Lafayette Unveils 2 Projects Recognizing Local Indigenous People

LAFAYETTE, CA — The city of Lafayette held a ceremony Monday to unveil two projects that symbolize the city's commitment to honoring indigenous heritage and recognizing the history of the land.

The ceremony was held at the corner of Mount Diablo Boulevard and Lafayette Circle in downtown Lafayette, where a new utility box wrap features an illustration of Saklan women and the city’s new land acknowledgment statement, as well as a new street sign incorporating both "Mt. Diablo Blvd." and "Tuyshtak" — the name of the mountain used by Ohlone, which means "dawn of time."

Lafayette Mayor Gina Dawon unveiled both projects alongside her fellow Council members.

The projects came about after the City Council, as part of a yearlong recognition of 175+ years of Lafayette’s history, appointed a task force in early 2023 to lead a community journey in considering whether Lafayette should adopt a form of land acknowledgment.

The City Council accepted the task force's recommendations in October 2023, adopting the land acknowledgment statement and related actions, including the new utility box wrap and the bilingual sign featuring the Ohlone name for the mountain.

According to the city of Lafayette, many communities and institutions have adopted land acknowledgment statements, the purpose being: 1) to show respect to the indigenous people and their descendants who are still part of the community; 2) to take a step toward undoing the intentional erasure of the history and culture of the indigenous people, and; 3) to inspire everyone to learn more about that history and reflect on what it means to occupy space on unceded indigenous lands.

Lafayette's Land Acknowledgment Statement:

"We acknowledge that Lafayette is part of the unceded, ancestral homeland of the Bay Miwok people. The Bay Miwok and neighboring Ohlone people have lived in and moved through this place for thousands of years. They stewarded and shaped this land for hundreds of generations. We express our appreciation and gratitude for this profound legacy, which enhances and contributes to our lives to this day. We will strive to honor this land and strengthen our ties with the Indigenous communities that continue to live and work in our East Bay region as our neighbors and community members. We acknowledge and honor them and their ancestors, elders, and next seven generations."

For more information, visit the City’s website at https://www.lovelafayette.org/...