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RAISING LUMINARIES
Land Acknowledgement & Action
Raising Luminaries was founded within the traditional homelands of the Wampanoag and Massachusett Tribal Nations, the land the US government currently calls Eastern Massachusetts. I take responsibility with gratitude and intent to honor the stories, members, traditions, and cultures of these nations.
As a settler living here as a guest, I am both a beneficiary and participant in colonization and the continued targeting of Wampanoag, Massacusett, and other indigenous nations throughout Turtle Island. This compels me to acknowledge the violence and genocide toward Indigenous people local to me, both past and present. I take responsibility for continuing to learn and listen from Indigenous people, boost their voices, support their efforts, and take daily action in my role running Raising Luminaries, and in my role as a parent, to dismantle colonialism.
A land acknowledgement is just performance if it doesn’t come with action – which is why a portion of donations has been redirected to Indigenous-led organizations. I search for, amplify, and redirect support to Indigenous educators in all of our toolkits when possible.
More About Our Local Nations
Here are the resources to keep up with updates and calls to action from Indigenous nations local to the homelands of the Wampanoag & Massachusett nations.
- The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag website and Facebook page
- United American Indians of New England website (UAINE) & Facebook group
- Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe website and Facebook page
- Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head website
- Wôpanâak Language Reclaimation Project
- Indigenous Peoples Day Massachusetts
- Boston, Connecticut & Rhode Island: First Light Foundation & Annawon Weeden: An educator for organizations and schools
To find out which nations are local to you, check out the Native Land website
This interactive map contains a crowdsourced map with information on territory, language, and treaties. From there, do your own research to find ways to follow and connect with your local nations.
Indigenous-Led Organizations
Since I can am a US settler (a descendant of immigrants and refugees), my depth of knowledge in Latine, Indigenous, and First Nations experiences is severely limited. The following are #OwnVoices resources investigating kidlit through a decolonizing lens.
I haven’t had a chance to thoroughly vet every book I read through their filter, and sometimes our perspectives differ. But with respect to Latine, Indigenous & First Nations representation, they have a wealth of information and experience I am oblivious to and these resources are an enormous gift to the world:
Learn more about Indigenous representation in Children’s literature:
- American Indians In Children’s Literature
- De Colores: The Raza Experience In Books For Children
- Oyate
- Quick reference books: A Broken Flute & An Indigenous People’s History of the United States for Young People
Support Indigenous Youth-Led Organizations:
- International Indigenous Youth Council
- Seeding Sovereignty
- Wôpanaâk Language Reclamation Project
- MIGIZI
Support Indigenous Rights Activists & Emergency Relief
For a full list of Indigenous organizations I’ve directed funds to, check out my Financial Accountability Statement.
Family Actions To Learn About Decolonization
- Check out the Native Land website and search for local Indigenous-led organizations who need your help writing advocacy letters and supporting initiatives.
- Download the Indigenous Peoples’ Day family action toolkit and mark a few days in your schedule to review it with your kids.
- Visit your local library & fill your bookshelves with these kids books by #OwnVoices Indigenous authors.
Creating Your Own Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgement should be the first, but not only step in taking responsibility for our impact as settlers and colonizers on stolen land.
If you are looking to create your own land acknowledgement, here are some tips from Dr. Deb Reese (Nambé Pueblo) of AICL on how to avoid virtue signaling and take this opportunity to educate your community.
Raising Luminaries is rooted in the unceded land of the Wampanoag & Massachusett People.
Land acknowledgements are worthless without action. So we prioritize amplifying Indigenous-lead resources in our toolkits and reciprocate annual donations to our local Wôpanaâk Language school.
This website may use affiliate referral links. I may earn a small commission if you choose to make an order using these links. Learn how Raising Luminaries uses affiliate links to support our community.
Photographs via Unsplash & Illustrations via Storyset, used with permission.
©2014-2026 Ashia Ray of Raising Luminaries™. All rights reserved.
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Raising Luminaries shares kid-centered social justice toolkits to save you time and stress. We provide step-by-step support for kyriarchy-smashing caregivers juggling parenting and advocacy without burning out.
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