Originally consisting of five independent nations: the Mohawk (Kanein’kehake), Seneca (Onondowahgah), Oneida (Onyota’ake), Cayuga (Guyohkohnyoh), and the Onondaga (Onöñda’gega’), the Haudenosaunee Confederacy was founded and exists under the Great Law as provided by the Peacemaker—a collective organization and democratic system that preceded the constitution of the United States.

The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation stands in reflection and recognition of the Onondaga Nation’s enduring presence, resilience, and guardianship of these lands, which were unjustly taken through colonial expansion and dispossession. We acknowledge that this is not only a historical injustice but an ongoing reality that continues to shape the experiences of Indigenous peoples today.

In the spirit of Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, we recognize that land acknowledgments, while significant, are only the beginning of a much deeper responsibility. With this statement, we seek to honor the wisdom, sovereignty, and rights of the Onondaga people. We strive to amplify the struggles and triumphs of all those displaced and marginalized by colonial and neo-colonial violence. We pledge to build meaningful partnerships and cultivate a future based on equity, respect, and reciprocal relationship building with Indigenous nations, and remain resolute in our pursuit of justice and in our commitment to the ongoing work of decolonization.