12.3 Land Back movement

The Land Back movement emerged from centuries of Indigenous land dispossession in North America. It seeks to restore Indigenous peoples' relationships with ancestral territories, 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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• 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 colonialism 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
• American Indian Movement (AIM) occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969 raised awareness of land rights
• Idle No More protests in Canada (2012) brought renewed attention to Indigenous sovereignty
• 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 self-determination
• 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 sustainable land management 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 (Nunavut Land Claims Agreement)
• Pursuing legal recognition of Indigenous rights through international bodies (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)

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
• Promoting Indigenous-led conservation initiatives (Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas)

Notable Land Back campaigns

• Land Back movement has gained visibility through high-profile conflicts and resistance efforts
• Demonstrates ongoing struggles for Indigenous land rights across diverse regions of North America
• Highlights intersection of environmental protection and Indigenous sovereignty

Standing Rock vs Dakota Access

• 2016-2017 protest against oil pipeline construction through Lakota treaty lands
• Water protectors established camps to block pipeline route near Standing Rock Reservation
• Attracted global attention and support from environmental and Indigenous rights activists
• Resulted in temporary halt of pipeline construction, later reversed under Trump administration

Mauna Kea in Hawaii

• Ongoing protection of sacred mountain from construction of Thirty Meter Telescope
• Native Hawaiians (Kānaka Maoli) assert ancestral rights to manage Mauna Kea
• Kia'i (protectors) have maintained blockade of access road since 2019
• Raises questions about scientific development vs Indigenous cultural and spiritual practices

Wet'suwet'en resistance

• Hereditary chiefs oppose Coastal GasLink pipeline through unceded Wet'suwet'en territory
• Established checkpoints and healing centers to assert control over traditional lands
• RCMP raids on Wet'suwet'en camps sparked nationwide solidarity protests in 2020
• Highlights tensions between elected band councils and traditional governance structures

Environmental implications

• Land Back movement emphasizes Indigenous approaches to environmental management
• Challenges Western scientific paradigms and promotes integration of traditional knowledge
• Addresses interconnected issues of land rights, biodiversity conservation, and climate change

Traditional ecological knowledge

• Incorporates generations of observations and practices adapted to local ecosystems
• Promotes holistic understanding of environmental relationships and cycles
• Includes sustainable harvesting techniques and resource management strategies
• Recognizes spiritual and cultural connections to land in conservation efforts

Conservation practices

• Emphasizes Indigenous-led protected areas and co-management of existing parks
• Restores traditional burning practices to manage forests and prevent wildfires
• Protects critical habitats for culturally significant species (salmon, buffalo)
• Implements sustainable agriculture methods based on ancestral crop varieties

Climate change mitigation

• Preserves carbon sinks by protecting forests and wetlands from industrial development
• Promotes renewable energy projects on Indigenous lands (solar, wind)
• Restores degraded ecosystems to enhance carbon sequestration
• Advocates for Indigenous voices in global climate negotiations and policy-making

Challenges and opposition

• Land Back movement faces significant obstacles in achieving its goals
• Confronts deeply entrenched power structures and economic interests
• Addresses widespread misconceptions about Indigenous land rights and sovereignty

Government resistance

• Reluctance to cede control over valuable natural resources and territories
• Concerns about jurisdictional conflicts and impacts on existing governance structures
• Fear of setting precedents that could lead to more extensive land claims
• Bureaucratic hurdles in implementing land transfers and co-management agreements

Corporate interests

• Opposition from extractive industries (mining, oil, gas) with stakes in Indigenous lands
• Resistance from agricultural and forestry sectors to changing land use practices
• Concerns about economic impacts of returning lands to Indigenous control
• Legal challenges to block Indigenous land rights and environmental protections

Public misconceptions

• Misunderstanding of treaty rights and historical context of land dispossession
• Fear-mongering about potential displacement of non-Indigenous residents
• Stereotypes and prejudices about Indigenous peoples' ability to manage lands
• Lack of awareness about benefits of Indigenous stewardship for broader society

Allies and supporters

• Land Back movement has garnered support from diverse groups and organizations
• Builds coalitions to amplify Indigenous voices and advance shared goals
• Emphasizes importance of following Indigenous leadership in land rights struggles

Indigenous-led organizations

• Native American Rights Fund provides legal assistance for land claim cases
• Indigenous Environmental Network connects grassroots land defenders across North America
• National Congress of American Indians advocates for federal policy changes
• Assembly of First Nations in Canada promotes Indigenous rights at national level

Environmental groups

• Sierra Club collaborates with tribes on land protection and climate initiatives
• Natural Resources Defense Council supports Indigenous-led conservation efforts
• 350.org includes Land Back principles in climate justice campaigns
• Earthjustice provides legal support for Indigenous environmental cases

Academic institutions

• Native American and Indigenous Studies programs research land rights issues
• Environmental law clinics assist with Indigenous land claim cases
• Archaeology departments partner with tribes for cultural resource management
• Sustainability initiatives incorporate Indigenous perspectives on land stewardship

Impact on Indigenous communities

• Land Back movement aims to address multiple interconnected issues facing Indigenous peoples
• Recognizes land as fundamental to Indigenous identity, culture, and well-being
• Seeks to reverse negative impacts of colonization and land dispossession

Cultural revitalization

• Restores access to sacred sites and traditional gathering places
• Facilitates intergenerational transmission of language and cultural practices
• Strengthens connection to ancestral territories and traditional lifeways
• Promotes healing from historical trauma through land-based activities

Economic opportunities

• Develops sustainable economies based on Indigenous values and practices
• Creates jobs in land management, conservation, and eco-tourism
• Establishes Indigenous-owned businesses utilizing local resources
• Generates revenue through renewable energy projects on tribal lands

Health and well-being

• Improves access to traditional foods and medicines
• Addresses mental health issues through land-based healing programs
• Reduces environmental health risks from industrial pollution on Indigenous lands
• Promotes physical activity and connection to nature through land-based activities

Future of Land Back

• Land Back movement continues to evolve and gain momentum across North America
• Adapts strategies to address changing political and environmental landscapes
• Seeks to create lasting change in relationships between Indigenous peoples, settlers, and land

Expanding global movement

• Inspires similar movements among Indigenous peoples worldwide (Māori in New Zealand, Sámi in Scandinavia)
• Builds international solidarity networks to support Indigenous land rights
• Utilizes social media and digital platforms to share strategies and successes
• Connects Land Back to global discussions on decolonization and climate justice

Policy changes

• Pushes for implementation of UNDRIP at national and local levels
• Advocates for reforms to land use planning and resource management policies
• Promotes Indigenous guardianship programs for parks and protected areas
• Seeks changes to educational curricula to include Indigenous perspectives on land

Reconciliation efforts

• Encourages land acknowledgments as first step towards meaningful action
• Promotes land taxes and voluntary land returns by non-Indigenous landowners
• Develops protocols for sharing lands and resources between Indigenous and settler communities
• Fosters dialogue and relationship-building to address historical injustices

Land Back vs other movements

• Land Back shares commonalities with other social and environmental movements
• Distinguishes itself through focus on Indigenous sovereignty and relationship to land
• Intersects with broader struggles for justice and sustainability

Similarities with decolonization

• Challenges ongoing impacts of colonialism on Indigenous peoples and lands
• Seeks to dismantle colonial power structures and institutions
• Promotes revitalization of Indigenous languages, cultures, and governance systems
• Advocates for reparations and redress for historical injustices

Differences from land reform

• Emphasizes return of ancestral territories rather than redistribution of land
• Based on recognition of inherent Indigenous rights rather than economic equality
• Incorporates spiritual and cultural connections to specific landscapes
• Challenges Western concepts of individual land ownership

Intersection with climate justice

• Recognizes Indigenous peoples as frontline communities facing climate impacts
• Promotes Indigenous solutions to environmental challenges
• Connects struggles against resource extraction to broader climate movement
• Emphasizes importance of Indigenous leadership in climate policy-making