We, Epsilon Eta, acknowledge that Indiana University Bloomington was founded on and continues to grow on ancestral and Indigenous homelands stewarded by the Myaamiaki (Miami), Lënape (Delaware), Bodwéwadmik (Potawatomi), and saawanwa (Shawnee) peoples. We recognize these nations as past, present, and future caretakers of this land and honor their enduring relationships with it.  

We acknowledge the painful and ongoing history of genocide, forced assimilation, land dispossession though coercive treaties, and displacement of Indigenous peoples that made the establishment of Indiana University possible, histories that are inseparable from the broader colonization and expansion of the Unites States.  

We recognize that research and education in environmental science, sustainability, and conservation have historically benefited, and continue to benefit, from access to land and resources unjustly taken from indigenous communities. 

As members of Epsilon Eta, we are committed to learning about the lands we inhabit and applying an approach to environmental stewardship that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. While acknowledging the land cannot undo the past, understanding the historical and cultural impacts of colonization is essential in the pursuit of a more just equitable, and sustainable future, we encourage continued learning and engagement with Indigenous communities and resources.