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Committee directs steps toward Los Angeles land-acknowledgment policy, asks commission and CAO to report back
Summary
The committee approved Councilmember Rodriguez—s recommendations asking the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission to convene an ad hoc subcommittee and asked the CAO to identify funding and staffing to support development of a land-acknowledgment statement.
The Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging and Disability Committee on Friday approved a set of recommendations instructing the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission (LANAIQ) to convene an ad hoc subcommittee to draft a land-acknowledgment statement and asked the City Administrative Officer to identify funding and staffing to support that work.
Councilmember Rodriguez—s recommendations, read into the record by the city attorney, asked LANAIQ to convene an ad hoc subcommittee of city-appointed commission members to propose a land-acknowledgment statement consistent with values identified by city research groups and using the county—s language as a starting point. The motion also instructed the CAO to identify funding (including unallocated heritage month accounts) to support a working group and to report on a part-time position at the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department to provide expertise in tribal history and law.
Capri Maddox, general manager of the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department, told the committee the department has engaged with tribes and internal staff while preparing background materials. "We were trying to get ahead of it. We did meet with a number of activists in the space," Maddox said, and noted staff had created draft example language and planned to work with the county commission appointees to finalize recommendations.
Ronelle Hampton, director of strategic initiatives, said staff used a list supplied by the State Native American Heritage Commission and reached out to 14 tribal groups; five tribes responded and staff recommended further engagement. "If we can get all parties to agree, we definitely can get that back to you by November," Hampton said, referring to Native American Heritage Month.
The committee also asked the CAO, with assistance from the Chief Legislative Analyst and the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department, to review the existing memorandum of understanding with the county and recommend amendments to increase city engagement. The committee recorded five ayes and approved the recommendations as amended.
