NWILL acknowledges that our work takes place across the ancestral and contemporary homelands of many Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations. Indigenous peoples have lived in relationship with lands and waters since time immemorial, sustaining stewardship, knowledge, languages, governance, and cultural practices that continue to shape communities today.

We also recognize that these lands were not empty places, but home to sovereign Indigenous nations whose lands were taken through colonization, broken treaties, forced removal, and violence that disrupted Native communities, families, economies, and access to traditional lands and resources. These harms are not only historical; their effects continue today.

Acknowledgement must therefore be more than a statement of respect. For NWILL, it is a responsibility to act with humility, accountability, and reciprocity. NWILL is committed to supporting Indigenous people and cultures through action by dedicating a portion of our annual proceeds to organizations that advance the professional development of Indigenous people and support preservation and access to Indigenous cultural heritage.