The University of Texas at Arlington is formally acknowledging that its campus is on land once owned by Native Americans.
The university issued a statement saying the school was built on the historical homelands of the Wichita tribe after they were forcibly displaced. The statement goes on to recognize the Caddo Nation and other Tribal Nations, as well as indigenous people who were moved during the Indian Relocation Program in the 1950s and '60s.
In full, the statement reads:
“UT Arlington respectfully acknowledges the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes upon whose historical homelands this University is located. Their ancestors resided here for generations before being forcibly displaced by U.S. settlers and soldiers in the mid-1800s. We recognize the historical presence of the Caddo Nation and other Tribal Nations in the region; the ongoing presence and achievements of many people who moved to the area due to the Indian Relocation program of the 1950s and 1960s; and the vital presence and accomplishments of our Native students, faculty, and staff.”
Other universities across the country have issued similar statements - but some critics argue that they’re empty gestures. The task force behind UTA’s statement says that’s not the case with this one. They consider the statement a call to action and are planning to implement a Native American oversight council in the near future.
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