Land Acknowledgement
Land Acknowledgement Statement
Roberts Settlement was established on land occupied by Algonquin speaking Native American tribes long before the arrival of European colonizers. The Myaamiaki (or Miami) and Lenape (or Delaware) people hunted and harvested food, raised their families and celebrated life’s events on this land.
Various treaties in the late 17th to mid 18th century with the United States Government permanently removed most of these communities to areas west of the Mississippi to allow for the formation of the Northwest Territory and later the state of Indiana in 1816 as well as other Midwestern states.
We, the descendants of Roberts Settlement, recognize the presence and history of those who came before us and will strive to be good stewards of the legacies that this land possesses.
Visit the following resources to learn more:
More Information on the Myaamia (miami) People:
More Information on the Lenape (Delaware) People:
Honoring the First Stewards of This Land
Throughout the early 1800s, Miami, Potawatomi, Delaware, Wea, and Wyandot leaders were coerced into surrendering their central Indiana lands and surrounding areas through treaties such as those negotiated at Fort Wayne and St. Mary’s. While these agreements were often presented as voluntary, they resulted from mounting pressure by expanding settler populations and federal policies designed to clear the way for White colonial settlement and the creation of new states.
This history is part of a broader story of expansion across what would become the Midwest. The descendants of Roberts Settlement, recognize the deep presence and continuing presence of the Native peoples who lived here long before our settlement, and we commit to honoring and being responsible stewards of the legacies this land holds.
Understanding the Roberts Settlement’s story within a broader, inclusive history deepens our appreciation for those who came before us and where we are today. We invite you to continue learning, visiting, and reflecting on these powerful narratives that define our shared heritage.