The emerged from centuries of Indigenous land dispossession in North America. It seeks to restore Indigenous peoples' relationships with , addressing historical injustices and promoting environmental stewardship in the North American West.
Land Back emphasizes a holistic approach to addressing historical wrongs and environmental concerns. It aligns with Indigenous worldviews that see humans as part of interconnected ecosystems, challenging Western concepts of land ownership and resource exploitation in the region.
Origins of Land Back
Land Back movement emerged from centuries of Indigenous land dispossession and colonization in North America
Addresses historical injustices and seeks to restore Indigenous peoples' relationship with ancestral territories
Connects to broader themes of environmental stewardship and Indigenous rights in the North American West
Historical context
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Section 2: Colonization – Pulling Together: Foundations Guide View original
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Top images from around the web for Historical context
Section 2: Colonization – Pulling Together: Foundations Guide View original
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File:Frederick William Woodhouse - The first settlers discover Buckley, 1861.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
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Introduction-European Exploration Accounts – American Literature I: An Anthology of Texts From ... View original
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Section 2: Colonization – Pulling Together: Foundations Guide View original
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Roots in 15th-century Doctrine of Discovery justified European colonization of Indigenous lands
U.S. government policies (Indian Removal Act, Dawes Act) forcibly relocated tribes and divided communal lands
Canadian government implemented similar policies (Indian Act, reserve system) to control Indigenous populations
Broken treaties and forced assimilation eroded Indigenous land rights throughout 19th and 20th centuries
Indigenous land dispossession
Manifest Destiny ideology drove westward expansion and displacement of Indigenous peoples
Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settler on Indigenous territories
Establishment of national parks often involved removing Indigenous inhabitants (Yellowstone, Yosemite)
Forced relocation to reservations disconnected tribes from traditional lands and resources
Emergence of movement
Gained momentum in 1960s-70s alongside civil rights and Red Power movements
(AIM) occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969 raised awareness of land rights
protests in Canada (2012) brought renewed attention to Indigenous
Social media amplified Land Back message and connected Indigenous activists across North America
Key principles
Land Back emphasizes holistic approach to addressing historical injustices and environmental concerns
Aligns with Indigenous worldviews that see humans as part of interconnected ecosystems
Challenges Western concepts of land ownership and resource exploitation in North American West
Land repatriation
Calls for return of stolen lands to Indigenous nations and communities
Includes both public lands (national parks, forests) and privately held properties
Advocates for honoring treaty obligations and recognizing unceded territories
Seeks to restore Indigenous place names and cultural sites
Indigenous sovereignty
Asserts right of Indigenous peoples to self-governance and
Challenges colonial borders and jurisdictions imposed on traditional territories
Promotes nation-to-nation relationships between Indigenous groups and settler governments
Emphasizes importance of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in decision-making
Environmental stewardship
Recognizes Indigenous peoples as traditional caretakers of lands and waters
Promotes practices based on ancestral knowledge
Aims to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems damaged by industrial development
Connects land rights to broader issues of climate change and environmental justice
Land Back strategies
Land Back movement employs diverse tactics to achieve goals of repatriation and sovereignty
Combines grassroots organizing with legal and policy approaches
Utilizes both traditional and modern methods of resistance and advocacy
Legal reclamation efforts
Filing land claims based on historical treaties and Aboriginal title
Challenging land seizures and resource extraction projects in court
Negotiating modern treaties and land claim agreements ()
Pursuing legal recognition of Indigenous rights through international bodies ()
Direct action campaigns
Organizing protests and blockades to prevent resource extraction on Indigenous lands
Establishing land defense camps to protect territories from development (Unist'ot'en Camp)
Reclaiming and occupying ancestral lands through "land back camps"
Using social media and digital platforms to raise awareness and mobilize supporters
Policy advocacy
Lobbying governments to reform land use policies and recognize Indigenous rights
Advocating for co-management agreements for parks and protected areas
Pushing for implementation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations