Press Release: The Land Back Movement Gains Momentum in the U.S.
Washington, D.C. — The Land Back movement, rooted in Indigenous advocacy for the return of stolen lands, is gaining significant traction across the globe. While Indigenous groups have been engaged in this struggle for generations, the term "Land Back" began making waves as a meme in 2019, evolving into a decentralized initiative promoting treaty rights, climate justice, cultural revival, and tribal sovereignty.
Alvin Warren, former lieutenant governor of the Santa Clara Pueblo, expresses that Land Back encompasses more than legal title restoration to Indigenous peoples; it’s about revitalizing a connection to traditional ways of life through agriculture and subsistence. "It is about undoing the disconnection created by colonization," he emphasized.
Highlighting recent activism, Nick Tilsen, an Oglala Lakota leader, garnered national attention in 2020 when he blockaded access to Mount Rushmore, demanding the return of the Black Hills, land promised to the Sioux tribes in the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, which was later nullified. Tilsen argues that reclaiming this land is vital to restoring governance, culture, and identity stripped from Indigenous communities.
Despite challenges, including governmental regulations and skepticism about the feasibility of land restoration—raised by figures like Cheyenne River Sioux member James Swan—there have been notable advancements. The Interior Department’s Land Buy-Back Program has restored over 1.2 million hectares to tribal trust since its inception in 2012. Additionally, several states have initiated land returns, such as California’s recent return of 1,133 hectares to the Shasta Indian Nation.
As legal avenues for land restoration continue to expand, the Land Back movement is poised to foster new dialogues regarding Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice, emphasizing a future where ancestral lands can be returned and restored for generations to come.
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