Forget-me-not flowers in Redwood Park. (Photo credit: Susanna Marshland)
In many parts of Lisjan Nation territory, non-Native people are reckoning with living on stolen land and taking reparative action. Individuals, community groups and towns are paying Shuumi. Albany flies the Lisjan Nation flag at its City Hall. Alameda renamed a park “Chochenyo Park” in honor of the Lisjan Nation language. Richmond created ‘Ookwe Park in collaboration with Lisjan Nation, a public space filled with medicinal plants and art. Berkeley City Council helps protect the sacred West Berkeley Shellmound. The City of Oakland returned 5 acres of land to Lisjan Nation stewardship. Making change in support of Lisjan Nation sovereignty is not only possible, it’s happening all around us.
Our Vision
We are inspired by the vision of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust:
“Sogorea Te’ Land Trust cultivates rematriation.
Sogorea Te’ calls on us all to heal and transform the legacies of colonization, genocide, and patriarchy and to do the work our ancestors and future generations are calling us to do.”
- Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, an urban, Indigenous, women-led land trust that supports Lisjan Nation sovereignty work
As non-Native people, we are invited to live on Lisjan Nation land as good guests and join in the work of rematriation, returning Indigenous land to Indigenous hands, for the benefit of all beings and the earth itself.
Our Orientation
GGK’s purpose and vision is rooted in growing understandings about the place where we live:
The place now known as Kensington is located in Huchiun, a territory of the Lisjan Nation.
The Lisjan Nation people have lived in this place for millenia. They never left, and they never sold or ceded their land.
Lisjan Nation people are both survivors of colonial violence, past and present, and a thriving community living here in their full humanity and sovereignty.
As non-Native people living on stolen Indigenous land, we understand that we have an obligation and an opportunity to take reparative action.
We follow Lisjan Nation and Sogorea Te’ Land Trust leadership by taking action in response to their requests, practice accountability by asking for input and feedback on our work, and engage in reciprocity by offering contributions shaped by our learning and experience.