Spring Institute for Youth Services 2026

Spring Institute for Youth Services 2026 Land Acknowledgment & Resources

Land Acknowledgment Statement

As we gather together in Grand Rapids, we acknowledge that we are on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Anishinaabe people – including the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi – whose presence and governance long predate the State of Michigan.

We specifically recognize the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, whose historic and contemporary connections to this region remain strong. We honor them as stewards whose heritage connects to this broader region in West Michigan.

To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation, and a way of honoring the elders and native inhabitants, both past and present, who have lived and worked on the land since time immemorial. We recognize the painful history of genocide, displacement, migration and settlement that brings us together. MLA is dedicated to improving community relationships and making our organization a more supportive and inclusive place for Native and Indigenous voices and perspectives. We encourage everyone to learn the histories of this land, to look at who has and does not have access to its resources, and to examine your own place, abilities, and obligations within this process of reparative work that is necessary to promote a more equitable and socially just world.

To show our commitment, MLA has added Indigenous resources and the history of this region on our event website and will provide a small donation to the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. Through these small actions, MLA will continue to recognize and support the sovereignty of Michigan’s Indian nations and Indigenous Peoples when we gather to learn and work together.