furthermore, we acknowledge that the struggles for land, food access, and environmental justice extend beyond Indigenous communities and impact Black, Latino/a, and other historically marginalized groups. We commit to working toward a future where all communities have equitable access to land, fresh food, and sustainability resources.
We recognize that the land itself holds knowledge and history that predates us.
We commit to:
🌱 Learning From Indigenous Agricultural Traditions
Indigenous peoples have long practiced sustainable and regenerative agriculture that prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and food sovereignty. We commit to:
✔ Educating our gardeners and volunteers on Indigenous growing methods, such as the Three Sisters planting technique (corn, beans, and squash).
✔ Partnering with Indigenous knowledge-keepers to share Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in workshops and educational materials.
✔ Ensuring that our gardening practices honor and protect the land, soil, and water, as Indigenous communities have done for generations.
📌 Learn More:
🌿 Supporting Indigenous-Led Initiatives & Advocacy
Acknowledging the land is just the first step. We are committed to advocacy and tangible support by:
✔ Encouraging our staff, volunteers, and supporters to donate time or resources to Indigenous-led organizations focused on land back efforts, food sovereignty, and environmental justice.
✔ Seeking collaborations with local Indigenous communities and organizations to amplify their voices and initiatives.
✔ Using our platform to educate others on the history of land dispossession and Indigenous resilience.
📌 Support Indigenous-Led Organizations in Illinois:
- 🔹 American Indian Center of Chicago – Provides community programs, cultural preservation, and advocacy for Native peoples in Chicago.
- 🔹 American Indian Association of Illinois – Focuses on education, culture, and social justice for Indigenous communities in Illinois.
- 🔹 Chi-Nations Youth Council – Supports Indigenous youth empowerment through activism, culture, and leadership development.
📢 Learn & Take Action:
- 🎥 Faith in Place – Honoring Indigenous People
- 🏛 Chicago Wilderness Alliance – Native-Led Climate Policy
🌍 Recognizing That Food & Land Justice is Interconnected
The struggles for land access, food sovereignty, and environmental justice extend beyond Indigenous communities and also impact Black, Latino/a, and other historically marginalized groups. We commit to:
✔ Ensuring that our garden is a space of inclusion and accessibility for all communities, particularly those affected by systemic barriers to land and fresh food.
✔ Advocating for policies and practices that promote food justice and land access for all people.
✔ Building an organization that prioritizes equity, sustainability, and historical awareness in everything we do.
📌 Explore More on Food Justice & Equity:
- 🍎 Food Justice Explained – Why Equity Matters
- 🌍 Indigenous Food Systems Network
🌟 Taking Action Beyond Acknowledgment
We invite our volunteers, supporters, and community members to join us in moving beyond acknowledgment and into action. If you are interested in supporting Indigenous advocacy efforts, here are ways you can help:
✔ Donate to Indigenous-led organizations working on land justice and food sovereignty.
✔ Learn about traditional Indigenous growing methods and incorporate them into your own gardening.
✔ Support Indigenous-owned businesses, farms, and markets that contribute to sustainable agriculture.
✔ Advocate for policies that restore land to Indigenous stewardship and increase food access in marginalized communities.
📌 Take Action Today:
🌿 Find Indigenous-Owned Farms & Markets
📢 Donate to Indigenous Land Back Efforts
🌱 Together, We Can Grow with Purpose
By engaging in these actions, we move beyond acknowledgment and into advocacy—ensuring that our garden is a space that respects, uplifts, and learns from Indigenous communities.
We invite you to join us in this commitment—whether by learning, donating, volunteering, or sharing these resources with others.
🌱 Let’s grow together—with respect for the past and a commitment to the future.
📌 Get Involved Today!