Join in Crafting a Land Acknowledgment Statement

Hennepin’s Racial Justice Team and Creation Collective are collaborating to develop a congregational land acknowledgment and invite you into this meaningful, long-term journey. More than just words, this project is a commitment to relationship-building, truth-telling, and reparative action with Indigenous communities in Minnesota.

As we acknowledge that our congregation exists on land taken from the Dakota people, we must also recognize the ways we have benefited from that history. The land where our church now stands was donated by T.B. Walker, who built his wealth through the logging industry—an industry deeply tied to the displacement of Indigenous peoples and the exploitation of their lands. The injustices of colonization are not only historical; they persist in the continued destruction of Indigenous lands and livelihoods. The work of land acknowledgment is inseparable from our commitments to creation justice and racial justice, recognizing that environmental degradation and racial oppression have often gone hand in hand.

This is only part of our history. There may be other ways in which our congregation has either benefited from or even contributed to the marginalization of Indigenous communities and other groups of people. As part of this project, we will seek to uncover and confront these truths, deepening our understanding of our past so that we can move forward with integrity and accountability.

This work is deeply reflective and ongoing. It requires us to listen, learn, and engage in relationships beyond this moment, shaping how we live into justice as a faith community.

We invite all members of the congregation to take part in this long-term process of repair and transformation.

To join the project team, email [email protected]