Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment

In order to educate our community about the ongoing legacy of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the Library adapted its Land Acknowledgment for youth audiences to share at all public programs. 

Land Acknowledgment for Children
Here is the land (touch the ground)
and here is the sky (reach up to the sky)
Here are my friends (hand out to friends)
and here am I (hug yourself)
We stand together, hand in hand
And thank the Ramaytush Ohlone,
The traditional caretakers of this land,
This land on which we like to play
We promise to look after it every day

Land Acknowledgment for Elementary School Age
We acknowledge that the land where we are gathered today is the traditional land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. We must give thanks and respect to the Ohlone people by taking care of the Earth, the animals, and one another. We acknowledge that non-Ohlone residents are guests on this occupied land and we are grateful for the opportunity to live, learn and play here. We promise to uplift and respect the Ohlone people, their history, and their work.

Land Acknowledgment for Tweens/Teens
The area now known as San Francisco is the unceded Ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the original peoples of this land, the Ramaytush Ohlone have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place. We recognize that we benefit from living, working and learning on their traditional homeland. As uninvited guests, we affirm their sovereign rights as First Peoples and wish to pay our respects to the Ancestors, Elders and Relatives of the Ramaytush Community.

WHEREAS, The San Francisco Public Library Commission (Library Commission) acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that the area comprising the City and County of San Francisco was originally inhabited by the Yelamu, an independent tribe of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone has actively worked to research, expand public awareness of, and preserve Ohlone history and culture; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples have survived the brutalities of colonialism, enslavement, genocide, discrimination, racism, gender-based violence, theft, forced assimilation, and other atrocities driven by local, federal, and state government; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that the gaps in history of the community is caused by colonization, and that Ramaytush Ohlone peoples as original caretakers and storytellers of Yelamu have maintained balance with nature for millennia; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that it is impossible to fully understand the history of San Francisco without acknowledging, recording and understanding the traditional history and knowledge and practices of the Ramaytush Ohlone people; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that Ramaytush Ohlone peoples are not a mythical population of the past, but an integral and active community in the present San Francisco Bay Area region, and beyond, whose ongoing exclusion and invisibility denied the greater Native American community's inclusion and respect in San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, The Library Commission acknowledges that the City and County of San Francisco was founded on unceded territory, and that the existence of the City and County on this land continues to contribute to the erasure and exclusion of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, the American Indian community, and their history; and now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That to acknowledge the truth of the lands and peoples history is a human right and a demonstration of honor and respect for the contributions and sacrifices of the Ramaytush Ohlone ancestors that inhabit and care for this land before us the Library Commission will state the following land acknowledgement at the beginning of each Commission meeting:

The San Francisco Public Library Commission acknowledges that we occupy the unceded Ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. We recognize that the Ramaytush Ohlone understand the interconnectedness of all things and have maintained harmony with nature for millennia. We honor the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples for their enduring commitment to wahrep, Mother Earth. As the Indigenous protectors of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramaytush Ohlone have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. We recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. As uninvited guests, we affirm their sovereign rights as First Peoples and wish to pay our respects to the Ancestors, Elders and Relatives of the Ramaytush Community. We recognize to respectfully honor Ramaytush peoples we must embrace and collaborate meaningfully to record Indigenous knowledge in how we care for San Francisco and all its people; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That it shall be the policy of the Library to develop a protocol for when or how an adapted version of this acknowledgment might be read at Department meetings and events both public and internally; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, The Library Commission 's land acknowledgment is just the first step needed in acknowledging and honoring the land, culture, wisdom, and contributions of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples throughout the San Francisco Bay Area; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That it shall be the policy of the Library to establish a relationship with the Ramaytush Ohlone to engage in a meaningful consultation process to understand their unique needs, concerns, and knowledge as the original caretakers of Yelamu; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That it shall be the policy of the Library to engage with the San Francisco American Indian Cultural District and other American Indian stakeholders to inform the public about American Indian resources available at the Library as well as elevate American Indian knowledge , concerns and expertise through materials, public programming, exhibits and displays both at the library and digitally; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That it shall be the policy of the Library to engage with the Ramaytush Ohlone San Francisco 's American Indian Cultural District and other American Indian stakeholders to review library resources, identify those damaging to the image of the American Indian, educate staff about these discrepancies and promote resources that portray an accurate representation of American Indian culture, especially as it is related to the local community; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Library Commission urges all boards and Commission in the City and County of San Francisco to begin each meeting with a land acknowledgment, which was approved by the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone.

Approved on: APRIL 15, 2021

By a vote of: 6-0

AYES: Huang, Lee, Lopez, Mall, Wardell Ghirarduzzi and Wolf NAYS: none