Compass Roses: Maps by Artists Albuquerque
Land Acknowledgement

This project has brought together a diversity of artists and artistic styles to demonstrate the multiplicity of voices and stories that are present within a community, but ultimately this is a project about place. This particular expression of the project represents a place that many recognize today as Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yet, this place has an identity that stretches far beyond this familiar name, and we recognize the importance of honoring and recognizing the land and the people who have cared for it for so many generations.

This is Tiwa land that continues to be stewarded by those that maintain vital ancestral connections to this place. This community (Albuquerque) is nestled between the surrounding Pueblos of Sandia, Isleta, Laguna and Santa Ana. Further beyond this community, you will find that this place (New Mexico) encompasses the landscapes of 19 different Pueblos, the Jicarilla, Mescalero, and Fort Sill Apache reservations, as well as Diné land (Navajo Nation).

One of the aims of this project is to demonstrate that maps are neither perfect nor unbiased. While map-making has been practiced by many Indigenous communities for years long before colonization, the maps that are widely presented in schools, museums, media, etc. often perpetuate a colonial interpretation of place. Indigenous place names, landmarks, boundaries or lack thereof have been overwritten by the maps that many of us take for granted on a daily basis. This erasure contributes to the on-going colonization of place and perpetuates harm against Indigenous peoples.

As you engage with this project, we ask that you join us in challenging that erasure, by honoring the ancestors of this place, paying respect to all of the Indigenous people who are very much still here, and recognizing that Indigenous people will still be here in the future stewarding the land, maintaining their cultures, and thriving.

We also request that you take this action beyond the scope of this project and think about some ways that you as an individual can work to address and dismantle these legacies of settler colonialism. Please take some time to learn about the communities that call the land you occupy home and think about tangible ways to support and celebrate those communities, not just today, but every day. One great place to start learning about the people who call this place home is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. You can also consider donating to an Indigenous organization in your community. If you would like to support an organization that is based in Albuquerque, we suggest the following:

• Indigenous Women Rising

• Indigenous Mutual Aid

• The Red Nation

• Albuquerque Indian Center

• Pueblo Action Alliance

• First Nations Community HealthSource

• Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

• Native American Community Academy

• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

• Native Community Health Network

This statement was created by Compass Roses artists and organizers who were guided in conversation and process by Ms. Felicia Garcia. We are grateful to Ms. Garcia for working with us and developing our land acknowledgement. You can learn more about her work and the process she uses here.