Manifest Destiny 1872 by John Gast
Reservations contain within their boundaries, the only lands that have not been taken from the Native American peoples. Surprisingly, even the land within those boundaries is not exclusively under the ownership and care of the tribes. There has been a long legal history of complicating and denying Native American land ownership rights, arising from the Papal Doctrine of Discovery initiated in the 1400s.
Native American people are gradually reclaiming ownership of some of these lands, through a variety of initiatives and policies including The Land Back Movement. It is long and difficult work. Acknowledging history is important to this work: this map shows you what Indigenous lands you’re living on. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s remember that European settlers were unjustifiably violent and antagonistic, and the resulting damage still needs repairing today.
Interested in learning more about the Love One Another initiative? Visit the archives.