Acknowledging Ancestral Lands

The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) recognizes tribal sovereignty and acknowledges with deep gratitude First Nations as ancestral stewards of the land upon which North Carolina State University sits. Also acknowledged are state-wide ancestral land locations, where NLI engages with local communities in activities that may impact ancestral lands. Descendants of indigenous peoples in North Carolina, who continue to live on these lands, include those of the Catawba, Coharie, Cherokee, Eno, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi, Sappony, Shakori, Sissipahaw, Tuscarora, and Waccamaw Siouan peoples. NLI aspires to learn from indigenous ​peoples’ sense of oneness with nature and their sustainable lifestyles, thus engaging future generations in taking responsibility for caring for, conserving, and regenerating the biodiversity of the land and water, upon which all life depends.

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