Acknowledgments
Section 1: Land Acknowledgment
We Acknowledge and Honor
Sunward Creative and Consulting LLC serves clients worldwide but is based near Memphis, Tennessee—a city built upon the historic Chickasaw Bluffs. We acknowledge that we are on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Chickasaw Nation, as well as the traditional lands of the Quapaw and Osage people. These nations were the first stewards of the Mississippi River Delta, using these bluffs as a vital place of trade, governance, and connection.
We pay our respects to their ancestors, their Elders, and the contemporary communities of these nations who continue to care for the land today.
Our Responsibility
As a studio dedicated to mission-driven organizations, we recognize that land acknowledgment is only a first step. We also acknowledge the centuries of forced removal, broken treaties, and systemic erasure—including the 1818 Chickasaw Cession—that allowed for the establishment of the city we call home. We honor the ongoing resilience of Indigenous Peoples and commit to learning from their leadership in social and environmental justice, ensuring our work supports a future that is equitable for all.
Section 2: Why We Acknowledge the Land
The Importance of Land Acknowledgment
A land acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between them and their traditional territories. For our studio, this is an essential part of authentically honoring our founding beliefs.
To acknowledge is to push back against the “Great Erasure”—the historical narrative that suggests Indigenous Peoples simply disappeared. By naming the specific nations who belong to this land, we:
Honor the Truth: We recognize the violent history of colonization and the forced displacement of the original inhabitants.
Afford Respect: We follow the Indigenous protocol of acknowledging the place and host nations.
Commit to Action: We move beyond a symbolic gesture by educating ourselves and our network on how to support Indigenous sovereignty and contemporary Native-led movements.
Resources for Further Information
We encourage everyone to take action, to learn more about the history of the land you occupy, and find how to support Indigenous communities. Please visit these resources for further information about these topics:
Native Governance Center
A Native-led nonprofit that provides resources on Indigenous sovereignty and guides for meaningful land acknowledgments.
U.S. Department of Arts and Culture
A guide to the practice of land acknowledgment for leaders and organizers.
Native Land Digital
An interactive map to help you identify the traditional territories, languages, and treaties in your area.