The Land Back Movement Explained: Ep 22 of Crash Course Native American History

Key Concepts

• Land Back: A movement by Native people to reclaim authority over stolen land and resources, asserting tribal sovereignty.
• Tribal Sovereignty: The inherent right of Native tribes to self-governance.
• Settler Rent: A voluntary land tax paid by non-Native occupants to Native tribes whose land they occupy, as a way to transfer wealth.
• Decolonization: The process of undoing the ideas and systems imposed by colonization.
• Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Six Nations): An Indigenous confederacy involved in a land reclamation protest.
• Haldimand Proclamation (1784): A British proclamation promising land to the Haudenosaunee after they allied with the British during the American Revolution.
• Jemez Pueblo: A Native American tribe that sued the U.S. government for access to ancestral lands.
• Valles Caldera National Preserve: A preserve in New Mexico where the Jemez Pueblo sought to regain access.
• Āina Momona: A non-profit group working to restore Native Hawaiian fish lagoons and traditional food practices.

Land Back: Reclaiming Stolen Land and Authority

The concept of "Land Back" is a multifaceted movement by Native people aimed at reclaiming authority over stolen land and resources, fundamentally asserting tribal sovereignty and the right to self-governance. This movement manifests in various forms, from legal challenges to direct protest actions.

The Genesis of Land Back

The necessity of the Land Back movement stems from centuries of land dispossession from Native peoples through legal means, broken treaties, and outright violence. While land acknowledgments are a contemporary gesture to recognize this history, some Native communities view them as insufficient without tangible action. As Yup’ik and Athabascan writer Sena Crow states, "Indigenous communities need resources, not apologies."

Methods of Land Reclamation

The strategies for Land Back vary depending on land ownership:

• Privately Owned Land: In cases where land is privately owned, non-Native owners may voluntarily return it or offer a "settler rent." Settler rent is a voluntary wealth transfer from non-Native occupants to the Indigenous people whose land they inhabit, akin to paying rent for property.

  • Example: In 2015, the Pomo Tribe purchased 700 acres of land in California. The seller was allowed to continue living in his family home until his death, demonstrating a commitment to avoiding the exploitative practices of colonization.

• Government-Owned Land: When land is managed by federal or state governments, Land Back often proceeds through the legal system. This can result in Native nations regaining full control or agreeing to shared governance.

  • Case Study: Jemez Pueblo and Valles Caldera National Preserve: In 2012, the Jemez Pueblo tribe sued the U.S. government over access to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, arguing they had never relinquished their rights to the land. After a 12-year legal battle, a settlement was reached in 2024. The U.S. government agreed to set aside over 3,000 acres for the Pueblo, while the U.S. Park Service would continue to maintain the land for public use. This settlement was crucial for the Jemez Pueblo, not only for land access but also for the revitalization of their culture, allowing them to practice traditional songs and dances tied to the land.

Land Back Beyond Land Ownership

The Land Back movement extends beyond mere physical land reclamation; it encompasses the recovery of cultural identity, traditional worldviews, and environmental stewardship.

• Environmental Stewardship: Many Indigenous peoples view the environment as a reciprocal relationship—a gift and a responsibility. Colonization disrupted this by separating Native peoples from the land, leading to environmental degradation.

  • Example: Native Hawaiian Food Systems: For centuries, Native Hawaiians maintained a self-sufficient food system, with fish lagoons on Moloka’i feeding approximately one million people. After Hawaii became a U.S. territory, millions of acres were seized and converted to sugarcane and pineapple plantations, destroying these lagoons. Today, over 80% of Hawaii's food is imported, creating food insecurity. The Land Back movement, through groups like Āina Momona ("fertile land"), aims to restore these fish lagoons and reintroduce sustainable fishing and traditional food practices.

• Global Environmental Impact: Experts suggest that increasing forestland managed by Indigenous peoples globally by 900 million acres in the next 25 years could have an environmental impact equivalent to bringing all trucks on the road up to modern emissions standards.

Direct Action and Protest: The 1492 Land Back Lane Case

When legal and governmental systems prove slow or unresponsive, Native peoples may resort to direct action.

• Case Study: Haudenosaunee Confederacy at 1492 Land Back Lane: In 2020, members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy occupied land in Caledonia, Ontario, protesting a planned housing development on what they argued was stolen land. This action, dubbed "1492 Land Back Lane," involved erecting barriers and blocking infrastructure.
  • Historical Context: The Haudenosaunee's claim is rooted in the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, which promised them nearly 950,000 acres. However, European settlers encroached on this land shortly after. Dr. Rick Monture, a Haudenosaunee historian, noted the long-standing failure of legal and political systems to address their claims: "We took it to the court system — we raised it to every politician that would listen for the last 200 years or more — but no one ever does anything."
  • Protest and Outcome: After the announcement of a new housing development on the remaining open land, "land defenders" established an encampment. Despite initial peaceful activities, police raids led to arrests. In response, defenders intensified their blockade. While the land developers eventually canceled the housing complex a year later, the broader dispute with the government remained unresolved as of 2024, with the occupation continuing. Representatives of the occupation stated their commitment to remaining on the land indefinitely.

Conclusion: A Multifaceted Struggle for Justice

The Land Back movement is a complex and ongoing struggle to rectify historical injustices, broken treaties, and land theft. It encompasses legal battles, direct activism, and a profound reassertion of Indigenous connection to the land, aiming to restore not only territory but also cultural identity, traditional knowledge, and environmental health. As the video concludes, Land Back is about "getting Native people back to the land, nursing the land back to health, and bringing back our understanding of land as essential to human life."