KU Indigenous Natural Resources

Whose Land?

Before we begin our discussion of management of land and resources, we can start locally and ask about the history of the land that the University of Kansas and Kansas State University were built upon. Kansas State University is a particularly important case because it was the first Land Grant University, and was funded by the sale of land that was appropriated from the Kanza Nation. For a discussion of this history and a database on Land Grab Universities click here.

We can also make an effort to learn more about the tribes and communities in our immediate region, as well as how to become more aware of the ways in which our own behavior and attitudes can help improve relations between our university, city and state and the first peoples of this land.

1. Use the Native Lands Map to see whose land the University of Kansas was built upon. Search for other places that are important in your life.

2. When you walk around campus this week, check out the KU Spencer Museum 2021 Common Work of Art Native Hosts, Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds which you can see in front of the Spencer Museum.

3. During the semester feel free to refer to the Guidance on best practices and Indigenous knowledges throughout the state of Kansas if you would like resources on dealing with Indigenous issues in the classroom.

4. Try to find an opportunity to learn more about Haskell Indian Nations University. For example, the Haskell Indian Art Market will be held September 9th-10th and provides many educational opportunities for the public to learn more about Haskell and the large community of Native Americans living in Lawrence and surrounding areas.

5. Try to find an opportunity to learn more about the four federally recognized tribes with reservations in the state of Kansas: the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (tribal headquarters in White Cloud, KS), the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas (tribal headquarters in Horton, KS), the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (tribal headquarters in Mayetta, KS), and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska (tribal headquarters in Reserve, KS).

Íⁿ’zhúje’waxóbe

On August 30, 2023 the sacred Red Rock was removed from Robinson Park in Lawrence, Kansas and loaded on a truck for the journey to Allegawahoo Memorial Park near Council Grove. The Rematriation of Iⁿ‘zhúje‘waxóbe to the Kanza people is an important step in acknowledging the history of the relationship of the city of Lawrence and the state of Kansas with the first peoples who inhabited the region since time immemorial.

The pronounciation is EE(n) ZHOO-jay wah-HO-bay

Note: the directions provided on the map from Robinson Park to Allegawaho Memorial Park are not necessarily the actual route taken by the delegation moving the sacred rock.

Click here for Kanza Language and Landscape Map in Google Earth Web to see photos and here the Kanza place names in the Kanza language