Land Acknowledgment

The Fashion Institute of Technology acknowledges Manhattan as the ancestral and traditional homeland of the Lenni-Lenape and Wappinger people. They maintain a deep and enduring connection to this land and are its rightful owners.

For generations, European settler colonialism and federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native/Indigenous people, attempting to erase the vibrant and diverse cultures they had built. FIT is acutely aware of the displacement endured by the region's original inhabitants and acknowledges the abiding presence of the Lenape diaspora. New York City, in fact, hosts the largest urban Native population in the United States.

A meaningful land acknowledgment must transcend mere words. Our statement aligns with FIT's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. It signifies our commitment to establishing and nurturing authentic relationships with Native/Indigenous communities.

We firmly believe that understanding the historical exclusion and erasure of Indigenous voices is imperative. Our goal is to contribute to a present characterized by meaningful dialog, continuous learning, introspection, and inclusivity, while also laying the foundation for a future that upholds these principles. We pledge to consistently educate ourselves on how to be more responsible caretakers of the land we inhabit. As an academic institution, we will continue to address issues of exclusion, erasure, and systemic discrimination.

We will forever recognize, respect, and honor the city’s first inhabitants and the Native/Indigenous communities that continue to thrive today.