Land Acknowledgement Statement
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library acknowledges and honors that this institution exists today on land that was and remains the ancestral and historic territory of many Native peoples, including the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk. We welcome the responsibility to share stewardship of these lands, and be good neighbors to all Wisconsin Indigenous populations.
We occupy a storied place. Indigenous peoples of the past left behind their stories infused in this land. By the time Europeans came to the area now known as Whitewater, the early mound building cultures had disappeared, leaving traces of their sacred rituals on the land. The Potawatomi, then closely related to the Ojibwa and Odawa peoples, called this land home. The Ho-Chunk grew corn and gathered a living from these lands.
Not all came to this place voluntarily. Some were forced into what we now call Wisconsin. Some were forced across it. Some were forced out of it and found ways to return. We need to know the stories of this land and its people. We need to know how beginning in 1804 land was relinquished by tribal nations in treaties whose terms were unfair and not upheld; and how land was also taken by force. Settler colonizers representing the government carried out genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced removal. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was used to enable many atrocities. The land taken was divided and used for military purposes, or commerce, or for white settlers. The First Nations lost water rights and access to their homes, the places where their ancestors lived and rested. The legal, financial, and social consequences of these removals continue. We invite you to learn more about the genocide and forced displacement by non-Native settlers, and the ongoing injustices against Native peoples.
As a public institution that provides access to resources and information for lifelong learning, it is the library’s responsibility to acknowledge the historical context of the land we use, to promote dialogue and connection across cultures, and to recognize and promote the recognition of the truthful history of our community and country. We honor the First Nations of Wisconsin with our commitment to providing equitable and inclusive access and opportunities for all whom the library serves.
Approved by the Library Board of Trustees - September 2024
Our Commitment to Action
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is actively and consistently working toward:
- Maintaining an authentic collection that includes Indigenous authors and illustrators in all areas of the library’s collection. Ensuring that money in our collection development budget is allocated specifically for this purpose.
- Creating a dedicated space on our website for our full land acknowledgement statement that also includes additional information and links to local First Nations history (including book lists and highlights from our library’s collection) and current issues for further research and education.
- Creating a space in our local history collection, The Whitewater Room, for a display of our full land acknowledgement statement and additional information to highlight authentic Indigenous voices in our collection and recognize the truthful history of our community and country.
- Hosting programs in collaboration with Indigenous presenters, performers, educators, and leaders in order to educate and promote dialogue and connection across cultures. Ensuring that money in our programming budget is allocated specifically for this purpose.
- Seeking opportunities to form partnerships with other local organizations in order to provide education and programming focused on Indigenous culture. Ensuring that grants are written specifically for this purpose (i.e. Wisconsin Humanities Grant).
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Seeking input, guidance, and collaboration with the Ho-Chunk, Potawatomi, and other local Indigenous people in all areas of our library work.
Approved by the Library Board of Trustees - September 2024
Digital Resources
Ten Descendants of a Famous Chief Camp at Lake Koshkonong
Winnebago Villages and Chieftains of the Lower Rock River Region
Wisconsin First Nations: American Indian Studies in Wisconsin
This collection of resources provides educators and pre-service teachers accurate and authentic educational materials for teaching about the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin.
The Ways
A collection of language and culture stories from Native communities around the central Great Lakes that explores traditional ways and those of today. The series supports educators in meeting the requirements of Wisconsin Act 31.
Wisconsin Historical Society
Resources Related to American Indian Education
From the Department of Public Instruction: Find information on Wisconsin Act 31 and links to Wisconsin’s American Indian nations websites. The information also includes links to local, regional, state and national organizations that provide education and support to the students, families, and communities.
Native Americans: Resources in Local History and Genealogy
Library of Congress Research Guide
Local Resources
The Whitewater Room at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library
Local, historical print materials. Visit the library or ask a reference librarian for more information.
Archives at the Andersen Library
Whitewater Historical Society
Whitewater Effigy Mounds Preserve
Book Reviews & Lists
American Indians in Children's Literature
Established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. Dr. Jean Mendoza joined AICL as a co-editor in 2016.
American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners
Awarded biennially by the American Indian Library Association, the AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America.
First Nations Book Recommendations
Staff members of First Nations have compiled a list of what they consider to be essential reading for anyone interested in the Native American experience.